Charlie, one of the off piste and heli ski experts at Pure Powder gives you the top 5 reasons for heading south and heli skiing in Chile this summer…
# 1 Follow the snow
Come July and August most of us have packed up our skiing gear and are trying to find some sunshine to re-charge the batteries…But who wants to sit on a beach when there is snow to be skied!? The season in Chile kicks off in mid June and you can ski until the end of September. Powder South’s Chilean heli ski area benefits from being a mere 100 miles from the Pacific Ocean, and so receives large amounts of snow as storms hit the high ground, and crucially the snow stays light and dry due to the high altitudes.
# 2 Explorative heli skiing at it’s best
Imagine being dropped off on a peak which has never been skied before. It’s totally quiet and there is a 360 degree panoramic of huge, snow covered mountains with 1,200 vertical metres of glorious powder turns stretched out in front of you. There aren’t many places left on the planet like this – and it’s what heli skiing in Chile is all about! Powder South operate South East of Santiago in the central Chilean Andes where they have a million acres of exclusive terrain at their disposal. This huge area has a potent mix of couloir skiing, open, glacier skiing and big bowls just waiting to be explored. With a maximum of only 12 guests each week you don’t have to share this pristine powder with too many other people!.jpg "Heli skiing in Chile")
# 3 Heli Ski with the experts
Powder South are the pioneers of South American heli skiing and have 6 successful seasons under their belts. The two founders of the company Joachim and Rodrigo have been mountain professionals for a lot longer than that; Joachim is an ex-Olympic ski racer and Rodrigo is a fully qualified guide who together have been organising summer climbing expeditions for over 20 years. What’s impressive about the set-up is that they pull in some of the world’s best mountain guides to work with them over the winter. Safety is obviously the top priority and all guests are issued with ABS packs, transceivers and a shovel and probe.
# 4 The best heli ski lodging experience in the world?!
It’s no exaggeration to say that Powder South’s heli skiing base at Lodge Andino is one of the top heli ski lodges in the world. This family-run ‘hacienda’ sits at the bottom of the valley in the Cajon de Maipo region and hits that perfect balance of real comfort and homely atmosphere. Magdalena and Juan Eduardo are your hosts and invite you to experience the delicious local Chilean flavours and produce with their home-cooked meals and local wines. The little touches make this place so special; the ice cream and fruit juice prepared for you when you come back from heli skiing, the fireplace in your bedroom lit during dinner, and delicious ‘asados’ (BBQs) enjoyed under the stars. 
# 5 More than just heli skiing
Prepare to be blown-away by more than just the heli skiing when you head to Chile; where else would be joined for lunch by huge condors circling overhead? As well as heli skiing you’ll be able to visit local wine farms, go horseback riding in the foot-hills or just wander into the local village and soak up the sights and sounds of Chilean life.
Contact the Pure Powder heli skiing team for availability and prices.
