All Images: Courtesy of Valle Nevado
This winter has been intense for the Andes Mountains. The high peaks of South America have seen record snow totals this year, with numbers that seem downright outrageous at first glance. There have been pow days and storm cycles delivering more than 12 feet in a 10-day stint, but we've also seen road closures and weeks of isolation for resorts. These are just some of the notable headlines from our friends down South.
Now, Chile's Valle Nevado Resort has announced they'll be extending their season, with plans to spin lifts through December 1. The new closing date puts Valle Nevado's 2026 total operating days at 154, making it the longest season in the resort's history.
There have been no shortage of pow turns in South America this season
There have been no shortage of pow turns in South America this season
The recent extension comes as the resort had originally planned to stay open through November 8, a date that is already quite late for ski season in the Central Andes. "When we announced that we would extend the season through November 8, we were already making history. Today, we are taking another step forward and demonstrating the full potential of our mountain," said Valle Nevado General Manager, Dominique Rudloff.
While temperatures remain low enough to hold snow overnight, spring has certainly sprung at Valle Nevado. With that in mind, the resort is switching to weekend-only operations starting November 13, running lifts from 8:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Then, on Friday, November 27, they'll remain open through closing day, Tuesday, December 1. With a base elevation of 9,925 feet above sea level, Valle Nevado is well positioned to ride out this favorable snow pack.
Like all of Mother Nature's extremes, massive snow totals don't come without side effects. The El Niño pattern responsible for immense snow over the last few months has also released turential downpours in South America, resulting in flooding across Paraguay, Uraguay, Brazil and lower elevation areas of Chile and Argentina.
These valleys and drainages have been pushed to their limits due to the massive amounts of melting snow and heavy rains. Here, rivers can meander for hundereds of miles, collecting water from countless sources, making them life-threatening forces when conditions align. Thankfully, water levels have settled in recent weeks, with stable temperatures giving rise to consistent, predictable snow melt.
A massive thanks is owed to all the resort operations workers who kept the lights on in the Andes over the previous months, and congrats to all those still getting their turns in at Valle Nevado.
