Patagonia Backcountry Report: A Little Spice & A Little Nice in Some of the Most Gorgeous Terrain on Earth

Miles Clark | | Post Tag for Conditions ReportConditions Report

Report from July 27, 2023

Yesterday the weather looked iffy.

Clouds, fog, and sun at sunrise.

Sunrise here is about 9am here right now so you’re out there early.

As I was climbing up at dawn, it looked a little rough, but it looked like there’d be a chance for sun.

The bulk of the clouds were mostly a low fog that I hoped would burn off.

They mostly did.

By the time I was on top of the first south facing run, the clouds weren’t quite gone but that run which I call “Anubis Rock Chute” is always in the shade anyway.

I wasn’t sure if I should go straight for that chute because it’s steep, tight, and scary with a mandatory right turn.

If you miss that right turn, you’re crashing into a rock wall.

Spiners. image: snowbrains

It’s a weird line, but it’s kinda epic when it works right.

Once finally ready, I stomped and jumped on the snow at the top of the chute.

Nothing.

Up. image: snowbrains

The snow wasn’t deep and it wasn’t very good…

Kinda punchy and stiff.

I hacked a few turns down it before finally settling into gear and linking turns.

Bubbles. image: snowbrains

Instead of the mini chute to speed to rock wall missing right turn, it was so filled in I was able to skip the mini chute and do a small air and make a more manageable right turn.

It was the right call in this funky snow.

From there it was off to the races with a sweeping right turn onto a rocky curtain to a speed check turn to a mini-spine that ends in rocks.

Fortress. image: snowbrains

The whole thing went as well as it could have and I came speeding out the bottom with a hoot.

What a way to start the day!

From there I went for the Sun Chutes.

The Twin Towers. image: snowbrains

2 gorgeous chutes that face north and get cooked quick.

The first one was sunny and cruisey with sun-kissed snow and a nice straight-line out the bottom.

At the bottom, I ran into my old guide buddy Jorge and he was guiding some of my friends from California!

Layered towers. image: snowbrains

Too cool.

I raced after them, chatted them up a bit then bumped over to Sun Chute #2.

The fog rolled in and nearly shut me down but I waited it out and got a small window that I made work.

The 2nd chute was a bit more spicy with a long straight-line with a left turn in it and a solid adrenal gland squeeze.

Jorge and Miles. image: snowbrains

From there I raced after Jorge and crew to chat them up a bit more and plan a dinner before they all headed out of town.

Good times in a great place.

Thanks, Patagonia!

PHOTOS IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER

Run #1. image: snowbrains
Anubis Rock. image: snowbrains
Sun splash. image: snowbrains
Towers. image: snowbrains
Light. image: snowbrains
Hole in the rock shadow. image: snowbrains
Hole in the rock. image: snowbrains
Layers. image: snowbrains
Wind lines. image: snowbrains
Endless. image: snowbrains
Texture. image: snowbrains
Dreams. image: snowbrains
Rollers. image: snowbrains
Fin. image: snowbrains
Happiness. image: snowbrains
Wind tracks. image: snowbrains
Spines. image: snowbrains
Jorge and Sierra. image: snowbrains
Track. image: snowbrains
Up. image: snowbrains
Towers on towers. image: snowbrains
More towers. image: snowbrains
Jorge’s baby. image: snowbrains
Baby. image: snowbrains
Secret pizziaolo. image: snowbrains
Great pizza. image: snowbrains
Secret restaurant. image: snowbrains
Posted by Miles Clark |

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