Where to ski, Tierra del Fuego or high Andes resorts?

[toast]

I have not skied in seven years, but am considering skiing this upcoming season. Has anyone any experience skiing in Tierra del Fuego? It would spare me getting acclimated to the high elevations in the high mountain resorts, but has shorter daylight and maybe foggy conditions. I avoid steep, icy slopes, as I am barely an intermediate skier. The goal is to ski with little risk of injury, boring is preferred to trauma.

 

[Rich One]

Check Las Leñas resort in the Anders near San Rafael?
Otherwise I recommend Valle Nevado in Chile

Top Argentina And Chile Ski Resorts

Hit the slopes at the best ski resorts in Argentina and Chile. Discover top destinations in the Andes for snow sports, scenery, and winter adventures.

www.adventure-life.com

 

[FrankPintor]

The lifts in Bariloche go to about 2000m asl, which isn't very high, it's comparable to any central European ski slope. And it's very organized, friendly, and easy to manage. For an intermediate skier, I wouldn't think twice.

There are other ski resorts in the Andes, but they're more difficult to get to.

Valle Nevado in Chile is quite a bit higher, at 3000m asl. Also, the road up there is horrible, hairpin bend after bend. There's a hotel up there, but you would need to acclimatize, I think, before doing anything strenuous.

I have no idea about TdF, but being farther south, it will be colder and darker, and the days will be shorter. I do like skiing in the sunshine, so TdF is out for me.

Generally speaking, unless climate change intervenes (there are hints of a "super El Niño" for later this year), you should have snow from August to October in the Andes resorts. None of this is cheap anymore, though.

 

[ArgentinaVet]

Cerro Castor in Tierra del Fuego (20-30 minutes outside Ushuaia ) has the most reliable snow in Argentina and plenty of intermediate level terrain. The infrastructure on the mountain (lifts, food/beverage etc) is quite good by South American standards and parking is very easy and free. The top elevation is only 1057 meters but the vertical drop is over 800 meters so no altitude sickness issues.

 

[carride]

. I avoid steep, icy slopes, as I am barely an intermediate skier. The goal is to ski with little risk of injury, boring is preferred to trauma.

For what you describe, my vote is Bariloche (officially Cerro Catedral resort) or Chapelco resort in San Martin de los Andes which will be on its second year of operation by the same Catedral resort company. I have not been in winter, but just south of Chapelco is brand new 3-4 tears old https://www.lagohermoso.com.ar/ which is small family friendly with zero nighttime amenities. Then further south also is family friendly Cero Bayo https://www.cerrobayo.com.ar/. You can do try 2 days at each if you go south to north from Bariloche and then the other three mentioned in Neuquén province. SMA is a nice place to end a trip

 

[ArgentinaVet]

For what you describe, my vote is Bariloche (officially Cerro Catedral resort) or Chapelco resort in San Martin de los Andes which will be on its second year of operation by the same Catedral resort company. I have not been in winter, but just south of Chapelco is brand new 3-4 tears old https://www.lagohermoso.com.ar/ which is small family friendly with zero nighttime amenities. Then further south also is family friendly Cero Bayo https://www.cerrobayo.com.ar/. You can do try 2 days at each if you go south to north from Bariloche and then the other three mentioned in Neuquén province. SMA is a nice place to end a trip

I've skied at Bariloche. It is large and the area is beautiful and has everything you could possibly want; however it is also obscenely crowded and often has very poor snow quality and coverage. My idea of good snow is Alta/ Snowbird, Big Sky, Vail and Niseko (Hokkaido Japan); Bariloche snow is more akin to East Coast USA snow in a mediocre year.

 

[toast]

Cerro Castor in Tierra del Fuego (20-30 minutes outside Ushuaia ) has the most reliable snow in Argentina and plenty of intermediate level terrain. The infrastructure on the mountain (lifts, food/beverage etc) is quite good by South American standards and parking is very easy and free. The top elevation is only 1057 meters but the vertical drop is over 800 meters so no altitude sickness issues.

Much of my skiing was in Indiana, USA, where the vertical drop was less than 150 meters. I might have to break up a run so my legs don't give out.

 

[FrankPintor]

Much of my skiing was in Indiana, USA, where the vertical drop was less than 150 meters. I might have to break up a run so my legs don't give out.

That’s like cross-country / langlauf skiing way too much work for too little reward.

 

[carride]

I've skied at Bariloche. It is large and the area is beautiful and has everything you could possibly want; however it is also obscenely crowded and often has very poor snow quality and coverage. My idea of good snow is Alta/ Snowbird, Big Sky, Vail and Niseko (Hokkaido Japan); Bariloche snow is more akin to East Coast USA snow in a mediocre year.

I tried to answer with something relevant to Argentina plus winter of June,July, August September.

 

[on the brink]

Good response, Carride.

I take it that ArgentinaVet is a "world traveller", but his comment does not help. Sounds more like showing off than real advice.