Portillo, Los Andes. Chile

I think it is safe to say that I had a top ten ski moment of my life today! We left this morning at 530am and headed for The Andes. At about 930am we arrived at Portillo, a small mountain resort smack in the middle of the Andes Mountains. This incredible place is one of the most magnificent locations I have ever seen. Although small, Portillo had some incredible opportunities to offer! We could not have asked for better weather, sunny, clear, and WARM, wow, at times warmer than Vina! There was no one on the hill, Oh except for the US SKI TEAM, the Canadian ski team and some Austrian and Norwegian skiers! They were gate training! Apparently we picked the right spot! The area is pretty small, maybe a couple Aplentals, not too much steep terrain, but the beauty of the surroundings, the weather and the soft spring snow made up for that. They also not only have chairlifts, they have 5 person palma-lifts that drag your ass up a steep steep run. They have 4 of these scattered around in places where it would be too steep to put a chair. Talk about an interesting experience. Take a rope-toe, that goes straight up with a tiny seat, going 3omph haha WHOA, what an experience. I cant wait to explain this all in person, but i hope that gave you a little insight, and again, pictures do this place no justice. It is a MUST SEE first hand, resort. AND it's cheap too!! Oh and also on our way up, an avalanche fell on the road right before we reached it....then we waited while they cleared it and kept going, WOW!