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](https://backcountrymagazine.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/inv_1.jpg)
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](https://backcountrymagazine.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/inv_2.jpg)
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](https://backcountrymagazine.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/inv_3.jpg)
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](https://backcountrymagazine.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/inv_4.jpg)
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
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](https://backcountrymagazine.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/inv_6.jpg)
“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
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
mY KIND OF VACATION!
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!