Unfinished business - Chile

So the crappy summer has finally got me beat, Zermatt's glaciers are only so good and I can't look at un-ridable mountains for another 3 months without going stark raving mad. After a heavy night with colleagues I woke up and booked 7 nights in Valle Nevado followed by a weekend in Santiago. Heading over with a colleague and friend for some serious off-piste, heliboarding and general nonsense.

After riding Portillo in 2009 with a fractured skull and collarbone, I vowed to go back and really let loose in some big powder bowls and steep terrain. Only 4 weeks to go, I feel like a kid at Christmas. No bike riding for me for a month )

The packing is almost done barring deciding which board to take with me, it's not an easy decision to make. Trad camber and a little shorter, stiffer but with great all round performance especially on groomers, or something a wee bit bigger, rockered, cambered and made for powder. Whichever I take the other will be required, so maybe I should take the former and deal with it when it dumps snow )

Work on Thursday morning, 2 hours on train to Milan in the afternoon, a further hour to the airport, 2 hour wait, 2 hours to Madrid, 3 hour wait, 12.5 hours to Santiago, collect bags and 90 minute drive to resort. Given a good wind I'll be on the slopes by midday Friday :D

Still debating if we should take snowshoes to get some good backcountry, or just concentrate all our efforts of heliboarding later in the week. Limited to a single bag @ 23kg for the hold narrows the options a little. Snowboard boots aren't so bad for hiking up in unless it's knee deep, which unfortunately I doubt so late in the winter.

Passport secured, train fares booked, I'm more excited by this than anything for a long time. I'm going with no broken bones this time, so I am insured. Can't wait. Will do my best to keep you up to date with some pics of proceedings.

tino

:D :D

I'm feeling your excitement with you Tino. Whatever board you take, I'm sure you are going to have a great time.

Far Queue wrote: :D :D

I'm feeling your excitement with you Tino. Whatever board you take, I'm sure you are going to have a great time.

Cheers fella, I almost resent the days between now and then, how bad is that??

Have a good one fella 8)

tino_11 wrote:

Cheers fella, I almost resent the days between now and then, how bad is that??

Normal mate, trust me.

Have a great time Tino 8)

Thanks to all, I'll be thinking of you, spesh those I've met,
Tone & Bandita.