Argentinian Powder Skiing Destination Confirms Opening Date

Elsewhere in South America, the ski season is already underway. Portillo, Chile, opened for the season on June 21. Before skiers hit the slopes, over a foot of snow fell. Valle Nevado, another Chilean destination, got a head start, first spinning its lifts on June 13. Both ski resorts have already seen over five feet of snow so far.

Nestled in the Andes mountains near the Chilean border, Las Leñas reaches above 11,000 feet. Fourteen lifts and 30 named runs criss-cross the mountain’s slopes. The Marte double chair, known for accessing a bevy of upper mountain freeride terrain, might be Las Leñas’ crown jewel.

Inbound areas aren’t the ski resort’s only draw, though. According to Powder Quest, a guiding service, Las Leñas borders a massive bounty of easily-accessed backcountry areas. The guiding service calls it a “paradise for steep terrain junkies looking for the ultimate Andean buzz thriller.” The ski resort typically operates between June and September.

While the North American ski resort is coming to a close—only one mountain on the continent, Timberline Lodge, remains open for lift-served, outdoor skiing—the southern hemisphere offers the promise of year-round winter.

Las Leñas is one option among many, but for North American visitors, Valle Nevado might be the easiest place to start. The Chilean resort is part of several multi-passes geared towards residents of the U.S., including the Power Pass and Ikon Pass. La Parva, which borders Valle Nevado, is also accessible with the Power Pass.

We’re not saying you should book a plane ticket—plane tickets are expensive—but if you already had plans to travel internationally this summer, why not go skiing?