Andean Condor Sighting!

While Off Piste at Ski Portillo we were lucky enough to get a sighting of the rare Andean Condor! With a 10 foot wing span this condor is the largest flying bird in the world. The Andean Condor has been making a good recovery since being almost hunted to extinction and put on the Endangered Species List in 1973. This bird was huge! He looked like he might swoop down and pluck a skier off of the mountain!

Ski Portillo, Chile- A Resort Steeped (pun intended) in Skiing Tradition and History!

I had heard a lot about Ski Portillo Resort, but the descriptions were confusing because it was hard to picture an isolated group of buildings surrounded by steeps and off piste terrain galore, a beautiful alpine lake (Laguna de Inca), with a traditional, verging on formal, culture all located high up in the Andes above tree line. It sounded funky, and funky it was!


The Hotel Portillo is really the only full service hotel. All of the amenities, which is a formidable amount, are located in the Hotel Portillo. The other two lodges, The Octagon Lodge, where we stayed, and the Inca Lodge, are extremely moderate to hostel style and deal mainly in bunk beds. The Hotel Portillo with approximately 120 rooms represents the majority of the lodging capacity. The Octagon has about 15 rooms and the Inca Lodge is pretty small as well! All the lodges are within 50 yards of each other and you may as well consider everything ski-in/ski-out. A Portillo ski package comes with lift tickets and 4 meals a day in the semi formal dining area Inca Lodge guests use a more casual dining are, but meals are still included).

The service, especially in the main dining room, is really exceptional. While we were on site we learned that full capacity at Portillo, approximately 400 guests, are outnumbered by about 500 employees. In other words there is more than one employee for every guest. You basically stick to the same for every meal throughout your stay which is typically a mandatory Saturday through Saturday. This stimulates conversation with both your wait staff, who are quite entertaining, and fellow guests seated next to your table throughout the course of your stay and definitely fosters a sense of camaraderie.

Portillo is a unique experience that every avid skier should try at least once. From the Saint Bernards greeting you outside the hotel to the steep off piste terrain combined with family friendly groomers, to the sit down family dining experience, to the US and multiple international ski teams training in August, Portillo is definitely steeped in skiing tradition and history. One can also heliski as a part of their Portillo ski package. For information on setting up heliskiing at Portillo contact Ripley's Mountain Adventures (877) 752-6754!

Please contact Ripley's Mountain Adventures for the best deals on Portillo ski packages! We can get your Portillo ski vacation booked at the best available pricing!

Road to Portillo, Chile!

After leaving the temperate Aconcagua Valley we headed northwest towards Argentina on route 60 also known as Los Libertadores. This route was apparently an escape route for the Chilean army in the fight for independence from Spain in the early 1800's. Apparently they fled the Spanish army in the mountains, were able to reorganize across the Argentine Border with the help of the Argentinians, and return to claim victory in a battle that also took place along this route. But I digress. As you climb ever higher the road gets ever steeper and the mountains ever bigger and snowier until only 3 miles or so from the Argentinian border you see ski lifts actually spanning the Trans Andean Highway. You then pass a Chilean Army Base and the next thing you know you are in Portillo. The entire resort is above treeline and stands alone in isolation across some pretty severe and beautiful terrain!

The Road to Portillo, Chile through the Aconcagua Valley, The Highest Peak in South America!

Well a nice bonus on the road to Portillo was passing through the Aconcagua Valley heading towards both Portillo and Argentina, and catching views of Aconcagua, the highest Summit in North or South America at 6959m (22831 ft) Aconcagua is the highest mountain in the Americas, and the Highest Mountain outside Asia. The mountain is actually in Argentina kind of near Mendoza, but obviously can be seen from a long ways off on a clear day. We were lucky to get such a good view of it because Jaun, our intrepid and knowledgeable driver, said that fog and haze often prevents views of the mountain. Bueno! We had a good day!

Heliskiing Chile -A Dream Come True!

For information on heliskking as part of your Valle Nevado ski vacation package please contact Ripley's Mountain Adventures (877) 752-6754.

