Las Leñas and Cerro Bayo to start the 2012 ski season with major upgrades!
Two of Argentina’s major ski resorts, Las Leñas and Cerro Bayo, have recently completed the construction of brand-new lifts and other upgrades to start the 2012 South American ski season.
Construction of the new Minerva high-speed quad chairlift at Las Leñas
Las Leñas has upgraded their old Minerva fixed double chairlift to a new Doppelmayr high-speed quad lift, featuring a modern system for entering the lift which allows comfortable access and reduces waiting time. Prior to ascent, the skiers and snowboarders slide over a moving mat, which propels them up to the right speed so that they can sit on the chair in a smooth and effortless manner. This is similar to the Supreme chair at Alta, for those who are familiar.
Las Leñas Trail Map/Mapa de Pistas
Along with the nearby lifts TS Caris and TK Minerva, the new Minerva high-speed quad will increase the uphill capacity in the Minerva zone to 4,320 people per hour, tripling current capacity. The new cable was hung and loaded with chairs last week, ready to receive snow riders from around the world this upcoming ski season.
Construction of the new Telcabina Jean Pierre gondola at Cerro Bayo
During the 80th Anniversary celebrations of the small Patagonian town of Villa La Angostura earlier this month, Cerro Bayo inaugurated their brand-new 6-passenger gondola, Telecabina Jean Pierre, offering rapid access to mid-mountain. This new gondola is the first of many advancements from a 2008 plan to turn this small gem into one of the finest ski resorts in South America.
Cerro Bayo Trail Map/Mapa de Pistas
Construction of a second gondola is set to take place during the summer of 2012 to allow access to the Cota 1500 peak, expanding Cerro Bayo’s skiable terrain to include the Las Provinciales zone, making Cerro Bayo the third-largest ski resort in Argentina.
The new gondola at Cerro Bayo, Telecabina Jean Pierre
In addition to the construction of these new gondolas, the resort is expanding its parking, building new ticket windows, and upgrading several on-mountain restaurants. It will be very exciting to witness Cerro Bayo’s growth over the next few years. Join us this summer for a Resort Tour to see it (and ski it) for yourself! There are still some spots available for our 2012 Guided Ski Tours. Visit our Reservations page to book yours today!
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[...] La Ruta de los Siete Lagos (The Seven Lakes Route) provides the perfect backdrop for an exciting week of skiing in Argentine Patagonia. Our journey starts with the arrival of a small contingent of skiers ready to experience the trip of a lifetime. Departing from San Carlos de Bariloche, we travel towards Villa La Angostura. This tiny enclave is situated on an isthmus of land located on the northeastern shores of Lago Nahuel Huapi and is home to Cerro Bayo. We arrive just before ten in the morning and are greeted by clearing skies and sunshine. The base village is composed of a few small shops, medical clinic, and the brand-new Telecabina Jean Pierre gondola. An anxious walk up the loading ramp leads us to our cabin and we ascend nearly 400 meters (1,320 feet) to the mid-mountain station. A brief chat with some local ski patrollers confirms that the skiing up high is in prime form. We load the next chair and make our way towards the summit. The lifts top out at 1710 meters (5,643 feet) and we go on foot to the true peak. Currently, the mountain is completing the second section of gondola, which will reach the very top of the mountain at an altitude of 1752 meters (5,781 feet). We posted a story about the their new gondolas earlier this year: Las Leñas and Cerro Bayo to start the 2012 ski season with major upgrades! [...]