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La Parva Adventure Skiing

Photo title:View from La Parva slope
via Flickr

The most distinctive chute of any South American ski area taunts skiers from its high perch north of the ski area. La Chiminea is one of the world's most perfectly shaped chutes and is something of a rite of passage for the local youths. The typically firm windpack snow surface is sunken below high rock walls. La Chiminea is accessed by hiking a short and easy ridge left of the top of the new Aguilas chairlift. Ascend this ridge until high enough to traverse on a flat above a multitude of corniced chutes which loom over the Manantiales road.

Past La Chiminea is a steep, south-facing wall called La Cara. Another option is to head right from the corniced plateau mentioned above and continue up the ridge. There are two big bowl systems in this area, the farthest of which is called Galerias del Pintor. This can feed inattentive skiers into Valle Nevado. Check at the restaurant at 3,100m for more information or to tie in with locals headed for the area.