Bienvenido a la Patagonia, a vast region stretching over the southernmost tip of South America, where pure wilderness prevails. Once it’s wintertime, some of it turns into an untamed snowy expanse—providing backcountry skiing addicts the opportunity to cruise through miles upon miles of untouched powder. This is a guided 5-day hut-to-hut ski tour in the Bariloche, filled with quintessential Patagonian landscapes, piercing spires, and steep ridges of the grand Andes. With its varied terrain options—from exciting tree skiing and steep couloirs to mellower slopes and bowls—Patagonia is the spot for practicing on your objectives. After full days in the field, you’ll retreat to your snug and cozy huts, always warm, always dry, and always supplied with food. Step into one of the wildest areas on Earth, let your expert IFMGA guide lead you through Patagonian wilderness, and ski your heart out!
Patagonia’s boundless expanses are the perfect winter playground for backcountry skiing enthusiasts. This is a guided 5-day hut-to-hut ski touring adventure in Bariloche, where an IFMGA guide will be on your side to lead you through Patagonian wilderness and help you work on your objectives. You’ll be based out of the mountain lodges—Frey Hut and Jakob Hut—allowing you to simply ski out the door and seize the day. Once you’re done shredding snow, and as the night falls, you’ll retreat to your cozy, warm hut and recharge your batteries for the following day.
What you get on this adventure:
What’s not included:
Backcountry skiing in Patagonia requires excellent physical shape. To enjoy the 5-day hut-to-hut option, you have to be capable of skinning up 800 m (2,620 ft) to 1,200 m (3,940 ft) per day and moving around 10 km (6 miles) on longest days. You’ll spend 6-8 hours a day in the field.
The 4-day open schedule Patagonia backcountry skiing tour is suitable for multiple backcountry skiing levels, from backcountry beginners to experienced all-terrain skiers!
Regarding steepness and elevation gains, there’s a wide range of options from mild open faces to steep committing couloirs, so each day can be adapted to group’s skills, physical abilities, and goals. Still, keep in mind that skiing in the backcountry demands an advanced technical level of skiing/snowboarding downhill, and you need to be capable of traveling downhill in all conditions—deep or hard snow. If the group is hungry for more, and if snow conditions allow, days can be even longer!
To participate in the 5-day hut-to-hut tour, previous backcountry skiing experience is mandatory. You will be skiing, touring, and summiting on glaciated terrain for 6-8 hours a day, traversing around 10 km (6 miles) on longest days with 800 m (2,620 ft) to 1,200 m (3,940 ft) of elevation gain.
If you don’t have that much experience or are new to backcountry, consider the 4-day open schedule option. Your expert IFMGA guide will adapt the itinerary to match your skills and ambition while keeping you safe with their experience and avalanche training. While you’ll need strong skiing abilities and fitness, this trip can accommodate experienced all-terrain skiers and backcountry beginners alike. If you’re after a gentler introduction to backcountry, joining a guide for a day of intro to backcountry skiing might be a good idea. Not sure which option fits? Contact us and let’s plan the perfect trip together.
A full and detailed list will be provided once you’ve booked the trip. This is a general overview of what you will need. Please note that backcountry ski gear is scarce in the area, so it’s highly recommended you bring your own equipment.
For technical backcountry ski touring gear, you will need to bring:
For personal items, appropriate mountain clothing and personal necessities are recommended, including but not limited to the following list:
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The huts you’ll be staying at are nestled deeply in the Patagonian wilderness, so don’t expect luxury accommodations. Still, the huts are cozy and warm, offering a bed or a mattress in a shared room, a dining room, and a kitchen. The cook makes meals for the guests and they make sure the fire keeps burning. Toilets are in separate buildings and showers are not available during winter months. Generally, the mountain huts you’ll be staying at have electricity, but that might not always be the case.
Backcountry skiing gear is difficult to get in Bariloche, and you will not have many options to choose from. It’s recommended that you bring your own gear. If you don’t have it, let us know in good time to see if the guide is able to rent some gear for you in Patagonia.
Group sizes and prices:
Backcountry skiing in Patagonia can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.
Min. age requirements:
If your group has skiers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
To get to Catedral Ski Resort, the starting point of your backcountry skiing tour in Bariloche, most people fly into San Carlos de Bariloche Airport (BRC). Once you get there, it’s best to rent a car—it will take you around 45 minutes to get to Catedral Ski Resort, your meeting point for the 5-day tour.
Once you and your guide agree on the details of your itinerary for the 4-day tour, your guide will suggest the best place to meet, whether that’s at the guide shop or a predetermined location. The guide will choose the appropriate terrain dependent on conditions and the ability of the group.
We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with both medical and travel protection. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible, simply choose Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner!
Redpoint tailors their protection packages for adventure travel, offering a comprehensive travel program, even in remote locations. Trip cancellation, natural disasters, pandemic coverage, medical evacuation, primary medical expenses—regardless of the travel interruption that may happen, Redpoint will have you covered.
Once your booking is confirmed and your trip is paid in full, you will be offered to purchase Redpoint’s protection. If you need any help or require more information, let us know and we will be happy to help!
For set dates, a 50% deposit to secure your place is due upon booking. The remaining amount is paid 3 months (90 days) prior to departure. Once the trip is confirmed by the guide, the cancellation policy stated below applies.
Early Bird booking
Want to be the first one to know when we publish new dates or secure your spot well in advance? Select a future month that suits you best and lock in your Early Bird spot in time with just a 10% deposit.
As soon as our guides publish new tour dates, you’ll be the first one to know. We’ll hold your spot for 2 weeks until you choose the date that suits you best.
More about how Early Bird bookings work below:
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