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…

OMG

Oh my God, the whole vehicle thing is driving me a little nuts. I will be getting one soon but somehow it is taking longer than I expected. I had hopes to have one last week, then today and now I will wait till Friday. It will be a decent Galloper, 4+4 older but reliable and a little cheaper than rental agencies. Which charge around 2000$US per month, not affordable for me. Especially for 4 months. I had thoughts of buying; but to buy something decent would be around 10 000$ and then being able to sell it at the end would not be easy. So rental from a friend of a friend seems to be the best option; ask me in four months and I will really know then.

I have been touring strictly off Termas de Chillan, a resort that is based at 5000ft and goes to 8000 from there the Volcanoes and hot springs are accessible.

Since I have not had a car Stuart, the owner of Cabanas Los Andes, has come up with me for some fitness and then left me to my own madness. The cabins he owns are great, rent-able by the day or the week. Price varies depending on time of season and length of stay. Somewhere from 70$ per day to 200$. Stuart is British, which made reservations easier, and he enjoys morning ski tours.

The most frustrating is that each day I devote to getting the vehicle becomes a lost day and means I am further behind than I wished. C’est la Vie but the time will come when I will pound skin track till I get back after it.

You know I felt a little funny putting that “DONATE” button on my site, but it has actually been hit a few times. Thanks to Jerimy Arnold, Wade Galloway and Mark Morrison. Apart from being really grateful I will thank everyone who donates on this blog and in the final movie, which I will make into a Dvd and put in film festivals.