Tuesday is Farmers Market in Culver City so I stopped by and picked up an empanada to have with my beer.
Real McCoy Amber Ale from Mammoth Brewing Company.
Dave McCoy was the guy who set up the first rope tow at Mammoth Mountain in 1948.
ski
Dec 14 Beer, Mammoth
Paranoids Pale Ale from Mammoth Brewing Company.
The brew with altitude.
Now I wanna go ski.
Snow Summit
We decided late last night that we should go ski today! We were all, lets say tired, at first so it was a few quiet runs before we woke up. They only had one lift open when we got there but open up a second one after an hour or so. It’s still only early in the season, but we want more snow!
End of day 2
A lot more people that expected. So happy the ski season has finally started!
Mammoth opening weekend
Mid November opening, hell yeah we’ll be there!
Conditions were as epic as expected… but hey, there’s snow, and it’s only November.
I’m in better shape this year so I didn’t actually get very tired, but there’s only two slopes open and there’s just so many times you can go up and down before you run out of creativity and feel it’s time to wind down with a beer.
We went to the Mammoth Brewing Company, I’ve been wanting to go for a while. Beer is ok, I like drinking local, but the logo makes me uncomfortable.
Cutter’s Pizza
Asher got into a little bit of trouble with one of his skis in Chile so it had to go to the ski doctor. Turns out the ski shop is not far from a pizza place I’ve heard about, it’s supposed to be authentic Swedish pizzas and I’ve been super excited to go visit!
Ah man, it looked so promising but it was such a disappointment. Didn’t taste like Swedish pizza at all. It had no flavors and didn’t have the texture a Swedish pizza is supposed to have. So bummed out. At least I got pizza salad, so that was a plus.
Made it to the ski shop to pick up the skis, it put me back in a good mood again.
Ouch!
I love skis!
Last Day – El Colorado
I wasn’t feeling it today. I was fine in the morning, but as soon as I got into the chair I got cold. As we drove up the mountain we could see it being sunny at the top, but the clouds were constantly breathing down our necks.
We were skiing for a couple of hours, but my toes were cold and the visibility was bad, so we took an early break.
I actually felt motivated after the break, but the conditions turned even worst. The last run down it started to rain, we could see about 6 feet in front of us and I got motion sick.
We threw in the towel.
Asher suggested we go to that indian restaurant in that hotel that hotel I had mentioned. We went there but they didn’t open until later at night. Since we were in the neighborhood and we had walked by Los Vikingos a few nights before, I suggested we go there instead.
They had awesome restrooms!
If we understand the sign correctly, this place rent by the hour?
Back at the airport, time to leave Chile for now.
A last beer while we are waiting for me to be checked in.
So, I am flying business class this trip. Flying business does not necessary mean you get to hang out in the airline lounge, but as I checked in to go home, the guy behind the counter told me to go here. I got to hang out with the old people and drink free wine. My first glass of wine in Chile is at the airport lounge waiting to go home… what happen?
New Snow in Valle Nevado
The hostel we stay at has a lot of character. We are always the first ones to wake up.
There’s a mural on every single building in this area of Santiago.
The sun rise over the Andes.
You can see the slopes of El Colorado up there!
Valle Nevado gave us sunshine and a foot of fresh snow today, awesomeness!
Soaking up some vitamin D in the chair lift.
Lunch nap!
A$her had one goal with this trip; get a photo of him with snow covered mountains in the background. Today was a good day for that.
My goal was to avoid as many photos taken of me as possible.
You thought the dogs were only in the city? Oh no, they’re roaming around on the mountain as well.
The brave people touch the dog, the ones who are scared of all sorts of fleas and diseases keep their distance.
After 6 hours of skiing, there’s still untouched snow to be skied, how is that possible?
I had a slight headache and we were in the hunt for coffee but as we walked through Barrio Bellavista, we got the taste for a beer instead.
A bunch of street musicians came by to play us some music, a ton of fun and a good way to get rid of our spare change.
I cut my finger a little yesterday and the scar has been bothering me a little as it always gets messy when I put my glove on or trying to grab something from my pocket. I asked the ticket booth, ski school and reception for a bandaid but with no luck, I tried to hunt down ski patrol that seems to be everywhere but totally disappeared when I needed them. I went to the pharmacy and bought myself a box of bandaid instead.
Back in Valle Nevado
It’s snowing!
We were trying to fight it and not put on the snow chains, but then this happen;
Asher putting on the chains while I’m doing what I do best, stand on the side and laugh at him when he can’t figure it out.
My ski partner is fired from being being photographed until he has gotten some more colorful clothes.
Barrio Bellavista is a really cool neighborhood, a ton of interesting murals and super playful.
Even though it is considered being winter here, people are sitting outside and it’s always empty inside the restaurants. Super charming! I am pretty sure the restaurants and clubs get crowded past midnight, but we are old and sleepy and check out at 11pm every night.
They left some trash out for the dogs, in case they’re hungry.
Ski La Parva
Back in Santiago to ski La Parva, the last of the Tres Puntas/Three Peaks. It still hasn’t snowed, but the traffic control was very strict and wanted to see our snow chains for the car. We didn’t have any so we turned around to rent some a mile away.
Since they checked every single car there were a huge line to get past the control. Gave me an opportunity to go out and snap some photos.
Yup, another day of overcast. Time still seem to fly by and we had another full day of skiing.
It started to sprinkle a little as we were heading down. Maybe we’ll get snow tomorrow!
We checked in at a new hostel in the Barrio Bellavista area close to the University. Party part of town.
The only way to drink the local beer!
