How amazing this life is! One day we’re snorkeling in warm, turquoise blue waters of the South Pacific, then soon thereafter,  we’re basking in the sun at a sidewalk café in Santiago. Two days later, we’re skiing in a white out in the Andes! What an amazing string of events. Our first day in Santiago revealed the mountains behind the city, that beautiful string of Andean peaks that glitter white in the sunshine. We couldn’t make it up to the mountain that day or the next, then when we finally could, it rained in Santiago and snowed heavily on the mountain. Both Henry and I are thrilled we had this adventure, though we couldn’t see a thing when we skied. What made it all possible was SkiTotal The Andes Ski Adventure Company, which put together our ski clothes, equipment and transportation. It couldn’t have been easier, though my costume wasn’t as chic as I preferred. I did insist that my boots, ski trousers and hat all be black. My poles were trimmed in yellow, which matched my rented jacket. Henry also looked snappy in his own jacket with gray rental trousers, which miraculously matched. The most important point: we were toasty warm. I wore every piece of adventure clothing and thermal wear that I had packed, as did Henry. You might say we were covered. We had been warned that no trees grew on the mountaintops in the Andes. As we soon discovered, no trees means no plum line. In the white out conditions, it was difficult t keep our balance or to determine the trails, since there was so little definition in the landscape. It was a joy and great fun to be romping in snow, especially after our extended and very long “Year of Summer”.

PHOTOS: Left Column: 1. SkiTotal van and driver. 2. Passengers in the front seat. The man on the right is an American who skied down from his house. 3. Henry outside the skiers shopping complex. 4. Jourdan at the end of the day, with a bit of sun daring to show. Center, Top: The sky clearing as we were preparing to leave the mountain. Center, Bottom: One of the ski lodges on the mountain. Right Column: 1. Sign for the Ski School at Valle Navado. 2.The hotel on the mountain. 3. Ski rentals, lockers, ski shop and restaurants are in this complex. 4. Hotel Puerto del Sol, viewed from the parking lot.

JOURDAN ARPELLE-ZIEGLER                                           BACK TO MAP PAGE