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The End of the Chairlifts and the Beginning of a Patagonian Spring

Written by Shanie  

Yesterday was the last day of our 2007 ski season.  For career ski bums such as ourselves, it was the first season that focus was on something other than first chair on the ski lift and the overnight lows.  Our new lives in Patagonia had became our baby crying in the night.

I must admit that I didn’t fret too much about missing ski days as I was deep in the dust of remodeling or the endless paperwork of buying and selling real estate.  I mean, I have skied to my hearts content for many years. 

As I woke up this morning the realization that another year was coming to an end brought the usual lump in my throat and sense of mild depression that the end of running chairlifts brings.

But, the sadness was replaced by excitement when I raised my head off the much-too-comfortable pillow to greet the last day of the 2007 ski season. 

It was a gloriously beautiful day.

We decided to spend our last chance for assisted elevation gains at Cerro Bayo.  This is a little ski area that rocks.  The place has beautiful back country, nice people and considers itself a boutique ski area (which lends to clean bathrooms with toilet paper). 

The best thing of all…they offer free lift tickets the last three days of the season.  

We are so there!

We did a yo-yo day of hiking and skiing different peaks on the outskirts of the ski area.  There was not another person around or a breeze to the air.  Only the signs of foxes and Liebres (wild rabbits) reminded us that we were not alone.  The breathless air was amazing, especially for Patagonia. 

We sat at the top of each of the three peaks, taking in the glorious views of Lago Nahuel Huapi, mighty Cerro Tronador (meaning thunder) and the volcanic peaks of Osorno, Lanin and Puntiagudo.  Our house was also a part of the vista, with the aid of binoculars, looking at us from the opposite end of the lake.

I think I may have said this before but the beauty here astounds me.  It is so pristine and raw.  It is amazing that we are standing on the top of peaks within an hour’s hike of the ski area and there is not another ski track or person for as far as the eye can see.  

So we skied til we were told to go home by the warming snow.  It was an excellent ending to our first Patagonian winter.  

On the drive home from Cerro Bayo my head starts swimming with gardening thoughts and landscaping dreams…roses or rhododendrons, perennials or annuals.

So, I wake up this morning ready to move on from winter and start the steps towards a flowering spring. 

But no…Patagonia has decided to be a little wishy washy on it decision to start spring officially.  It seems we are supposed to get a foot of snow tonight in the mountains.

It looks like they closed the lifts down a week too early.