Snofari tour, week one

Have been quite busy skiing all week at Nevados de Chillan. We are staying about 8 km from the base in a very nice hotel, except for heat and hot water being a challenge. Otherwise, very nice.

Unfortunately, the skiing has been overshadowed by the accidentally death of Barbara Warren, a good friend and amazing athlete. She was completely paralyzed and could not even speak. She indicated that life support be stopped. She is the twin Austrian sister of Angelika Drake, both 65 years old. There are many news articles about her, I am sure, on the web, but suffice it to say it was a tragic accident and her sister and family must be in extreme shock.

The weather has not exactly cooperated. We missed Monday due to rain. There has been new snow, but also a lot of wind, and later today more rain at the bottom. We did to Tres Maries run as our last run, one of or perhaps the longest run in Chile this afternoon. Amazing.

Dominque Biello, daughter of my good friend Dom, arrived early yesterday morning. She did the spa thing yesterday, and snowboarded today. After an hour lesson, she was much improved. She hadn´t been on a board for 4 years. She is headed back to Temuco, where she lives and teaches English.

We are off to Santiago on a travel day tomorrow, then two days skiing at Portillo.

CASA tour week in Chile

Finished my first 6 days of skiing with the CASA tours. We started with two days of snowcat skiing in El Arpa www.skiarpa.com . The one lane road up, including the later snow covered part was an adventure in itself. The first day was one of the two best days they had this year. This area is owned and developed by Tony Sponar, an Austrian ski instructor from Aspen. The area is probably as large as all the areas in Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons in Utah. There are only 15 or so skiers there each day. The base lodge is about as big as double garage, with no electricity, and the second day no water as well. Unique is an understatement.

We then skied Portillo, Valle Nevado, La Parva, and El Colorado. The later three are really one huge area, but owned and operated by different uncooperative folks. Every lift at these areas is different from every other. From single pomas, to tbars, to 4 and 5 person pomas. The later are an experience on the way up.

I skied tele 3 days and alpine 3 days. Both are starting to feel like they did toward the end of the season last year. The conditions are highly variable, which of course brings out the worst in my skiing, but I am managing.

One bad experience, was my stupidity to drink water at San Rafel, which tasted bad. In fact I spent 15 hours in bed after the second day at El Arpa. Was better the next morning that heavens.

Back in Santiago now, and traveling to Chillan today with Will Wasson of Snofari www.snofari.com .

First day skiing in Chile

Amazing day. Got a late start due to fog, but as we drove up the incredible dirt road to the base of El Arpa it cleared into a blue sky day. The snow was awesome.Fun guys, guides, and day in general. The snow cat is open in the back, and you stand there for 30 minutes as it chugs up the road. The view of Aconcagna is truly amazing. It is the highest peak outside the Himalayas. I was on my teles, and skied them, even though I had forgotten just about everything to think about. Did fine on them and got better as the day went on. On about the 3rd run (I think we did 5 runs), my stomach started to hurt from some elevation issue, but I drank more water, ate partof a sandwich, and it felt better, in fact okay by the time we ended.Going back there tomorrow. It all depends on the weather how it goes, and what we do. I think a guide said it was one of the two best days this year!

Final preparations for Chile

My last few days of training and packing for Chile. I leave Saturday and arrive Sunday at 8 am. Going through Dallas on AA freq flyer miles - business class. The ticket, if I had purchased it, is $8000! Took 180,000 miles.

I feel pretty fit. I have been sleeping in an altitude tent at about 9500 feet. I am pretty sure I can feel the affect of higher hematocrit. Also been doing twice a week training sessions with a personal trainer at The Sporting Club. He really works me.

My broken collar bone is not an issue. I have done a lot of rehab and exercises. The ear infection I had months ago has caused a significant loss of hearing in my left ear, and my balance with my eyes shut, and standing on foam, is definitely affected. I have been going to vistibular rehab at Sharp Outpatient, and have significantly improved my over all balance, particularly with my eyes open. I expect to mostly be skiing with my eyes open, but in poor visibility conditions with flat light, I expect to have more problems than in the past. I actually think that with my eyes open I have better balance that before.

Dominque Biello, the daughter of my good friend Dom, is going to visit and snowboard a couple days at Termas de Chillan. She lives in Chile and teaches English, and travels around South America when she can. I am her first visitor.

More from Chile, when I can find the internet.

The weird summer vacation

On August 16, 2008 I am off to Chile for three weeks of skiing. I have 85 days in this year, and with 15 more this month and next, I'll hit 100. Guess I am the ski bum I always wished to be.
Recovered pretty much from my broken collar bone skiing on my 65th birthday, May 11th, at Snowbird, after the lifts closed on their final day of the contiguous season. And, also doing well from my ear infection which has caused me a lost of hearing and a ringing in my left ear, but worse, a vistibular balance problem. Have been going to an awesome rehad, and perhaps my balance is even better (with my eyes open). Check this blog and my ancient blog on www.eteamz.com/sites/calburgart for pictures and stuff on my trip. Plan to be in Utah again next winter. Come visit me!!