I had every intention of heliskiing Chile if at all possible while there, but the helicopters had not been fired up this season yet and the writing on the wall was that we were a bit early in the season to heliski, not necessarily because of conditions, multiple 6 foot dumps had provided plenty of snow, but because the go to heli operation, Eco Copter, was not ready to go yet. So much for fulfilling a life long dream! This was the initial word we received from Valle Nevado Headquarters in Santiago when we arrived in Chile, and basically a reiteration of the same upon arriving up at Valle Nevado Resort. Claudia, who runs the marketing on site at the resort approached us with good news however a short time after the initial discussion with her. The heli operation was going to do some testing of the equipment and terrain because we had expressed such an interest in getting out to heliski. We were catalyzing an early kickoff to the heli skiing season in Chile. This same operation operates out of Valle Nevado, Portillo, and even Santiago. If everything worked out right, we would be the first heliskiers in Chile this winter! We needed four spots so we had to present the idea gently to a hesitant Julie. Once she overcame her initial hesitation, the game was on. When we got the definite on heliskiing we were all positively giddy pervaded by a little apprehension on the part of some. Some of us were so excited, we certainly spent too long in the disco tech the night prior to heliskiing! I paid for that personally on the hill the next day! Enjoy the photos of pristine back country Andes Skiing Terrain. I have posted many videos below as well!

Julie's Heli-skiing Adventure

“Was I really going to get on a helicopter and be dropped off in the backcountry of the Andes?” I thought as I woke Friday morning at Valle Nevado. The sun was out and the snow looked great, but a fear was eating at the pit of my stomach. We weren’t 100% sure this was going to be a reality so I put it out of my mind and began working on booking a trip for my new friends I had met the night before. Somewhere during the morning I had lost the boys and went on a mission to find them. I went back to my room where to my surprise the “Heli-skiing Waiver” was sitting on my pillow… my stomach dropped like a ton of bricks!! I ran out of the room to find the guys, which they were geared up and ready to go in the ski storage room. It is now when all of my fears came to a head and the tears began to flow. Tench and Brian comforted me and said I was under no obligation to go, but how could I return to the US and tell my friends that I passed on the chance to heli-ski in the Andes…fat chance! I went to the room and tried to calm myself while gearing up and packing for our return to Santiago.

I arrived in the heli-ski office to realize that everyone was looking out for me and they had picked a run that was a bit easier to help ease my nerves. Miguel, Andrew and Claudio, our incredible guide, assured me that if I could make it down a black run at Beaver Creek I would have no problem with this run. So that was that and I was on my way to the most amazing adventure of my life.

We took off on the 500 yard walk to the heliport where Claudio began with the avalanche safety training (yes my stomach was still in knots at this point and only getting worse), but assured us that Chile was not known for major avalanches. This made me feel better considering I was having thoughts of my body being swept away by a wall of snow. Next we had to get weighed with gear in hand to make sure of seating and fuel for the helicopter. Then out of nowhere the helicopter rose over the ridge and landed at the heliport. I’m still thinking in my head, “Am I really going to do this?” We went over all of the safety instruction for the helicopter, took the obligatory pictures, loaded up and we were off. What a feeling it was to lift off and head off over the ridge into the Andes. The views were beautiful and breathtaking. When we landed on top of the mountain it was in the matter of a minute that Claudio had us out of the copter, gear unloaded and off went the chopper. My first thought, “Well I guess there is no turning back now!” I took a deep breath and looked around at the most wonderful scenery this gal from KY has ever seen. We took some pics and started to gear up.

