Good morning, winter lovers, travelers, and adventure seekers. I’m here to tell you that last Friday was a very special day for me. After nearly 7 years in Santiago, Chile—and 6 winters—I finally went on the traditional trip to see the snow, even though I was lucky enough to see it many years ago in Mérida, back in my home country.
It wasn't really a trip I was very excited about, since the cold is usually tough on me. However, you have to live life to the fullest and take advantage of the opportunities that come your way. That Friday, I got up very early with my friend, and we headed to the meeting point to join the group and the van that would take us on the trip.
At 6 a.m. we were already on the road, getting directions and recommendations. My friend and I decided not to go up to the park but to stay in the town called Farellones. Our first stop was at the rental shop for the gear and clothing needed for the snow; that day, temperatures would range from -2° to -6°. My coat is huge and quite warm, so I just rented goggles to protect my eyes from the sun’s glare off the snow and special boots, since sneakers definitely aren’t suitable.
There were lots of colorful and pretty clothes, as well as gear for skiing and other snow sports. Once the whole group was geared up, we set off on the nearly 2-hour hike to Farellones, up a fairly steep mountain with lots of curves, but I took the opportunity to sleep.
Finally, they dropped us off at the entrance to the village. From the moment we arrived, we were surrounded by snow. The first view was incredible; I was able to take it all in, reflect, and be grateful for the opportunity to have this experience. We climbed a set of stairs for about 10 minutes to the first part of the village, which is a sort of flat, snow-covered area where you can see Santiago and its surroundings on the horizon, almost entirely covered in snow.
We climbed slowly, taking in the scenery but also being careful not to fall and breathing consciously, since the cold and the altitude tend to reduce oxygen levels. When we arrived, we were greeted by the vastness of the snow-covered landscape; everywhere you looked was covered in snow, as well as tourists and city dwellers who had come to play sports, and others like us who were there just to look around, explore, and enjoy a good hot chocolate or a seasonal vegetable soup.
After walking quite a bit and taking in the scenery, we sat down for a while to talk about life. I took the opportunity to do a card reading for my friend, taking advantage of the fresh, joyful energy in the air. We shared the lunches we’d each brought—fruit, bread, and tea.
Finally, we found a spot where we could make a snow angel and a snowman while singing the song “What If We Make a Snowman?” At 3:00 p.m., we began our descent to meet up with the rest of the group and head back to Santiago. By then, it was somewhat cloudy, colder, and a light snow had begun to fall.
It really was a lovely, relaxing outing that everyone should experience if they get the chance. If you like extreme sports, snow sports give you that extra push to exercise with enthusiasm. If you’ve made it this far, thank you so much, hivers—see you on our next adventure. The photos are from my personal collection, taken with a Redmi Note 13.



