More Pow Skiing in Russia

Catching a Little Air in Russia

Craig Garbiel Loving the Powder in Russia

Craig Garbiel Enjoying His Face Shot

Lenas 9-7-08

Quick Lenas Weather Report from Matt Annetts. I was too beat up to go skiing today and had to finish some homework. Skiing pow six days in a row will take it out of you: No new snow. The wind is strong at the top of the mountain, but Marte is still running. There is still some powder to be found in the nooks and cranies, if you know where to look. The north facing snow is sun crusted. And the vis is grey-bird.

Thanks Matt!

Marte Pow Day

I don’t know if words can describe how good today was. It was one of those days that you never forget. After three down days and then two days of the worst visibility ever on the lower mountain, it happened. The sky was blue and Marte opened.

Marte was scheduled to open around 10:00, but nothing in Argentina happens when they say it will. We loaded the lift at 9:00 and headed up. When we reached the bottom of Marte, we discovered that we weren’t the only gringos hopingMarte would open. Ski Patrol had a pop fence up and gringos were poised and ready.

We sat for two hours waiting for patrol to let us go. Finally it happen, the most aggressive chinese downhill in history. The fence was trampled down. There was pushing, shoving, grabbing, and a few casualties. But it was all worth it because there is nothing like a blue bird powder day off Marte.

We skied two untouched shots offMarte. My favorite quote from Chris included, “Wow! That was long! I don’t know what AK is like, but that was huge!”

After multiple down days, Colin was starting to wonder why we convinced him to come to Lenas. He didn’t expect a lot, “Skiing in the summer is kind of novelty, but Las Lenas is the real deal. This isn’t just skiing in September, this is getting it done in September.”

Today was an incredible day. Tomorrow we hike………………….

I hope everyone enjoyed the Powder stoke. I am. The last photo is to give you an idea of how much snow fell while we were doing our laundry.

Three Feet of Snow In Las Lenas – 03-09-08

Today was sick. After another down day Tuesday, we were so psyched to wake up to three feet of new snow and no wind. There was too much snow for the upper mountain to open, aka Marte, but Volcano eventually opened and the skiing was over head all day. Here’s a few pics to get you fired up. Oh! Did I mention it is still snowing?

Chris Trezzo so happy with his descision to stay one more week in Las Lenas!

That’s a lot of snow!

I gave Colin O’Farrell a written guarentee that he would ski powder in Lenas. He’s just cashing in !

Mike lov’n Argentina!

So happy I paid extra to bring the Kuros down!

Jess and Colin finding it hard to believe that the rumor is true, “Patrol said there is 2 meters of snow at the top of mountain.” I think I found heaven!

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?

Las Lenas 8/31/08

The wind continues to nuke, Marte is closed, and it is another down day in Las Lenas.All of the gringos are getting tired of sitting around. We all loaded at 9:00 just to sit and watch Marte not open.

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.

Las Lenas Fashion Show

This is for you BIG AL. Not only are you missing Pow days off Marte, you missed the Fashion Show.