Without a doubt, Ushuaia is one of the best places in the world to ski tour and splitboard. One of our bases is in this paradise, and at Backcountry Patagonia we want to recommend 5 spots you can't miss.
1- Glaciar Martial
A fabulous spot in Tierra del Fuego. This is one of the most popular places in the backcountry world: a glacial cirque with impressive sea-facing slopes, excellent snow quality, and best of all, it's very close to the city of Ushuaia. Leaving town, you reach the base in 10 minutes, and as soon as you step out of the car you can access mountain terrain with countless lines to descend on every aspect. You'll be up there in approx. 3 hours of climbing at a moderate pace.
Best time to go: July to November (if there's still skiing in November).
2- Sector Garibaldi
This area has undoubtedly boomed in recent years. It's 45 minutes from the city of Ushuaia and is a mountain pass along Route 3. In just 2 hours you can reach excellent lines for every taste and aspect. It's perfect for doing more than one run, since the vertical isn't big.
Best time to go: August and September.
3- Valle de Olum
A classic of classics, among the best. An incredible valley flanked by ridges where you can drop into Valle de Olum itself, head to Laguna Turquesa, reach the Sector del Tricolor, or go to the Col. de los Gendarmes, from where we can continue to Cerro 5 Hermanos… Tremendous! It's truly a place you can't miss. Another great thing about it is that it has plenty of north-facing slopes, which are highly sought after in Tierra del Fuego because it means SUN. And it's only 30 minutes from Ushuaia!
Best time of year: July to September
4- Hombro del Alvear
This area is still unknown to many. It holds one of the best spots in Tierra del Fuego. Although the slope you ski is small compared to the other areas, the place is truly a freeride treasure for every taste. This slope has an EAST aspect over a valley well protected from the wind, which generally preserves snow quality very well but also creates slab avalanche problems. Higher up is the mountain of the same name, which also has one of the best spots in TDF.
Best time of year: July to September.
5- Cerro Portillo
When it snows heavily at low elevations, this place turns into a real party! It has slopes, couloirs, ridges, and countless types of terrain to play on with our boards. Access is from Route 3 (like almost all the spots), just 20 minutes from the city. You park at the La Mosca Loca roadside stop and from there walk 30 minutes to reach the peat slope that comes down from the mountain. From there up: choose your own adventure. The view from here is unique, since it sits in the middle of the Valle del Carbajal.
Best time of year: When there's snow, don't hesitate to go!
The best thing about Tierra del Fuego is that everything is very close. You can ski tour in the morning and then go paddling, biking, or working in the afternoon! We often step out of the car with our skins on and ski right back to the car! That doesn't happen everywhere, and we really enjoy it!
