What you get on this adventure: An experienced, IFMGA Full Mountain Guide with extensive knowledge of the area 5-day backcountry skiing tour in Patagonia Accommodation in huts (4 nights) Personal insurance Ticket to access the mountain via Cathedral Ski Resort on Day 1 All meals during the tour Transfer to and from the trailhead to your hotel What’s not included: Technical backcountry ski touring equipment Accommodation prior to and after the tour Transportation to Patagonia Sleeping bag Guide gratuities — optional

How fit do I need to be?

This Patagonia backcountry skiing tour is meant for people in excellent physical shape, 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. Regarding steepness and elevation gains, there’s a wide range of options from mild open faces to steep commiting 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! If this seems too much for you and you feel like you need something easier (or even if you’re a total backcountry skiing beginner), please reach out to us and let us plan it for you.

What if I’ve never backcountry skied before?

To participate in this tour, you need to have previous backcountry skiing experience. 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. Your expert IFMGA guide has the experience and avalanche training necessary to keep you safe. If you’ve never backcountry skied before, we suggest joining a guide for a day of intro to backcountry skiing. If you’re keen on skiing in Patagonia, please reach out to us and let us plan it for you!

What do I need to bring?

Full and detailed list will be provided once you’ve booked the trip. This is a general overview of what you will need. For technical backcountry ski touring gear, you will need to bring: Alpine touring skis, telemark skis or splitboard with skins Touring boots and poles Bindings and bindings crampons For personal items, we recommend bringing appropriate mountain clothing and personal necessities, including but not limited to the following list: -10° compactable sleeping bag. Daypack large enough to carry all items listed (around a 30-40L backpack) Snacks Helmet Sunglasses or ski goggles Gloves and hat Wind and waterproof shell jacket with hood (Gore-Tex recommended) Ski pants (Gore-Tex recommended) Down jacket or vest Synthetic or wool base layers, underwear and socks One triple-action locking carabiner or two conventional locking carabiners Repair kit and Leatherman for your equipment (can be shared between several people) Water bottle or bladder Thermos with a warm beverage — optional First aid kit Sunscreen Camera — optional

What are the mountain huts like?

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, both mountain huts you’ll be staying at have electricity, but that might not always be the case.

Can I rent equipment?

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 time to see if the guide is able to buy or rent some gear in Patagonia.

Group sizes and age requirements

Group sizes and prices: For this backcountry skiing tour in Patagonia, the usual client-to-guide ratio is 6:1. The price of the tour is based on a two-person minimum. If you’re joining solo, it’s mandatory that you add a single supplement to your booking. Backcountry skiing in Patagonia can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements. Min. age requirements: If you are older than 18, you’re good to go. Minors may be permitted to join private tours on a case-by-case basis. If your group has skiers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.

Getting there and meeting location

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. Once you and your guide agree on the details of your itinerary, 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.

Safety measures during your trip

We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with both emergency medical and travel insurance. With medical insurance, if you have an accident or medical emergency on or off the mountain, you’ll avoid paying out of pocket for costly expenses. This covers everything from hospital treatments to emergency air transportation and more. Travel insurance covers canceled flights, natural disasters and other scenarios that may interrupt your travel plans. We also expect you to respect local regulations and take measures to protect yourselves, your guides, and the communities you’re traveling to. If you need assistance selecting the right insurance for your group, let us know and we will be happy to help!

Guided backcountry skiing in Patagonia, Bariloche

BARILOCHE | ARGENTINA

Patagonia Backcountry Skiing: Hut-to-Hut in Bariloche

5.00 ()

Season

July through August

Duration

5 days

Difficulty

Accommodation

Frey and Jakob Hut

Guide

Julian Lopez

Questions, additional dates, private groups

Book a call

From $1,880 () / 5 days

Intro
Itinerary
Brochure
Guides
Reviews
Things to know

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!

Adventure highlights

Stellar skiing in Bariloche

Discover endless stretches of uncharted terrain over the course of 5 days
Hut-to-hut fun

Experience Argentinian hospitality in your middle-of-nowhere cozy huts
One of the wildest & most remote areas on Earth

Serving as a humble reminder of just how tiny we are in nature

Itinerary

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.

Meet your guide and your team in Catedral Ski Resort. From there, take the chairlift up to the ridge. You’ll go straight into the backcountry, skiing down to Van Titter Valley. After a couple of runs, climb up to Frey Hut, your cozy mountain lodge for two nights.

Accommodation: Frey Hut
Today you’ll enjoy backcountry skiing in Frey in North Patagonia. You’ll be surrounded with pointy granite spires, couloirs, and lots of exciting terrain. Explore the area searching for the best snow! Return back to your warm, cozy hut.

Accommodation: Frey Hut
Time to switch locations! Ski out from Frey along the ridge that leads you to Rucaco Valley. After skiing the south-facing runs of Mt. Tres Reyes, go through the ridge once again and ski down to Jakob Hut—your second lodging of the tour.

Accommodation: Jakob Hut
Another fantastic location for backcountry skiing addicts. Scenic summits are followed by long open runs. You’ll spend a whole day discovering the area.

Accommodation: Jakob Hut
Cross the ridge again to Rucaco Valley. Skin the emblematic north face of Mt. Inviares and then climb up to the summit of Catedral Ski Resort. Once there, ski down to get to the point where the tour began. Say goodbye to your guide and your team. If you’d like to stay longer, just ask your guide for some recommendations!

