The week-long storm that has dumped 1.60 meters, (6 feet) of snow in some areas in Patagonia has now pushed north into Valle Nevado, Portillo, and Las Lenas. This welcome storm has dropped 50 cms (20 inches) in Portillo since its start yesterday, and is forecasted to continue into late Thursday.

The snows continue in Termas de Chillan. In Pucon, Chile, I was luck to take advantage of a quick break in the storm on the 8th and get a quick tour in on the active volcano. Now, you currently cannot reach the ski resort due to the depth of the snow in the road above the CONAF station. This is the coldest, most consistent early snowfall we have seen in the Villarica-Pucon area in our 9 year history guiding in the Andes.

The snowfall has now tappered off in Catedral around Bariloche that was hit the hardest from this storm, receiving a reported 160 centimeters. PowderQuest assistant guide, Mo Rasiah, currently in Esquel, Argentina is reporting 40 cms at the base at La Hoya and 70 cms at midstation. While info remains sketchy from Chapleco, outside of San Martin de Los Andes, the resort is reporting over 70 cms in the parking lot.

For updated, unbiased snow reports check out PowderQuest We will be making updates as this storm continues and throughout the season using a combo of weather models, PowderQuest guide reports, and gathered info from our community of freeriders on both sides of the mighty Andes. South America's 2007 season starts this weekend in most areas.

See you down here,

PowderQuest