Claudio called me over to the easier of the two drop in points. Jumping a cornice to get down was not my idea of fun, so I scooted over on my butt until I felt comfortable. After a bit of coaxing I finally made my first turn, into my second turn on my heelside (oh yeah I forgot to mention that not only was I the only gal on this adventure I was the only snowboarder) and then a double back flip fall. It wasn’t the most graceful entrance, but it knocked the fear out of me and I was good to go. I made it down to the first stopping point, caught my breath and watched the boys drop in from a much steeper point. From here it was smooth sailing. The powder was soft in most spots, crunchy in a few spots, but overall the best terrain we had ridden the entire trip. With Claudio leading us to the best lines we made it down the 6000 ft. vertical run in just over an hour in seven stages. It was really relaxing and we all went at our own pace. There was no pressure, just having fun enjoying the scenery. When we finally reached the last leg the snow was getting heavy and wet, which made for some hard turns, but still fun! My legs were killing me at this point and I was glad to see the pickup spot. We all celebrated the success of the day, took some more pictures and waited for our flying blue chariot to arrive. As he came over the ridge my excitement started to boil over. I wasn’t sure if the riding or the helicopter ride was the more thrilling part of this adventure. Once again Claudio loaded the gear and directed us into the copter. The pilot lifted off and took us up over the lines we just came down. He hovered above to let us see the magnitude of the line we just took 6,000 ft down. ..crazy! We headed back to the resort where to my surprise we were dropped off in the middle of the resort, able to ride back to the hotel to end this brilliant day and head back to Santiago.

In the end I am so happy I made the choice to conquer my fear and join the guys on this trip. I know I would have kicked myself in the ass had I not gone. I also feel like this gave me the boost of confidence needed to take me to the next level of riding. My board is stored for the rest of the summer, but my head is looking forward to next season already…wanting to push myself farther.

More Copter Views Of the Andes

Riding in the helicopter through the Andes Range in winter was equally as spectacular as skiing the Andes back country. The views and the sensations of being in the helicopter in the midst of this majestic mountain range were simply amazing! I recommend this experience to anyone who has ever dreamed of heliskiing and who has achieved and advanced level on the slopes. The Andes snow pack is generally more stable than that of Alaska or Colorado so slide danger is generally a lot lower! For Information about heliskiing chile Information contact us at Ripley's Mountain Adventures. We can customize a trip based out of Valle Nevado, Portillo, or even Santiago and do multi day and overnight heliskiing adventures all at surprisingly reasonable rates (877) 752-6754.

Heli Landing & Pickup Valley

This is a very brief video (I wanted to get more, but operator error resulted in shutting off the camera somehow!) of the helicopter approaching the drainage at the end of a 6,000 vertical run called Peekaboo to pick us up. Our legs were pretty tired and I could feel the burn on the very last face we descended into this drainage. It wasn't until the bottom that the snow displayed some wetter characteristics because of the lower altitude combined with the prodigious amount of sunshine. Thousands of feet of pristine, dry, fluffy, untouched powder was indeed a surreal experience, good for the spirit, and a dream come true for all of us!

Staring Down the First Ascent of "Peekaboo" Ripley's Crew Heliskis Near Valle Nevado, Chile!

This heli terrain was straight out of a Warren Miller, TGR, Matchstick Productions Movie! Untouched steeps opening up into wide open bowls with perfectly dry, fluffy, deep, pillowy powder for thousands and thousands of feet! What a great experience! This was a dream come true!

Copter Drop Off Point at "Peekaboo" a 6,000 Foot Vertical Run Backcountry in the Andes!

After some stomach churning mountain hugging and ridge navigation the Eco Copter Chopper (Call us at 877-752-6754 to set up your trip) let us down high up in the Andes on a relatively flat and snow covered shelf to begin our descent. Needless to say, the mood was giddy! Cloudio, that's right Cloudio, not Claudio, was our guide who split time between Alaska and Chile based heli ski operations. Julie was especially fond of Cloudio. All of us would recommend him as a great heliskiing guide!

Big Andes Backcountry Copter Views- Heliskiing Near Valle Nevado Ski Resort- Ripley's Mountain Adventures Crew Heliskis Chile!

I am not sure that any of us had ever been in a helicopter let alone one that was hovering and dipping over snow capped Andes Mountain Peaks. Basically we were in awe of the views and the the severe terrain all unfolding below and around us to the point of being speechless, a rare occurence for this crew! Wow!