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Download Patagonia Backcountry Skiing: Hut-to-Hut in Bariloche Brochure

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Meet your guide

5.00

Julian Lopez

IFMGA/UIAGM Guide

Julian is a certified IFMGA/UIAGM Mountain Guide and a physiotherapist originally from Bariloche, Patagonia. He grew up practicing skimo, trekking, and rock climbing. His passion for mountaineering took him to places like South Patagonia, Central Andes, Perú, Bolivia, Europe, Nepal and other countries in Asia. As a fan of rock climbing and watching the world from the top of many of its peaks, he is the ideal guide for Patagonia, always taking advantage of every opportunity to continue enjoying new experiences and looking for new challenges.

5.00 (1 reviews)

Robert Foster

MY PATAGONIA EXPERIENCE WAS INCREDIBLE. JULIAN TAUGHT ME SO MUCH. HE IS A GREAT GUIDE AND AN AWESOME PERSON! MY EXPERIENCE WAS 5 STAR! I CAN NOT WAT TO DO IT AGAIN!!

Things to know

What you get on this adventure:
- - An experienced, IFMGA Full Mountain Guide with extensive knowledge of the area
  - 5-day backcountry skiing tour in Patagonia
  - Accommodation in huts (4 nights)
  - Personal insurance
  - Ticket to access the mountain via Cathedral Ski Resort on Day 1
  - All meals during the tour
  - Transfer to and from the trailhead to your hotel
What’s not included:
- - Technical backcountry ski touring equipment
  - Accommodation prior to and after the tour
  - Transportation to Patagonia
  - Sleeping bag
  - Guide gratuities — optional
This Patagonia backcountry skiing tour is meant for people in excellent physical shape, 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.

Regarding steepness and elevation gains, there’s a wide range of options from mild open faces to steep commiting 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!

If this seems too much for you and you feel like you need something easier (or even if you’re a total backcountry skiing beginner), please reach out to us and let us plan it for you.
To participate in this tour, you need to have previous backcountry skiing experience. 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. Your expert IFMGA guide has the experience and avalanche training necessary to keep you safe. If you’ve never backcountry skied before, we suggest joining a guide for a day of intro to backcountry skiing. If you’re keen on skiing in Patagonia, please reach out to us and let us plan it for you!
Full and detailed list will be provided once you’ve booked the trip. This is a general overview of what you will need.

For technical backcountry ski touring gear, you will need to bring:
- - Alpine touring skis, telemark skis or splitboard with skins
  - Touring boots and poles
  - Bindings and bindings crampons
For personal items, we recommend bringing appropriate mountain clothing and personal necessities, including but not limited to the following list:
- - -10° compactable sleeping bag.
  - Daypack large enough to carry all items listed (around a 30-40L backpack)
  - Snacks
  - Helmet
  - Sunglasses or ski goggles
  - Gloves and hat
  - Wind and waterproof shell jacket with hood (Gore-Tex recommended)
  - Ski pants (Gore-Tex recommended)
  - Down jacket or vest
  - Synthetic or wool base layers, underwear and socks
  - One triple-action locking carabiner or two conventional locking carabiners
  - Repair kit and Leatherman for your equipment (can be shared between several people)
  - Water bottle or bladder
  - Thermos with a warm beverage — optional
  - First aid kit
  - Sunscreen
  - Camera — optional
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, both 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 time to see if the guide is able to buy or rent some gear in Patagonia.
Group sizes and prices:
- - For this backcountry skiing tour in Patagonia, the usual client-to-guide ratio is 6:1.
  - The price of the tour is based on a two-person minimum.
  - If you’re joining solo, it’s mandatory that you add a single supplement to your booking.
Backcountry skiing in Patagonia can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.

Min. age requirements:
- - If you are older than 18, you’re good to go.
  - Minors may be permitted to join private tours on a case-by-case basis.
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.

Once you and your guide agree on the details of your itinerary, 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 emergency medical and travel insurance. With medical insurance, if you have an accident or medical emergency on or off the mountain, you’ll avoid paying out of pocket for costly expenses. This covers everything from hospital treatments to emergency air transportation and more.

Travel insurance covers canceled flights, natural disasters and other scenarios that may interrupt your travel plans.

We also expect you to respect local regulations and take measures to protect yourselves, your guides, and the communities you’re traveling to. If you need assistance selecting the right insurance for your group, let us know and we will be happy to help!
Secure your spot for 2025 with a 10% deposit! This tour gets sold out very quickly, but with early-bird booking, you’ll be the first one to know. Pick the month that suits you best and we’ll let you know once the dates are live—don’t risk missing out on your bucket list adventure!
- - Only 10% of the total amount should be paid as a deposit upon booking. This deposit is non-refundable, but can be transferred to another 57hours adventure in case the dates don’t suit you by the end of the year.
  - Once the set dates for the following season are live, you can confirm your booking by the end of this year by paying another 20% of the total amount.
  - The final balance is due 3 months (90 days) prior to departure.
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.
- - If Client cancels the Booking anytime prior to thirty (30) calendar days in advance of the trip contemplated by the booking, Client is entitled to a refund in the amount of fifty percent (50%) of the total amount paid when Booking. After that deadline, Client is not entitled to any refund.