September 3, 2009
Day 4 South America Snow Sessions
It is day four of our adventure here in Bariloche, Argentina in South America. We began our journey at the end of the first weekend of August and settled into a hostel in the MicroCenter of Buenos Aires. During our weeklong stay, we explored, tasted, and enjoyed all the city had to offer. We have been blown away with the beauty and elegance of this country, but that does not even start to explain the regions of the Andes we have been apart of these past few days.We will be spending two weeks with the snowboarding camp South America Snow Sessions, or SASS, that specializes in backcountry style snowboarding with a side note in searching out the best tree lines, natural features to ride and big mountain riding. There are 85 other campers that come and go within the session, including professional snowboarders and skiers who are out to train and explore the area.This session at the camp has combined with MGT, More Good Times, an all girls company that organizes and hosts all girls snowboarding camps. We have been riding at Cerro Catedral Resort, and have been in the middle of a weeklong storm with has delivered more than 4 ½ feet of fresh powder. The local patrons at the mountain are mainly found riding the groomed trails of the mountain, which leaves dozens of untouched tree runs that stretch the entire length of the mountain open for us to shred.Although we have only spent three days out snowboarding, Krista and I have racked up more powder runs, cliff jumps, and tree runs, than we have in all our past seasons combined, and have also found it necessary to take a day off to rest and recuperate for the rest of our days here is Bariloche.Cerro Catedral is known for its access to multitudes of powder and long trails, but it is also known for its dangerous terrain, which often is associated with avalanches. All the campers are required to be wearing a working beacon carry a pack with a probe and shovel, in case of an emergency. We have daily beacon drills, where our guides and coaches hide an active beacon, and we take turns being timed to search and retrieve the beacon.Although the campers and guides have fun doing these activities, we all have a solemn approach and acute awareness that perhaps we will actually need to use these new learned skills in a real avalanche.As for now Krista and I are having fun being taught and coached by seasoned veterans of the sport and meeting new friends and chairlift buddies!
Until next time! Adios! Monica and Krista
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