Conditions Report – Low Tide and Proper Adventures in the Northern Patagonia Backcountry

Featured Image: Sascha Geist

It’s been a tricky winter in Argentina, specifically in northern Patagonia. Storms have been intermittent, with the snow pack remaining variable. However, conditions have been turning around as of late, with the high alpine skiing looking better and better. We wanted to get the current update from one of our favorite freeride fanatics, Sascha Geist. Words and photos from the man in the field below.

Unfortunately, this year has been very dry, despite the fact that we had a polar vortex in June. Overall, there has been very little precipitation. I’ve skied one day this year at my local ski resort, and there is very little snow. Cerro Catedral [Ski Area], for example, is closed at the top and the rest of the Andes mountain range looks similar, with very little snow.

We are well below the average snow level compared to the last few years. This week we are getting some storms and a lot of snow to the south, so hopefully the cold weather stays and our snowpack builds.

*Prolonged precipitation is expected in the Cerro Catedral region | **Photo**: Courtesy of Open Snow*

The day these photos were taken was one of the best days of the season so far. We were able to ski a really fun line and the snow was good on the way down. Of course, we want to ski bigger lines, but we’ll have to wait for conditions to line up.

The region where I live is in northern Patagonia, known as the Seven Lakes Region. It’s where the famous Route of the Seven Lakes, which connects the city of San Martin de Los Andes with Bariloche, is located. I usually ski around San Martin de Los Andes. The backcountry there is amazing and there are a lot of options, with several mountains and volcanoes in the area.

Right now, I’m just hoping the winter will improve around here, so that I can start planning a few greater objectives. I don’t want to get too far ahead of myself, though, so we’ll have to be patient before starting to think about which lines are in. Keep praying for snow!

Check out photos and video below from a day with Geist scouting lines in the Seven Lakes Region