South America Snow Sessions 2009: September

September is one of my favorite months of the year. Not only because of my Virgo birthday, but it’s also a special time weather-wise. Summer’s not quite over; Fall has not quite begun. It’s the perfect blend of seasons—the sun lingers around trying to hold on during the days while the nights are cool and comfortable. Of course, that’s in North America. In Argentina, it’s actually the opposite: while summer winds down and cold weather approaches in the States, winter is just about over and Spring is right around the corner. The storms bring in the snow followed by crystal clear bluebird days… ideal conditions for riding the big mountain terrain Argentina is famous for. Luckily this year, I decided to stick around for at least the first week of the month and was rewarded with the best days of the entire trip. SASS head guide Skylar Holgate knows about September all too well, and before leaving for Las Leñas showed me a few of his secret stashes at Cerro Catedral.

Unfortunately however, the trip claimed my camera in a strange loss at one of the hotels. Needless to say, I felt crippled without being able to document the rest of my days on the hill and about town. But I wasn’t about to be shut down completely; as I’ve said before, the iPhone does come thru in a pinch. It’s doesn’t exactly have the exposure capabilities to handle bright light on fresh snow, but it’s better than nothing. The last week was spent hiking all over Laguna, Cerro Catedral’s picturesque back bowl, nailing fresh turns, little chutes and cliff drops all around. The best line though was actually off the backside, through a 2000+ vertical foot couloir filled with light, fluffy, shaded powder.

During that last week at camp, we awoke to blue skies above and frost on the ground below, pretty much just what you wanna see. This is the view headed over to breakfast from the coaches’ house. Knowing my days here were numbered, the sight was something to cherish and a wave of appreciation washed over me each morning—knowing that you’re exactly where you want to be at that moment is a feeling that can’t be beat.

The bottom of the hill was pretty scarce by this point, and you either had to download or ride as far as you could on the cattrack and hike out. No matter though, it was well worth it for the lines awaiting up top.

Laguna is filled with options—cliff drops of all sizes, powder turns left and right, little chutes, jump spots… you name it.

This view of the one of the many lakes below isn’t bad either.

Simply beautiful.

This is what it looks like after we’re done with it.

The crew checkin out Burns’ booter at the bottom.

These guys were sending it.

Skylar and I opted for a hike to the top to drop off the backside.

This is what it looks like from up there, with the 3,491 meter Mt. Tronador in the background.

“Uh… Hey buddy, you sure you know where we’re goin’?”

Of course he does.

I live for lines like these.

The long hike home.

Whew, I made it!

Let’s ride back down to the bottom.

Straight to Mute for Nat’s Birthday Party.

Yes, I’ll have a Quilmes please.

Since camp was over and Spring had arrived, we were all saying goodbye to Bariloche. Some of the coaches were headed North to Las Leñas, others South to Ushuaia. As for me, it was time to come home. It was a great month filled with lots of travel, knee-deep pow days, all-night parties and some of my favorite people on the planet. Big thanks go out to everyone at SASS: the coaches, the staff, the campers, the people at Valle Del Sol, Mute, Dusk, Tage and everyone in the SASS family. Enjoy some more pictures of the town below taken before the camera got lost and by Z Trip.

No shortage of wine in Argentina.

Or beer.

Or meat.

One of our favorite spots.

And another.

And another.

Fernet and Coke.

Albertos does not play.

Bife de lomo.

Skylar knows what he wants.

Seriously.

Malbec, the staple.

Z Trip and I found a couple cool breweries. Little taster.

We found a cool crib to rent too. Lots of comedy there.

Good Empanada spot down the street.

Sick views.

And lots of keys to get in.

Plenty of cool design here.

And street art/graffiti too:

Until next year…