Snow Falls In South America

There have been several snow storms in the last couple of weeks in the Andes. Most ski resorts have great snow conditions. All the main resorts in Chile & Argentina have sufficiently good snow conditions and good snow bases.
Termas de Chillán got half a metre of fresh powder this last weekend.
Valle Nevado with it's higher altitude slopes is the main resort for skiing or snowboarding near to Santiago making up the 3 Valleys of Chile with La Parva & El Colorado. Portillo has also benefited from the recent snow storms and Snoventures still have a few spaces available.
Argentina and particularly Catedral Bariloche has had significant snow falls and is now fully stocked for the next few weeks.

Portillo and Valle Nevado Roads Now Open

The road between Santiago and Portillo Ski resort is again open to traffic heading for the resort. The road however remains shut at the border with Argentina meaning there is no road access to Mendoza.
The road between Santiago and Valle Nevado & the Three Valleys if now fully open.

Massive Storm Hits the Andes

Over the last few days the Andes of Chile & Argentina have been pounded by a huge snow storm. The roads to Portillo and Valle Nevado near to Santiago have both been closed preventing access to these key Chilean ski resorts.
The road to Portillo was shut at the normal holding point near to Los Andes where as Valle Nevado was shut a few miles short of the resort where the road forks from the main Farellones road. Access to La Parva & El Colorado has been possible.
With clearer weather forecast until at least the weekend all access are expected to be open again today.
Portillo are currently reporting on their website the road being closed.
Valle Nevado report the access road as being open.
(at 4.50 am Santiago time)

Recent Snow in South America

In the last few days there has been new snow at Portillo, Valle Nevado, El Colorado & La Parva in Chile and Chapelco & Cerro Catedral (Bariloche) in Argentina.
More snow is forecast intermittently over the next 9 days.

Chile and Argentina - Latest Ski Conditions

Snow Conditions in the South American Andes
Chile & Argentina Ski Resorts Recent Data

Country / Resort	Lower Slopes	Upper Slopes	Last Snowed	Snow Forecast	On Piste	Off Piste	Lifts Open
Argentina
Cerro Catedral	5cm	60cm	13 Jul (5cm)	19cm	Wet	Heavy	19 out of 25
Chapelco	8cm	24cm	13 Jul	16cm	Packed	Limited	6 out of 10
Las Lenas	185cm	371cm	12 Jul (5cm)	27cm	Packed	Varied	13 out of 1
Chile
Chapa Verde	20cm	60cm	21 Jun (10cm)	20cm	Closed		0 out of 6
El Colorado	80cm	120cm	13 Jul (10cm)	11cm	Powder	Tracked	13 out of 18
La Parva	185cm	300cm	13 Jul (10cm)	6cm	Powder	Tracked	13 out of 14
Portillo	163cm	175cm	13 Jul (30cm)	4cm	Powder	Powder	6 out of 13
Termas de Chillan	10cm	80cm	12 Jul (2cm)	49cm	Hard	Limited	8 out of 11
Valle Nevado	80cm	80cm	13 Jul (10cm)	12cm	Powder	Tracked	12 out of 12

Valle Nevado Road Schedule

Note: For safety reasons, the Chilean Police department restricts the use of the access road to the Mountains throughout the ski season. Below are outlined the restrictions:
Monday – Friday (except holidays)
Ascent and descent throughout the day.
Saturday, Sundays, and holidays
Only ascents from 8:00 – 14:00
Only descents from 16:00 – 20:00
No restriction from 20:00 until next morning 8:00 AM.

El Colorado Opens June 5th 2008

El Colorado will open their lifts for the 2008 season on Thursday June 5th. So early, a clear indication on the amount of snow that has been falling in the Andes.