How does it feel to be on a ski lift carrying you towards an erupting volcano? Skiers and snowboarders found out last week at Chilean ski resort Nevados de Chillán, when the volcano started spewing a gigantic column of smoke and ash into the air. Surprisingly, most skiers just continued about their normal day – apparently this happens quite often in Chile. The country has some great ski resorts and is a popular option for European and North American skiers who head to the southern hemisphere for summer skiing. But as you can see in the video, there are some drawbacks to relying on ski resorts located on active volcanoes! What does that do to the quality of the snow, I wonder...
Social media has been inundated with photos and videos of the erupting volcano. According to Instagram user
@miss_ski.nanigans, the top lift was closed for about half an hour due to the volcano, but otherwise it was business as usual. The Chillán volcano is one of half a dozen volcanoes in Chile that have been on yellow alert this month. It is being closely monitored by the National Geology and Mining Service in anticipation of a possible bigger eruption in the next few months.
With some 35km of pistes and over 1000m of vertical, the Nevados de Chillán ski resort is one of the most popular in Chile. Among other things, it boasts a 13km-long piste, which qualifies as one of the longest in the world. It’s known for its hot springs, where the water is perennially warm thanks to its volcanic source – we can believe that! Chile also has plenty of other ski resorts, most of them clustered close to Santiago in the Andes. Slopes in Chile reach altitudes higher than 3600m so it’s an excellent option if you’re looking for guaranteed snow during the British summer.
Want some Instagram bait of your own? Check out the best exotic ski destinations >
How does it feel to be on a ski lift carrying you towards an erupting volcano? Skiers and snowboarders found out last week at Chilean ski resort Nevados de Chillán, when the volcano started spewing a gigantic column of smoke and ash into the air. Surprisingly, most skiers just continued about their normal day – apparently this happens quite often in Chile. The country has some great ski resorts and is a popular option for European and North American skiers who head to the southern hemisphere for summer skiing. But as you can see in the video, there are some drawbacks to relying on ski resorts located on active volcanoes! What does that do to the quality of the snow, I wonder...
Social media has been inundated with photos and videos of the erupting volcano. According to Instagram user
@miss_ski.nanigans, the top lift was closed for about half an hour due to the volcano, but otherwise it was business as usual. The Chillán volcano is one of half a dozen volcanoes in Chile that have been on yellow alert this month. It is being closely monitored by the National Geology and Mining Service in anticipation of a possible bigger eruption in the next few months.
With some 35km of pistes and over 1000m of vertical, the Nevados de Chillán ski resort is one of the most popular in Chile. Among other things, it boasts a 13km-long piste, which qualifies as one of the longest in the world. It’s known for its hot springs, where the water is perennially warm thanks to its volcanic source – we can believe that! Chile also has plenty of other ski resorts, most of them clustered close to Santiago in the Andes. Slopes in Chile reach altitudes higher than 3600m so it’s an excellent option if you’re looking for guaranteed snow during the British summer.
Want some Instagram bait of your own? Check out the best exotic ski destinations >
Born and raised in the ski paradise of Vancouver, Canada, I learned to ski before I can remember, balancing precariously on my parents’ skis as they sailed down the hill. I started snowboarding in my teens and am now delighted to be exploring everything Europe’s ski scene has to offer!
