August Chill

Mother Nature could not have timed it better. As the last of the hundreds of 50-foot tour buses full of sundreanched Brazilians rolled out of the Andes and into the smog of Santiago, saying "Ate logo" to Winter break, the first flakes in weeks started to fill the Andean sky!
After a long (Too long) 2 week high pressure system blocked out any chance of snow during the holidays in the Andes, a welcome storm is in full force as I write this blog. The winds force is awesome here, sometimes reaching Hurricane strength, plastering everything in site with fresh snow. It can be brutal when you are out there, but when it's over, it is generally one of those days you don't forget.
The main pass from Chile to Argentina is closed, and with the exception of the unlucky truck drivers stuck in what could turn out to be a 4-day dig out, those lucky enough to be "Stranded" in Portillo today are in for a big one once this white hurricane blows out and the massive Andean sky breaks bluebird.
I have spoken to our guides and friends today from Valle Nevado, Chile to 1000 clicks south in Bariloche, Argentina, and they all have that same stoke in their voice.
"It's blowing the roof off and it's puking!" Tomas yelled as he was on the Andes Express chair in Valle Nevado trying to shout over the storms force.
"After two weeks of Brazilian eye candy, I gotta go ride some August pow and cool off."