the real patagonia

Ready for The REAL Patagonia? Baguales Cat & Backcountry Skiing

August 12, 2015

Baguales terrain. Baguales terrain dwarfs their 300 Piston Bully cat. One hour south of the bustle of Bariloche, Argentina is a special place called Baguales Mountain Preserve. Baguales is a large cat skiing operation with three huts, expansive terrain, wildlife, and nothing around for miles. The amount and variety of terrain here is impressive. This is Patagonia. The Patagonia you read about in books and hear about in stories. Baguales refugio and impressive terrain Baguales refugio and impressive terrain When I arrived last Thursday, we were anticipating spring skiing, so we ate some breakfast and drank tea while things softened up a bit. We loaded the first cat around 10:30am and never looked back. Baguales terrain and cat. Baguales terrain and cat. Once in that cat, it was non-stop. We skied 3 laps in the first playful zone before changing aspects and changing zones. By the end of the day, we'd skied 6 different zones on 6 different aspects. My guide, Ramiro My guide, Ramiro Baguales is big. Big enough to allow for following the sun as it moves from aspect to aspect throughout the day. Big enough to give its clients options on where to go and what to ski. Wether they have powder or corn, they've got the terrain variability to make the day's conditions work. Mari and the big terrain of Baguales. The zone in the middle was our first ski zone of the day. Mari and the big terrain of Baguales. The zone in the middle was our first ski zone of the day. The big peak in the back is Cerro Villegas. What really turned me on was their two rustic refugios (huts) placed deep in the backcountry. One at the base of some playful freeride terrain and one at the base of the big, bad Cerro Villegas. Baguales refugio and impressive terrain Baguales refugio and impressive terrain Cerro Villegas is a freeskier's paradise. Steeps, cliffs, roll overs, chutes, and wide open faces. A week living in the refugio at the base of Villegas would be a dream come true for any freerider. Baguales Baguales and their 300 Piston Bully Cat. Baguales offers daily cat skiing and they rent out the refugios for backcountry skiers. There is something for all ability levels and anyone will appreciate the beauty and serenity of Patagonia it its reality. Baguales refugio with mountain refelction Baguales refugio with mountain refelction PHOTO TOUR: Another angle of the big peak you can see right out the windows of the main refugio Another angle of the big peak you can see right out the windows of the main refugio Baguales Refugio and Mari. Baguales Refugio and Mari. Corn harvest at Baguales Corn harvest at Baguales Tronador Tronador from Baguales. Loading the cat at the bottom of a solid run. Loading the cat at the bottom of a solid run. You can see the cat track in the middle of this photo. This was the zone we started the day on. The big, bad terrain we plan to come back here for. Baguales' expansive terrain Baguales' expansive terrain Perfect corn at Baguales last Thursday. Perfect corn at Baguales last Thursday. Dani getting some air in the back bowls. Dani getting some air in the back bowls. Mini hike after a very long run. Mini hike after a very long run. Baguales terrain. Baguales terrain.

The REAL Patagonia: Cat Skiing @ Baguales Mountain Reserve

September 5, 2014