Argentinian Log Cabin

If you're going to ski in South America, it may as well be at the largest ski resort there...Cerro Catedral.  And why not experience some "typical" local color too?  The Ski House of the Day is one that has just that - the local color of Argentina!  It's the Bariloche Log Cabin, in the Patagonia area of Argentina.  The cabin is a classic Patagonia style log and stone cabin...with custom made wooden details, handsome Bariloche masonry work, and an unusual integrated glass skylight in the ceiling. The rental website describes it as a handcrafted Patagonian architectural masterpiece!  (Yes, it is ski season in South America now):

I think the cabin looks quaint and cozy, and I like the fact that its style is typical of its locale:

One more locale-specific detail about this cabin is that is has a quincho.  Typical of cabins and homes in Argentina and Chile, but unfamiliar to me, a quincho is a separate, detached BBQ structure in which there is a built-in grill under a roof.   They sometimes have a thatched roof;  and the word "quincho" is sometimes translated as a BBQ hut or BBQ shack.  I love to grill and I use my gas grill often in the summer as well as the winter...but it's out in the weather (snow falling on the meat slows the cooking process).  So wow, it sure would be nice to have an entire separate structure strictly dedicated to grilling.  Here's a look at the outside of the quincho at the Bariloche Log Cabin:

What?  That's not the cabin...that's the quincho!  Looks like a pretty substantial structure to me!  And here's the inside of the quincho...plenty of wood for the fire(s)...and some near-the-fire seating :

Okay...I think the apres-ski dinner has to be something grilled at this ski house!   

And by the way, the skiing is at Cerro Catedral which is 20 minutes away.  On the trails...

...or in the back-country...

...(quincho aside)....the local color here is white.

Luxury Mountain Chalet in Argentina

The Ski House of the Day is the ski-in / ski-out Patagonia Ski Chalet in the Andes of Argentina.  The chalet is located 20-minutes from San Martin de Los Andes, and is perched on a mountain where you can ski directly down to Las Pendientes ski area, and from there connect through the woods to the Cerro Chapelco ski area.   With the ski season now open there, it's a good time to have a look inside this modern and very nice ski chalet.


The first thing I noticed about the chalet was the soaring 20 ft ceilings in the wide-open living room area:

All of the beautiful natural wood used in this house ("every wall of every room") makes for a nice, warm environment;  and the tall stone fireplace in the living room looks like a perfect spot to warm up after a day on the slopes.

The chalet has plenty of windows in its modern and spacious kitchen...

...and in its open dining area:

And here's the unbelievable view out of the living room windows:

With a spectacular view like that, no wonder there are so many windows!


The chalet has four bedrooms and four+ bathrooms.  I noticed all the beautifully tiled floors...and they're all toasty warm with radiant heat.  The few times I've stayed in a ski house with heated tile floors was a delightful treat for my tired and frozen feet.

The chalet also has a family room on the lower level.  There's an outdoor ski closet to keep the snowy skis from accumulating in here:

And for apres-ski entertainment, it also has a game room:

With its direct connections to skiing at two Argentinean ski areas...I hope the deck of the Patagonia Ski Chalet  looks like this -- right now!

Magical Patagonia Chalet

As the temperature soars into summer where I am in North America, the temps are falling as ski season gets going in South America.  So, for a South American Ski House of the Day check out the magical Las Baitas Superior Ski Lodge in San Carlos de Bariloche, in the Patagonia region of Argentina.

The house is a charming 3-bedroom log and stone chalet:

It's got a nice semi-circle shaped balcony off of the second floor bedroom...and has a direct view of the ski trails from that balcony.  The arched entrance above the front door offers a nice welcome to this quaint chalet.  And that beautiful exterior stonework continues inside with a full stone wall in the living room...

...that merges into the cozy, warm fireplace.  Nice place to warm up after a few ski runs:

One of the things I like best about this chalet is this really inviting kitchen with its beautiful, unique stone and wood bar:

When a space is filled with so many curved lines and natural elements...I think it becomes so very welcoming and comfortable immediately.  The rental listing describes this chalet as having a magical environment, and because of features like this bar, I'd agree.  This curved stone bar, with plenty of wine glasses hanging within reach,  looks like a perfect spot for apres-ski socializing and maybe a glass of a local Argentinian wine:

One of the three bedrooms in this ski house is this one with colorful accents on a king bed:

...and another is this multi-bed room with a log-beamed ceiling on the second floor and connected to that great balcony above the front door (and, by the way, I like those ski pictures on the wall in this bedroom):

Las Baitas Lodge is located at Cerro Catedral Ski Area, one of the largest ski areas in South America with 62 miles (100 km) of groomed trails.  (Cerro Catedral is now open with a heavy snow in this week's forecast).  According to Powderhounds, this ski area has the largest lift-accessed terrain in South America, about half of which is off-piste, with good tree skiing and back-country chutes and bowls.

And this magical Patagonia ski chalet is just across the trails and only 100 meters from the ski lifts at the base.