Where to go this early Summer?

INcludes Southern Chile? Okey doke…

What about Peru? CHile will be cold in early summer here (it will be early WINTER in Chile!) but Peru is much closer to the equator, so doesn't get the same wild range of weather.

Southern Chile would be the absolute farthest i would be willing to go. Dunno about you, when i think about cold climates during Northern Hemisphere Summer time, i think places like Siberia, northern Scandinavia, the Arctic, Antarctica, etc. I definitely can't afford to go to any of those places.

I've been to Peru, and while i enjoyed my time there, i don't have anything close to burning desire to visit again.

I know it would we Winter in Chile in June and July, that's the point. The colder the better. -20*F would be ok, though i'm not prepared for much colder than that. I'm one of those odd people who like the cold.

This trip is the best substitute for my ideal/dream trip that i'll likely not ever be able to actually do unless my life changes radically, a late winter/early spring trip to Brooks Range in Alaska. I just don't have the time during that time period, but i do have the summers off, so that's where i am, trying to find a colder climate substitute.

Greenland looks interesting, but having watched a documentary where even in northern Greenland above the Arctic circle the explorers in May were experiencing treacherous conditions on the glaciers because of melting snow/ice and numerous crevasses being revealed.. well don't think i want to deal with that in June and July when it would be even worse.

Even though you already mentioned it, I'll throw out the Brooks Range. It won't be very cold, but it's still the Brooks and its just as impressive in summer (Although, I'll note I haven't been in winter). Its also definitely a lot less expensive than heading down to Chile, (from the US) if you take the shuttle up from Fairbanks.

I also may be mistaken, but I don't believe it gets as cold in Chile/Patagonia as you think it does. Maybe at high elevations but as I'm sure you are aware the country and mountainous regions border the coast, leading to a more coastal/temperate environment. As somewhat of a testament to that, I currently have a friend from Chile visiting in Chicago. He is absolutely freezing in somewhat normal winter temps here ( mid teens to mid 20s) he says its never like that down there. That's not to say its not worth going though. I'm sure it'd be outstanding.

Edit: Good resource on temperatures in Chile in each season. http://www.patagonia-argentina.com/i/content/clima_tabla.php

Denali in June.

–B.G.–

Hi Jack,

The B.R. is something to consider, and you're right, even in their winter much of southern Chile is not particularly cold. Some places though are fairly..chilly.. hehe (i had to do it as korny as it is). In any case, it's colder than most other places i could go to for under a grand for round trip tickets. Not ideal though.

"Denali in June."

Oh sure Bob, a wee little jaunt up Denali would be delightful. If i didn't know better, i would think you were trying to kill me…

Seriously though, wouldn't you have to go fairly high up in elevation to enjoy more extreme cold? Currently, that would involve a lot of investment in training, fitness, expensive gear, etc. I'm A. somewhat lazy and B. somewhat broke, Denali would most likely eat me for breakfast.

I'm looking more for a hike rather than to summit a rather large mountain.

I think he meant Denali National Park, not the actual mountain.

“The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco.”
– Mark Twain

"I think he meant Denali National Park, not the actual mountain."

Ah, well i was there a couple of summers ago, and it was fairly hot, in the 80's. Granted it was unusual weather, but 60's or even 50's high is not my idea of cold weather. Beautiful area though, wish i had a chance to explore it more, but was with my spouse.