Invernada, In-Nirvana

Invernada. It means wintered, as in The Wintered Valley—La Valle Invernada. And in this remote region of the Chilean Cordillera, Fred Marmsater, Donny Roth and I sought winter last September among 12,000-foot volcanoes that dominate the skyline. Here’s a gallery from the trip, and read about the full expedition in the February/March issue feature, “Invernada.”

Packed and loaded en route to La Valle Invernada in the golf cart-sized Suzuki. “If that side of the car falls off, I’ll try to grab you,” Donny told me while rattling up a dirt access road. [Photo] Fredrik Marmsater

Packed and loaded en route to La Valle Invernada in the golf cart-sized Suzuki. “If that side of the car falls off, I’ll try to grab you,” Donny told me while rattling up a dirt access road. [Photo] Fredrik Marmsater

Circling like a condor, Donny Roth takes some of the first turns of the trip. [Photo] Fredrik Marmsater

Circling like a condor, Donny Roth takes some of the first turns of the trip. [Photo] Fredrik Marmsater

Donny and me climbing the east face of Cerro Azul (12,428 feet), the crown descent of the expedition. [Photo] Fredrik Marmsater

Donny and me climbing the east face of Cerro Azul (12,428 feet), the crown descent of the expedition. [Photo] Fredrik Marmsater

Meandering across a plateau for the river bottom before a big day of exploring. We later skied into the water-filled crater at left. [Photo] Fredrik Marmsater

Meandering across a plateau for the river bottom before a big day of exploring. We later skied into the water-filled crater at left. [Photo] Fredrik Marmsater

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Donny skiing Cerro Fosforito, which we named for the Chilean elder we dined with before and after the expedition. [Photo] Fredrik Marmsater

 

"If I wanted black sand, I would have gone to Maui.” Hiking down to Laguna Invernada after a week in the Cordillera. [Photo] Fredrik Marmsater

“If I wanted black sand, I would have gone to Maui.” Hiking down to Laguna Invernada after a week in the Cordillera. [Photo] Fredrik Marmsater

More Info:
Donny Roth will be guiding in this region next August. Find out more at Chilean Powder Adventures, chile-powder-adventures.com.
Refugio Tricahue, remote cabañas near Talca, Chile – refugio-tricahue.cl
Fredrik Marmsater Photography – fredrikmarmsater.com

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Comments

  1. mY KIND OF VACATION!

  2. Trevor westrop says:

    i’ve been there, it is an epic place with epic skiing and epic views. nothing prettier than overlooking that big lake from the ‘hornitos’. looking forward to getting back there!

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