Portillo, Chile

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Ski Portillo Chile
Location:	Andes, Chile
Nearest city:	Los Andes, Chile
Vertical:	806 m (2644 ft)
Top elevation:	3310 m (10859 ft)
Base elevation:	2504 m (8215 ft)
Skiable area:	? km²
Longest run:	2.6 km (1.6 miles)
Lift system:	5 chairlifts, 8 surface lifts
Snowfall:	5 m (20 ft)
Web site:	http://www.skiportillo.com

Ski Portillo Chile (usually known simply as Portillo) is a ski resort located about 2 hours drive northeast of Santiago, Chile. It is one of the largest ski areas in South America, and is located entirely above treeline. The ski season typically runs from mid-June to mid-October.

Plans to build the ski area were drawn up in the 1930s, and construction began in 1942. The ski area opened in 1949. Most of the ski lifts were almost completely destroyed by massive avalanches in 1965, but were successfully rebuilt in time for Portillo to host the alpine skiing World Championships in 1966. The area has since grown into one of the principal destinations for ski racers to train during the Northern Hemisphere summer.

[edit] References

Atwater, Montgomery M. (1968). The Avalanche Hunters. Macrae Smith Company. ISBN 0825513456.
Lange, Serge (1986). 21 Years of World Cup Ski Racing. Johnson Books / James Wotton. ISBN 1-55566-009-6. Also available under ISBN 0-246-13116-0.