Enter the Araucaria Region.

The spirited Araucaria tree (also known as the Monkey Puzzle tree)

Heavy snows have engaged the Andes and Steepy and I are off to explore the forests in search of Monkey Puzzle powder.

We have stumbled upon an epic land. Tree riding of the most surreal and unique of proportions appears apparent. The terrain seems endless, a beautifully pitched forest goes on and on and it is filled with fresh, dry powder. This is a splitboarder’s paradise, no doubt. I wonder how many people, if any, have ever skied these forests before?

We spend a short time admiring this place on the crest of a ridgeline and then we send the Araucaria. I failed to obtain photos sufficient to describe the experience of riding this otherworldly forest, but the following should give you an idea.

(The forest seems to contain a mix of Araucaria, Cypress, Beech, and Bamboo. Note Bamboo shrubs in the upper right corner here.)

Another day, another place; it went blue

….and the Hesh sesh was on…

Chilean spine glory; Savage looker’s left; Steepy looker’s right.

A day of skinning in the Cypress trees

Steepy scopes the above treeline views





We discover this beautiful looking couloir…

But it is out of our reach so we drop into powder filled Cypress trees instead.

The day ends with another surreal Andean sunset, this time amidst a forest clearing above a mountain stream.

Ski Touring was exploratory and fun.

On one final lap we rode this endless gully which seemed like it went on for a couple of miles.

It was really scenic and really fun. It was, however, a dangerous terrain trap; large slabs of steep snow towered above its tight little basin. I was making big surf turns on the massive ramps when POP=Slab. I felt the weight of hard slab pulling me down into the gully bottom with force. I pushed as hard as I could to eject myself. BAM-I popped out and went shooting out of the slide and down the gully to a safe zone where Steepy was waiting for me. She almost had me; close call; not a place you wanna get mashed.
Here’s the photo; you can see my track coming in and then disappearing as I triggered the slab. Note the deep terrain trap to where the slide path leads. Imagine if it broke from above, the result could have been much less positive.

The game is real kids; worldwide; keep it heads up.

It was intense way to end an epic session; surviving to admire more views and another grand Southern sunset.

More from the S-Hemi coming your way soon.