The Patagonia-Pucon Collection

This trip was ten years in the coming for me. Getting the right person, at the right time in the right place proved difficult. I picked up work in Brazil this summer and travelled from there to meet Michelle in Bariloche. From there we followed the snow along with many other fellow skiers who we crossed paths with several times in both Argentina and Chile. The light, the wind, the ruggedness and most of all the friendly people made this trip one that will guarantee I go back.  

Michelle walking through the steam at the top of the volcano Llaima (3180m).

Michelle riding down our first volcano together – Villarrica near Pucon, Chile.

The mythical Frey hut and Cerro Catedral. The friendly guardians created a chilled atmosphere that had me coming back again and again.

Brody Levan in the North East Couloir of Lanin on the border of Chile – Argentina. Me riding amongst the spires of Cerro Catedral.

The primordial landscape and lava flows below Lanin.

Local graffiti art seemed very appropriate at this point in the trip when planet Earth had so much to offer.

This striking landscape of snowcapped volcanoes whose lower reaches are blanketed in auraucaria (monkey puzzle) forests.

Ice skates and hockey sticks hang from the roof of the Frey hut providing the guardians with some pre-snow entertainment on the frozen lake.

Sunrise at the RIM26 mountain shelter on the side of the volcano Lanin. This ex-military installation was nothing more that a basic concrete shelter but it offered much welcome respite from the wind.  We shared a night there with fellow skiers Adam Clarke and Brodie Leven. We had hired synthetic sleeping bags that were almost as big as my rucksac and weighed as much as my skis, but their warmth was welcome.

Ridge line scrambling – Cerro Catedral.

Michelle letting rip in Bariloche backcountry.

More Patagonian powder. Michelle near Bariloche.

Evening light on Llaima. Me skiing.

Lanin’s North East Couloir

Golden spires of immaculate granite.The Chilean lake district laid out below Lanin.

Brody threading the rock bands on the steep North east Couloir of Lanin.

Going back for more – as you can see from the tracks our first run in Laguna was pretty good. More wall art.

Rime ice from the volcano.

Tree balls.

Speed.
Lanin.

Central Couloir, Cerro Catedral.

One of my favourite spots we got to on our trip.

We almost didn’t go this day, turned out alright.Evening ski, Central Couloir, Cerro Catedral.Happy days.