10/07/2011 Michael A. Scanlon endlesswintersnow@yahoo.com Endless Winter Snow weblogUpdates.ping EndlessWinterSnow http://endlesswintersnow.blogspot.com/

 got snow ?              News from The Steep, Deep & Extreme International Big Mountain Slopes

9.14.2006

Ski Portillo
Portillo is the oldest ski area in South America, and its history holds an important place in the legend of skiing. It is a history of adventurers and the Andes, and of dreams and accomplishments in the wonderful world of skiing. IT BEGAN WITH THE RAILROADS In 1887, the Chilean government contracted English engineers to study the feasibility of a railway through the Andes at Uspallata Pass, which could transport goods and passengers from Chile's Central Valley to the Argentine city of Mendoza, and eventually to Buenos Aires. The English engineers then contracted two Norwegian engineers, Elmar Rosenquist and Michel Hermundsen, to conduct winter studies of the proposed line. The Norwegians spent two winters in 1887 and 1888 traversing the region on skis. They were surely the first skiers to cross the slopes of the Portillo ski area. Two years later, in 1889, the Chilean government hired 14 Norwegian skiers to transport mail between Chile and Argentina. We are told that the plan was not successful and was not repeated. During the construction of the railroad, skiing was common among the engineers in charge, most of whom were Englishmen who used skis in their work - and no doubt for enjoyment. Following the inauguration of the international railroad in 1910, these pioneers were followed by recreational skiers who used the train to get to the top of the mountain at Caracoles so they could ski down to the Juncal crossing - an area that is now within the Portillo ski resort. Thus, the Transandean Railway became the first ski lift in Chile.

www.skiportillo.com

***





Hahnemkam Vintage poster / Kitsbuhel

ROOMS - CH Swiss Budget Hotels



Exceptional special offers have been created just for you:
Hotel-Restaurant Gloria in Beatenberg: Special offer (valid until 30th September 06) Hotel Beausite in Beatenberg : Hill walking in Beatenberg (valid until 15th October 06) Hotel Dépendance « Im Grünen », Bed & Breakfast in Breiten ob Mörel: Hill walking without guide (valid until end of October 06) Hotel Dépendance « Im Grünen », Bed & Breakfast in Breiten ob Mörel: Hiking week (valid until 7th October 06) Hotel St. Josephshaus in Davos Platz: For 7 good nights' sleep, you only pay for 5!, For 4 good nights' sleep, you only pay for 3!, For 3 good nights' sleep, you only pay for 2! Hotel Kristall in Fiesch: Special autumn offer, Game week (valid until 28th October 06) Berghaus Bort in Grindelwald: For 4 good night's sleep, you only pay for 3! (valid until 22nd October 06) Hotel Alpenblick in Heiligenschwendi: Hill walking week , Lake of Thun package, Discover the Hotel Alpenblick (valid until 15th October 06) Hotel Alpina in Kandersteg: Special autumn offer (valid from 8th October until 14th October 06) Hotel Silvapina in Klostersdorf: Hiking package, Package for train lovers, ( valid until end of October 06) Hotel Dom in Saas Grund: Nostalgia (valid until end of September 06) Hotel Heilquelle in Leukerbad: Short trip , Natur Pur , Packages - Swimming Week (valid until 30th November 06) Landgasthaus Rössli in Stalden: 7 days of Switzerland ! (valid until 15th October 06) Hotel de famille Edelweiss in Wengen : Edelweiss special (valid until October 06)

www.rooms.ch


***
Alpine Meadows
Season Pass Announcement
Midweek Individual Pass
Midweek Pass - Adult (24-64) $399
Midweek Pass - Young Adult (19-23) $229
Midweek Pass - Senior (65-69) $299


Midweek Plus Sunday Individual Pass
Midweek Plus Sunday (0-69) $549


Unlimited Individual Pass
Unlimited Pass - Adult (24-64) $779
Unlimited Pass - Young Adult (19-23) $399
Unilimited Pass - Youth (13-18) $199
Unlimited Pass - Child (7-12) $149
Unlimited Pass - Child (6 & U) $49
Unlimited Pass - Senior (65-69) $499
Unlimited Pass - Senior (70+) $49


Unlimited Individual Family Pass
Family Pass - Adult (24-64) $779
Family Pass - 2nd Adult (24-64) $779
Family Pass - Young Adult (19-23) $399
Family Pass - Youth (13-18) $199
Family Pass - Child (7-12) $99
Family Pass - Child (6 & U) FREE
See site for other offers and all those details. www.skialpine.com