Mucho Viento but also Mucho Nieve

Once again the winds howled, and howled.  Lots of suffering but some satisfaction today. As I sit here and type my neck is sore from being hunched over all day, striving upwards against the wind. Termas de Chillan is closed due to the winds and snow over the last few days so we are touring up the hill. Its one of the safe spots where I can get some decent vertical while not being exposed and scared of the unknown/unseen.  I saw this car park here on Sunday and now two days later…

Its coming down that’s for sure, and getting blown around. It will be fun to see around when it finally clears but I can’t complain when it’s  like this….

Dave getting deep, and having a blast.  Many windy laps and good snow, which started slabbing up and getting a little upside down by the afternoon. More snow on the forecast for tomorrow…..

Mucho viento

This is without a doubt the windiest place I have been, or at least consistently. I read that powder does not last long since the winds get to it before your skis do. I did not realize it the first few days but I was really lucky, now whenever the winds blow less than 40km an hour I feel lucky.

Pretty cool shot of someones footsteps. Its a funny thing, when he/she stepped here their feet sunk in, but when the winds blew, they are all that remained.  Toured to the hot springs yesterday, and finally got a vehicle. Not our final vehicle but one to use for now. Today I toured some in the morning, enduring some serious winds 50km+, I felt like I was doing some wind training! I then enjoyed some family time and returned for an evening lap. 30 cm of fresh snow between my morning laps and my afternoon ones. and its still dumping!

8700 ft yesterday, 9300 feet today. Finally starting to get some vert.

Still hitchin

I am not sure if its my frustration showing about still not having a vehicle, but after 1.5 hours I couldn’t stand there any longer and came home and edited. This “deal” on a rental is not helping my goal at all. Supposed to be today at noon, now tomorrow at noon. Each day is wasted and my goal will require bigger and bigger days.

Well today was not totally wasted, a friend, David arrived last night and we toured up the Volcano Nuevo and came home by noon to get my car. 5000 ft so not a total loss but still some vertical lost.&^%&** I need a vehicle so I can dictate my days, hitchin and getting nowhere does not help.

Anyways, I am learning more and more about touring in Chile each day. The wind,viente, is a constant. Today the gusts were up to 70km, almost blowing us over at times. Supposedly powder does not last long because of this so when it comes, take advantage of it.  Ski crampons are always worth carrying.

Windslab,crusts and sastrugi (?) all a common sight around here. But we did manage to find the softer snow and enjoy ourselves.  Real snow coming on Sunday, which is much needed and will be much enjoyed.

Thanks to Tom Pitts,Michael Davies, and Ptor Spricenieks, who donated to my cause. I am being blown away by this support and it will help me get my momentum back.

Today is half time. 183 days in and 182 days to go. I am at 923 474 ft, 14 days behind schedule. Will I be able to catch back up?  An obvious question.  Hell yes I will, this is like a marathon where you realize that your pace has been a little slow, and now its the final half and time to pick it up. So its going to take some time but I am not letting go. No sprinting now, but a faster more aggressive pace for sure.  Especially once I get a car. Please let it be tomorrow.Please…