We arrived in Las Lenas just over a week ago and, despite a fantastic early season there had not been a significant snowfall for fourteen days. Fortunately, our presence brought over twenty centimeters of much needed accumulation and a day later our tenure began with an untouched, three thousand vertical foot run from the top of the infamous TS Marte. Apparently we have good timing.

The rest of the week involved varied slackcountry trips to the surrounding peaks of Torrecillas, Entre Rios and Martin in addition to another storm, and one of the best lift accessed powder days I have ever had. Six laps off the Marte and a quick jaunt to the Manhattan Couloir, all whilst barely crossing another track, is pretty tough to beat at any time of year, let alone your fourth day in the mountains.

I had many preconceived notions about Las Lenas before I even set foot in Argentina. With the rapidly decreasing size of our planet it’s not difficult to find information about any destination ski resort. Photographs and Trip Reports are tossed around the internet with ease. Friends, friends of friends and friends of acquaintances yearn to tell tales of their adventures experienced during the anti-summer. For those more predisposed to cold, hard facts, they are just as easily available. “Internet, please tell me what the average minimum temperature is in August when the humidity is less than 60 percent, and there has been over 20 centimeters of snow reported in the seven days prior. Four degrees Celsius? Good, I’ll dress accordingly.” The very thought of a blind date had become antiquated.

That being said, all the research, questions and pre-formed opinions STILL can’t replace some good, old fashioned “face-time”. Although the lines are becoming increasingly blurred, there is still no replacement for being there and experiencing. The blind date may be dead, but the date itself is not.

The TS Marte must be one the gnarliest lifts erected anywhere. Cerro Entre Rios has a lot of ridiculous lines. The Argentine party scene, although fun, does not always jive with the North American skiing scene. Bueno. Corbus is blustery and beautiful but needs a couch. Don’t get angry that you can’t go there; take the next best option as it is usually pretty good in its own right. Yes…Argentine ladies are unbelievably gorgeous. Castle Mountain may not be the windiest resort of all time. Vegetables are overrated, but then again, so is sugar. I’m very accustomed to non-smoking environments. The four Peso wine does alright for itself. Most people are less rad than they will tell you, but there are exceptions. Eleven thousand feet is high; your breath may run out before your legs. Fernet Bombs are not the Argentine equivalent of Jager Bombs. Lift access to lines like Frankie’s? Boot deep wind-buff, although different, is a venerable rival to waist deep powder; there is something to be said for going fast with very minimal effort. The pursuit of snowriding can unite people from many different origins; and that makes me smile.

Yes, it has only been a week, but these are my first impressions and everyone can appreciate the weight that they might carry. You know what I’ve deduced of Las Lenas so far but I can only muse as to what Las Lenas thinks of me. Things like “weak little thing”, “rubber legs”, and “tiny lungs” come to mind, but I can never be certain. All I can report is what I’ve experienced so far. Las Lenas is a burly, rock polluted, wind hammered, slackcountry ripe, beautiful woman infested haven for any skier attempting to fill the inevitable gap between Spring and Fall in the Northern Hemisphere. To say I’ve had one of the best early season ski weeks of my life doesn’t do it justice. I’ve simply had one of the best ski weeks of my life. It might just be good timing, but the possibilities here seem endless and I feel confident that throughout the two months I have remaining there will always be something to keep me intrigued. It would take a drastic event for me to refuse a second a date.

Words by Curt Derbyshire

Pictures by David Young, Scott Thumlert and Curt Derbyshire

Inspiration by Winter