Ripley's Mountain Adventures Staff Visits Valle Nevado Ski Resort, Chile June 25/27 2008 (Short Video Below)

With the Intrepid Jaun from CTS Turismo at the wheel we departed in a van from Santiago heading East towards Valle Nevado Ski Resort to get our first glimpse of some high alpine Andes landscapes and ski terrain. This was on June 25th so it was early season in Valle Nevado. Luckily, the resort had experienced multiple 6 foot dumps early season and had complete coverage.

The road to Valle Nevado is legendary for precipitous switchbacks and it lived up to the hype. In general the road was dry so Jaun did not have to apply chains, something that only happens in early season from the looks of this road. Having traveled over just about every pass in Colorado and the Rocky Mountain West, I am very used to this kind of driving, but this particular ascent consists of 70 plus switchbacks climbing straight up from about 1,800 feet to 9,000 feet. Likely it is the biggest pass with the most switchbacks I have ever witnessed, and by a good margin. Jaun told us he had navigated the pass about 53 times the previous season, 3 times in a day at the pinnacle. With inclement weather, that would be worthy of the Medal of Honor.

We stopped at La Parva and El Colorado near the tiny Alpine Village of Farallones. These two smaller resorts can be added to a Valle Nevado lift ticket for a marginal upgrade fee and both supply a fair share of beginner through advanced terrain if you need to stray from the formidable amount of terrain offered by Valle Nevado. This collective lift ticket offers the most amount of skiable terrain in Chile and perhaps South America overall. The atmosphere at El Colorado was very quiet, cozy, and family oriented and the lodging options consisting of apartments and cabins reflected that. This was a very cozy little resort that can be used as a base area to ski all three resorts, Valle Nevado, La Parva, and El Colorado without as many minimum night limitations or as much cost or bustle as staying at the Valle Nevado base area and its full service hotels and apartments. Many people are interested in the far larger amount of action and nightlife offered by Valle Nevado however.

Valle Nevado Resort feels like it is perched on top of the world. It sits atop a 7,000 foot pass and offers vistas basically unparalleled to anything I have seen as far as looking down upon big mountain panoramas. Everything is above treeline giving you the impression that you are on the surface of another planet. The collection of buildings offer a stark contrast to the surrounding high alpine environment like an Antarctic outpost hanging over the abyss. Service is relatively formal with uniformed bellman and attention to detail. The three lodges, Hotel Valle Nevado, Hotel Puerta del Sol, and Hotel Tres Puntas offer an upscale, middle of the road, and economical alternative in the order listed. I was surprised at how nice the Tres Puntas was however. This was not hostel style, but more of a Holiday Inn Express with access to far better amenities than a Holiday Inn Express as the amenities for all three hotels are generally collective. The Tres Puntas was not just full of backpackers, it definitely had its share of families and travelers simply opting for an economical option without sacrificing too much quality.

The Hotel Valle Nevado was, as expected, pretty nice with a spa, the nicest restaurant on premise, La Fourchette, and a slightly more luxurious interior and location as far as lift access than the other two options. The Puerta del Sol where we stayed was my favorite hotel on premise. It had a casual demeanor, was the most centrally located, and seemed to be the focal point of activity for the Resort. It had two decent restaurants, a Fondue and an Italian pasta restaurant with a killer make your own pasta station, multiple lounges including an internet lounge and bar, as well as easy access to the snow.

I was unsure of what to expect from the ski experience of Valle Nevado, but was delighted that the vast high alpine terrain, all of which is above treeline, had full snow coverage due to major early season storms. It was truly remarkable. The off piste snow consistency was soft and maneuverable. The steeps were plentiful if sought out. We were all impressed with this resort and its large amount of terrain. Julie was especially fond of what she termed the "gully", a lengthy natural half pipe that separated two drainages that afforded much entertainment riding back and forth up and down its curving natural walls for an extended duration. We skied for two full days and loved it. The views from high up in the resort are also incredibly noteworthy. "On top of the world". I will let the pictures and video footage posted with this article paint the picture. We were thoroughly impressed by Valle Nevado Ski Resort. This place was amazing! It is also worth mentioning that the discotech located in the Hotel Tres Puntas offers about all a person can handle as far as nightlife. There is no boredom here at night despite the isolation. This resort is hopping!