Ski de Travesía — Refugio Frey
Bariloche, Patagonia
Hut-based ski touring around the most iconic refugio in the region
4 days / 3 nights
US$1,850 per person
Skill Level 3–4 (Intermediate–Advanced)
Refugio Frey is the single most sought-after ski touring destination in the Bariloche backcountry, a staffed mountain hut set among granite spires, with couloirs, open faces, and classic lines radiating out in every direction.
Over four days, based out of the hut with UIAGM guides, you’ll ski a variety of terrain suited to the group and the day’s conditions, from moderate powder faces to steeper, more committing couloirs, without the pressure of covering ground to a different hut each night.
Who is this for?
- Confident, capable off-piste skiers comfortable on varied backcountry terrain
- Skiers who want several days based from one hut rather than a point-to-point traverse
- A strong first step into Patagonian ski touring before something longer, like the Frey–Jakob traverse
- We recommend a full-day trip (Cerro López or Cerro Piltriquitrón) first if you’re new to ski touring in this region
The Itinerary
Day 1: Approach on skins from the Cerro Catedral base area up to Refugio Frey, with a first easy ski of the surrounding terrain once settled in.
Days 2–3: Two full days skiing from the hut — your guide choosing lines each day based on snowpack and conditions, from open bowls to the couloirs the Frey basin is known for.
Day 4: A final morning of skiing before descending back to Cerro Catedral and the road.
What’s Included
- UIAGM-certified mountain guide throughout
- 3 nights at Refugio Frey
- Lift tickets
Not Included
- Transport to/from Bariloche
- Personal equipment (skis, boots, avalanche gear, clothing)
- Meals beyond what’s arranged at the hut
- Guide gratuities
Price:
US$1,850 per person
Duration:
4 days / 3 nights
Group size:
4:1 per guide
Fitness level:
Strong — confident off-piste skiing ability required
Dates:
July / August / September / October
Where Next?
Once you’ve skied Frey, the 7-day Frey–Jakob traverse is the natural extension, the same terrain, linked into a longer hut-to-hut journey deeper into the Bariloche backcountry.
A note on conditions:
Conditions in the Frey basin change quickly, and terrain choice is made fresh each day by your guide based on snowpack and weather. Every day is weather and condition dependent, and your guide’s decisions on route and timing are always final.