Ski central-south of Chile
The central-south of Chile has the best guarantee of finding real snow in good quantity for skiing. In the last couple of years, the ski fields close to the capital, Santiago, have suffered from a lack of snow, apparently global warming taking effect.
This year (2020), there is doubt whether the ski centres in Chile will be able to open in time for the start of the ski season due to the Coronavirus. When they do open, it will most certainly be with the social distancing measures required for the the prevention of Coronavirus, meaning a reduced capacity of visitors per day.
An alternative option to take advantage of the snow and the reduced number of tourists is to go backcountry and practise randonnée o splitboard, or trekking with snow shoes. If you haven´t done any of these previously, you can rent some equipment and take a class or tour or go out with an experienced friend.
Backcountry excursions don´t have to be as serious and difficult as shown in this video, but I´ve included it to show the exhiliration that one feels on being out in nature, in virgin snow with no tracks, surrounded by the milennial Araucaria forest http://<a href=”https://www.youtube.com/wahttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvK_sUs0x1w&feature=youtu.betch?v=NvK_sUs0x1w&feature=youtu.be” rel=”noopener noreferrer” target=”_blank”></a>
Nevados de Chillan
This ski centre is the largest centre south of Santiago. There are two areas of accommodation: Los Nevados de Chillan and the second, Las Trancas, 7km from the ski centre.
There are short and longer routes for randonnée leaving from Nevados de Chillan.In a couple of hours one can get to the Garganta del Diablo (Devil´s Throat) hut, one of the few mountain huts that exist in Chile. The hut is delapidated but one can shelter there and even use it as a base from which to explore backcountry routes and climbs.
Corralco
At Corralco ski centre and the surrounding mountains, some 7 metres (23 feet)of snow accumulates. Some 12km from Corralco the mountain village, Malalcahuello, offers alternative and cheaper accommodation.
If Corralco ski centre doesn´t open in June or July 2020, equally one can enjoy ranndonée around Volcano Lonquimay and in the Araucaria forest surrounding Malalcahuello.
There are two options that are popular with backcountry skiers and splitboarders. One of those places is called Los Arenales, located between Corralco and the small city of Lonquimay; it has a refugio where you can stay and a cafeteria/restaurant. The second option is Sierra Nevada. The mountain chalets Chile Wild-Las Vertientes de Malalcahuello, who own a conservation property on the mountain, offer professionally guided tours of the route which starts behind the town of Malalcahuello. Sierra Nevada can also be accessed from the valley behind the Termas de Malalcahuello. Both routes involve traversing through Araucaria and Nothofagus forest and arriving at a glacier if you manage to get to the summit. For both routes it is recommended to go with an experienced local mountaineer or professional guide.
