Semana Uno

Week one of our Las Lenas adventure began, where all things of this nature began with a lot of traveling. About 51 hours of it, 2 planes and 2 bus rides the first bus ride taking 16 hours!! It was certainly a challenge to move all of our stuff around the country. It takes a ton of gear to be a skier. I think that we all brought about 3 pairs of skis and 2 pairs of boots plus extra of just about everything else. Even though it is 2008 it is very hard and expensive to get ski gear in Argentina. A friend of ours lost his avalanche shovel and it is going to take him about a month to get a new one. Guess we will not be skiing off piste with him any time soon!!!
One good thing about our travel schedule is that it allowed us some time to visit Buenos Aires. Which is, of course, the capital of Argentina and the biggest city I have ever been in. Buenos Aires it self is only about 3 million people however if you add in great BA it comes closer to 13 million. We were only there for about 8 hours, which I think was enough for all of us. However, BA is an amazing city with beautiful architecture and some interesting history. Maybe on the way back we will spend some more time there to visit. Plaza de Mayo, the Pink House and Recolleta Cemetery (where Evita is buried).
After arriving in Las Lenas, we hurried up the unpacking so we could be sure to make it to the Season Pass office to get our passes so we could ski the next day. Hence the ragged looking photos of all 4 of us. Not to sure we will look much better than that after this is all over.

One thing every one should know about Las Lenas is that it depends heavily on the Marte lift (pictured above). It really makes or breaks the ski area. One problem with it is that it rarely runs for various reasons. Ranging from the ski area just not wanting to open it to being closed for extreme weather. We have been here 5 days and the lift has only been open twice. However, when it is on it is on. These next two pictures here give you an idea the possibilities. This is of course only a fraction of the runs we will be able to ski. Amazing.
One of the days it Marte was open we where able to get out and ski a run called the "El Collar" named of course after its collar like appearance. Do not be fooled by the photos this run is super steep and super long about 3400 vertical feet, and no flatter than 40 degrees and in some places it pushes 55.
Here is a picture of the run from right out our front door. It is huge. Below is a picture of the crew hiking up the ridge to the top of the run.
The run was incredible, not powder but soft enough to lay down some huge turns. After these photos are just some random photos of the valley and some runs we hope to ski. That is all for now the internet is super slow here and it has taken me an hour to get this far. Good thing I have nothing else to do!!!!

Ski fast take chances,

Perros del Polvos (or at least we hope to be)