Second fire at Chapelco Ski Resort within a couple of weeks.

Second fire at Chapelco Ski Resort within a couple of weeks. Ski Map of Chapelco ski resort.

Second fire at Chapelco Ski Resort within a couple of weeks.

The ski resort of Chapelco, in the Lake Region of the Argentine Patagonia, has suffered a second fire within a couple of weeks. The resort located just outside the village of San Martín de los Andes recorded a fire this morning, around 9.30 AM local time, in the equipment rental shop called Austria, located at the entrance of the resort.

Fire of the rental shop Austria in the base of Chapelco, in San Martin de los Andes. Second fire at Chapelco Ski Resort within a couple of weeks.
Fire of the rental shop Austria in the base of Chapelco, in San Martin de los Andes. Second fire at Chapelco Ski Resort within a couple of weeks.

For unknown reasons, the flames consumed in minutes the whole rental shop, while the tourists where running away barefoot. Three groups of firemen went to put the fire out.

A big dense cloud of smoke can be seen from the city, located 5 km from the resort. The skiers and tourists have been posting all day photos and videos on social media.

The fire occurred in the parking lot where the rental shops for picking up and leaving ski and snowboard equipment are located, and the shop called Austria was completely burnt. The firemen where working to avoid the fire to spread out.

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Today opens Chapelco #AbreChapelco.

Chapelco ski map. Today opens Chapelco #AbreChapelco.

Today opens Chapelco #AbreChapelco.

Chapelco Ski Resort is opening the winter ski season in Cerro Chapelco. Starting this morning at 9.30 AM the following ski lifts have opened: Telecabina, silla 36, magic carpet 1600, Silla Graeff, T-Bar and Filo. As soon as snow conditions allow it, the other sectors of the mountain will open.

Ski and Snowboard School, Kids nursery and kindergarden will be opened, as well as the equipment and clothing rental at the base area. The mountain restaurants Torino Winter Point, Patagonia Truck, the Base restaurant, the Riche Patagonia Chocolate Store, Antulauquen and the Casita del Bosque (little house in the forest) will be opened.

Today opens Chapelco #AbreChapelco.
Today opens Chapelco #AbreChapelco.

The snow sledging pulled by huskies will be operating, the snowshoeing circuits open and backcountry, as well as the rental of snowmobiles. Chapelco Fotos (Photo company) will also be operational.

CHAPELCO AND JUAN CRUZ ADROGUÉ AWARDED IN THE WORLD SKI AWARDS 2018

The Argentinean snow entrepreneur Juan Cruz Adrogué received the “Monumental Contribution to Ski Tourism” award in Austria as part of the 2018 World Ski Awards. Chapelco Ski Resort was the winner for the third time of the “Best Ski Resort in Argentina” award ”

Juan Cruz Adrogue of Chapelco receives his award for a Monumental Contribution to the Ski Tourism at the World Ski Awards. Photo: World Ski Awards & Cerro Chapelco. Today opens Chapelco #AbreChapelco.
Juan Cruz Adrogue of Chapelco receives his award for a Monumental Contribution to the Ski Tourism at the World Ski Awards. Photo: World Ski Awards & Cerro Chapelco. Today opens Chapelco #AbreChapelco.

The Academy of the World Ski Awards gave it special recognition for its monumental contribution to ski tourism as part of the sixth edition of the World Ski Awards, the Oscars of skiing, which were held at the gala on November 17, 2018 in the city Kitzbühel, Austria.

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Does the snow in the Northern Hemisphere correlates with the Southern Hemisphere?

Does the snow in the Northern Hemisphere correlates with the Southern Hemisphere? Photo: Valle de Las Leñas in Mendoza, Argentina.

Does the snow in the Northern Hemisphere correlates with the Southern Hemisphere?

As the snow season is to start in South America, we who are born and bred there – (not necessarilly all living there anymore, but many of my friends are doing double seaason- in Chile or Argentina and then Aspen or Vail usually), always tend to think that the snow in the Northern Hemisphere is correlated with the snow in the Southern Hemisphere, mostly when the season is going to start down under.

Summer what Summer?

In Southamerica, specifically in Chile there is a saying: “Abril lluvias mil” that can be translated as: “in April we will have lots of rain”, but this has changed over the last 10 years or so.

There have been lots of Aprils without any rain in the cities, and no snow up in the mountains.
In the High Andes, due to the rocky formation of the mountains, you need a good month of natural snow to cover well all the mountain. Lately, all ski areas have been proactive and started installing snowmaking cannons and guns as Mother Nature is not reliable.

Valle Nevado picture on 14 June. Does the snow in the Northern Hemisphere correlates with the Southern Hemisphere?
Valle Nevado picture on 14 June. Does the snow in the Northern Hemisphere correlates with the Southern Hemisphere?

Chile had the driest start of the year from January to May so far in the last six decades. If there is no rain, there is no snow. There is a front coming now, not sure how much will leave at the high Andes and how much at the lower ones – Accuweather does not show too much in this respect.

Snow-Forecast is a bit more optimistic! I As per Snow-Forecast, Las Leñas has received 42 cm in the past week and is expecting 19 more cm in the next three days. Others that benefited are Puma Lodge with 59 cm, Nevados de Chillan with 56 cm, Corralco with 55 cm and Villarrica-Pucón with 47 cm. Antillanca also got 32 cm, Volcan Osorno 30 cm, Caviahue, in Argentina got 19 cm, Catedral 16 cm and Valle Nevado 16 cm.

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Chapelco opened the ski season 2018.

Las Pendientes lodge by the side of Chapelco ski resort, great little place where to stay at Chapelco.

Ski trails opened between the 1250 and 1700 cotes. Chapelco is expecting big snowfalls in the next days now that they opened their ski season 2018.

Chapelco has opened its ski season 2018 with a classic winter day of fog and bad weather, the ski resort has opened its Cablecar, the Chairlift Graeff, the Chairlift 63 and the Chairlift Rancho Grande with 1000 visitors to enjoy the snow in the trails that go from Plataforma 1700 until the base of the chairlift Rancho Grande at 1250 m approximately.

Chapelco - Patagonia, Argentina.
Chapelco – Patagonia, Argentina.

With a temperature of 2 C, moderate winds and little visibility, Chapelco offered 35 cm of compact snow in its Platform 1600. All areas of Ski and Snowboard School, Nursery and Snow Kindergarden, dog sledges, snow shoes and snowmobile were open to the public. The equipment rental in the base of Chapelco and the photo service received as well the first visitants. All the mountain restaurants opened their doors and showed the World Cup games on big Led screens on HD.

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