Wind Continues to Blow in Las Lenas, 9-1-08

The wind continues to blow in Las Lenas. It is our third down day. After yesterday, we were sure Marte would run and if not we were prepared to go skinning. We were up at 8 and ready to go, only to find that it was so windy that nothing was running. Another down day. The thought of sitting and listening to the wind was too much for our crew to handle and we decided to brave the wind and go for a skin.After skinning for two hours in gail force winds, we decided it wasn’t worth it. Call us lame, but who wants to brave the wind to ski two foot deep sustrugi? We didn’t.Defeated by the wind, we retreated back to the trailhead and ate our lunch. There is a storm “blowing” in. Maybe we will wake to a fresh blanket of snow and no wind. Maybe?

Lenas, Saturday, 8/30

After spending a week staying in Mallargue, we made the move up to Las Lenas. Mallargue is a much cheaper option to staying in Lenas, but the bus ride is a bit long. When we arrived in Lenas, the wind was blowing, but Marte was running. We were able to get one run off Marte. Here’s a few photos from our last bus ride and one run off Marte for Saturday.

The bus is supposed to come every day at 8:30, but sometimes it is a “little” late.

We stopped every day at a goat farm to trade eggs etc. This is about half way to Las Lenas.

The snow was consistent and we were happy to be skiing. The wind continued to blow. No that’s not powder, it is a spin drift attacking me.

Collin get’n some wind slab.

Chris wanted some too!

It was a little softer over here!

Skiing Pow In Las Lenas 8/26-8/29

Santa Rosa hit Las Lenas on Tuesday 8/26. On Wednesday, Eric’s birthday, Marte opened for a few hours and we skied Las Lenas in three feet of pow. Not a bad birthday present. This a photo re-cap of the storm.

It started snowing on Tuesday, 8-26. We went to bed dreaming of pow.

On wednesday, Eric’s Birthday, we awoke to three feet of powder and Marte was running! You couldn’t ask for a better birthday present.

Eric sang “Happy Birthday to Me” the entire way down Edwardos.

I was all smiles!

Wednesday was an amazing day and we celebrated with an Argentine Asado. Huge thanks to Abe and Mike!

Thursday we were ready for more pow skiing only to find that Marte was closed due to wind. Conditions started to deteriorate.

First down day in Lenas. A few gringos tried to hike up and caused a small slide.

The wind has continued to blow.

Bike and Wine – Mendoza, Argentina

Eric and I joined Collin O’Farrell in Denver and headed for Las Lenas Argentina. The first week has been great, wine tours in Mendoza and powder skiing in Las Lenas.

If you have a long layover in Santiago and do not want to pay the tax, $100US to enter the country, I highly recommend the Admiral’s Club. It will cost $30 US for all the food, booze, and free WiFi. Not a bad way to spend the day.

If you are in Mendoza, the Bikes and Wine Tour is a must. The tour includes a bike and a map. It is a blast. Don’t miss the museum, it was my favorite part. After the museum, there a 8 different vinyards and two olive oil factories. It is a great way to spend the day.

Wine was first produced by stretching a cow hide, women would get inside and squish the grapes, then they would open the hole and the juice would pore out.

It is nice to end the day watching the sunset over a bottle of Argentina’s best.