panhead_pete 27 Posted July 2, 2010 Share Posted July 2, 2010 I have 3 weeks off from about the 4th of Aug and can pretty much fly anywhere to go chase some turns. Obviously NZ is an option but what other places are viable alternatives at that time of year? Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted July 2, 2010 Share Posted July 2, 2010 Sth America of course. Australia if you're desperate. South Africa if you're feeling really, really lucky. I'd go for Sth America if it were me. Awesome mountains and women. Link to post Share on other sites
panhead_pete 27 Posted July 2, 2010 Author Share Posted July 2, 2010 Are you thinking Chile GN? Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted July 2, 2010 Share Posted July 2, 2010 Chile or Argentina. Chilean resorts are easier to get to and you should be able to get flights to Santiago easily enough. I preferred the women in Argentina though Link to post Share on other sites
panhead_pete 27 Posted July 3, 2010 Author Share Posted July 3, 2010 Wow those flights to Chile are expensive! Anyone ridden there? Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted July 3, 2010 Share Posted July 3, 2010 Yep. Both Chile and Argentina are excellent. What you looking for mountain wise? Link to post Share on other sites
panhead_pete 27 Posted July 3, 2010 Author Share Posted July 3, 2010 Im intermediate at best Mike so not looking for any back country etc. As I travel by myself Im looking for some fun and challenges on the mountain but also some social activities etc when Im not riding. Any suggesstions. Link to post Share on other sites
snowbender 3 Posted July 4, 2010 Share Posted July 4, 2010 Would love to check out S America myself. Have you been to both Mike? Link to post Share on other sites
mitchpee 10 Posted July 4, 2010 Share Posted July 4, 2010 For Chile go to el colorado or valle nevado. Both real fun. Argentina is cheaper and I think a better time overall. Santiago is a fun place, but I prefer Argentina. Link to post Share on other sites
Nisoko 6 Posted July 5, 2010 Share Posted July 5, 2010 How does the snow down there compare with Niseko, Mike? Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted July 5, 2010 Share Posted July 5, 2010 Nothing compares to Niseko! The high Chilean resorts out from Santiago have a semi arid climate and can receive some fairly nice, dry powder, something similar to Colorado I'd say. They also get plenty of bluebird days to enjoy it. Like Colorado these are pretty high altitude resorts ranging from around 2000 to over 3000m. Further south they have more of a maritime climate more like west coast NZ on the Chilean side. Like there it snows more often but it can be more variable in quality and bluebird days less frequent. The resorts are much lower too. The Argentinian side has similar weather to central, southern NZ. Right down south it is a very cool maritime climate year round with massive glaciers coming off the mountains, some on the western side reaching right into the ocean. Not that many developed resorts right down south but it is an incredibly beautiful region. For ease of access resorts like Valle Nevado and El Colorado are very close to Santiago. In Argentina the biggest resort would be Las Lenas? It is similar to high altitude resorts in Chile. Cerro Catedral further south looks good but it's take some getting to. . Link to post Share on other sites
panhead_pete 27 Posted July 5, 2010 Author Share Posted July 5, 2010 Thanks GN, great info. Could I commute to Valle Nevado and El Colorado each day as have a mate in Santiago I could stay with. But also craving a surf and have a lovely mate in Cabo, Mexico around that time so beach and beers it may well still be. Link to post Share on other sites
panhead_pete 27 Posted July 5, 2010 Author Share Posted July 5, 2010 Sorry should have done my own research - El Colorado is about an hr out of the city and they run a bus each day This is starting to look really promising. Only hitch might be if I have to go to Hak to finalise my land purchase. Should know more about that at the end of the week. Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted July 5, 2010 Share Posted July 5, 2010 Santiago would be a place you could surf in the morning and ski in the arvo. Pretty cool! Link to post Share on other sites
panhead_pete 27 Posted July 5, 2010 Author Share Posted July 5, 2010 Wow now you are selling it! Off to go see if my travel budget will see me get there. Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted July 5, 2010 Share Posted July 5, 2010 Flights are expensive though. Not that much competition on the Beijing-Santiago route I wouldn't think... Link to post Share on other sites
panhead_pete 27 Posted July 5, 2010 Author Share Posted July 5, 2010 Ouch........ $2.5k on top of my allowance for the airfares. But I guess its as still a lot less then if I had to pay for it Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted July 5, 2010 Share Posted July 5, 2010 I had a quick look online and best price I found in yen was Y288,000 return from Beijing. Could get 3 flights return to Aus for that! Link to post Share on other sites
panhead_pete 27 Posted July 5, 2010 Author Share Posted July 5, 2010 Yep..... $7500 Aus for business with work only picking up about $4800 of it. And thats flying Auckland to Chile with LAN...Have been too spoilt these days and a 31hr trip in economy is unappealing. $3K before I have even got there is a bit more then I want to spend if possible. In the back of mind that $3K would buy a lot for the house in Hakuba but a $5K trip to Chile is pretty cool too Maybe it is NZ or Mexico. Link to post Share on other sites
boardbaka 3 Posted July 6, 2010 Share Posted July 6, 2010 If you are already looking at going through NZ to get to Chile as it`s Aug I would head straight to the Sth Island - ChCh - then either drive or fly to wanaka or qtown - I have hired a car from the 9th Aug pick up chchc and includes a free day pass for TC with every day of REntal - sweet deal worth just hiring for that - hit me up if you want some detsils - TC is pretty hard to beat on a good day - cheers Link to post Share on other sites
mitchpee 10 Posted July 6, 2010 Share Posted July 6, 2010 Still got a lot of snow in the peaks here. Going to hike a glacier tomorrow for my 18th month of consecutive skiing! Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted July 8, 2010 Share Posted July 8, 2010 Portillo might be the go for a week too. Stay in the hostel and upgrade to the restaurant package. Good social life for the single traveller. Another option is San Martin de Los Andes for the resort of Chapelco, Argentina. Town is like a small Banff. Link to post Share on other sites
Jynxx 4 Posted July 8, 2010 Share Posted July 8, 2010 Originally Posted By: MitchPee Still got a lot of snow in the peaks here. Going to hike a glacier tomorrow for my 18th month of consecutive skiing! Long season indeed. What a lifestyle. Link to post Share on other sites
panhead_pete 27 Posted July 8, 2010 Author Share Posted July 8, 2010 Thanks Mike will look into that. NZ is increasingly looking more likely though due to cost and my gf lives in Melb and could easily pop over for a week to join me. Preference thousg is still somewhere a long way from Aus as the short trips are affordable when I am home. Link to post Share on other sites
Ross 4 Posted July 8, 2010 Share Posted July 8, 2010 Pan Head you could fly to Christchurch NZ and work your way down the south island taking in a new ski feild every day. There is so many.But they are not very big.so it makes a good road trip. Link to post Share on other sites
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