 Poster: A snowHead
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The "good thing" about the future of the Les Arcs domain (if you're a skier and not an environmentalist, that is) is that work is to begin shortly to install artificial snowmaking covering 40% of the runs in the domain. That includes Arc 2000, where at present there is none. A reservoir of some 400,000m3 is planned on the cross country area in the 2000 domain, though it probably won't be finished until 2010.
At present there is "only" 150 cannons in Les Arcs, and around half of these serve the Peisey Vallandry ski area.
Lack of precipitation is as much a problem as the threat of warmer weather - the start of the current season saw many resorts all around the Alps unable to open as planned.
Hence the PLAN NEIGE in Les Arcs, work starting 2006. All of 500 new artificial snowmakers are to be installed:
Arc 1600: from the summit of the Clocheret/Clapet down the Clocheret run, from the top of the Arpette chair down the Arpette, along the Clair Blanc, from the top of the Mont Blanc chair, the Mont Blanc. The Sources run and perhaps the Granges as well to be covered.
Arc 1800: from the top of the Vagère chair, down the Froide Fontaine, Vagère, all of the Grands Mélèzes and all of the Villards. The Charmettoger and Charvet as well. The Peisey Vallandry link along the Plan Bois and the Maitaz.
Arc 2000: from the top of Varet wosn the Arandelières; the top of Plagnettes convering Plan des Eaux and Plagnettes; from the summit of Bois de l'Ours, serving Edelweiss. Other pistes: Vallée de l'Arc (from Plagnettes), Marmottes, Saint Jacques, Réservoir.
Villaroger: Aiguille Rouge from the top of the Plan des Violettes to the Village du Pré, the Villaroger piste from the Solliet Restaurant to the start of the Replat chair via the Planay piste.
Peisey Vallandry : from the top of the Grizzly to the start of Plan Bois, from the top of Plan Bois down to the villages. Soon to be finished: Plan Bois to the arrival of the Vallandry chair; the Forêt blue from the top of Grizzly to the arrival of the Vallandry chair; the Coqs piste, from the Maïtaz (Vallandry summit link to Arc 1800 via start of Plan Bois chair and Maïtaz); the end of the Perdrix to ensure it is skiable from the top Vallandry to the Ours.
There are also some tentative plans to extend the ski domain itself (Col de la Chal), Arc 2000. Not sure how advanced they are, will get some more info on this.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Glad to see the artificial snow-making expansion.
What is the terrain like over Col de la Chal? Is there potential for a variety of runs across all grades of slope? How much room is there for expanding the domain?
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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The southern slopes of the Col de la Chal are one of the few possible expansion areas within the boundaries of the current Les Arcs domain. In theory, were it to go ahead, a second link with La Plagne would be possible.
Current thinking includes either a chairlift starting from the Plan des Eaux at somewhere over 2,300 metres, probably ending at the former arrival point of the Plan Vert drag (somewhere near the arrival point of the Transarc and the Plagnettes.)
The idea is that this would offer a “snow sure” area from early december to mid-May, with some good skiing for beginners, easy access from 2000, plenty of sun (something rather lacking at 2000 in December). There would be two runs, one starting from the Creche Restaurant, one from the Col de la Chal.
The disadvantages include the loss of one of the favourite off piste sectors of the domain, and of course yet another lift – probably a high speed 6-man chair – in an otherwise virgin area.
Also the idea of linking to the La Plagne area may sound attractive – it would only need one or two more lifts on the La Plagne side to join up – but as the lower sections would be almost exclusively south-facing, the could lead to snow cover problems.
All of this is hypothetical though – the first request for planning permission has been refused, and the Peisey Nancroix ecologist movement is strongly opposed.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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How long would those runs be? From memory I think the terrain flattens out pretty quickly after you ski down from the Col. A second link with La Plagne would be good to integrate more fully the Paradiski domain.
Is it likely that planning permission will ever be granted?
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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rob@rar.org.uk, I haven't seen any detailed plans, but it wouldn't be that significant a mileage. Anyway, as things stand there's still a stand-off with the greens. True about the links ise, they do nothing for overstretched capacity... but at least the huge snowmaking programme will increase the ski area somewhat (in terms of accessible pistes, width skiable, etc) in the meantime.
Bet such an ambitious plan wouldn't have come up without the arrival of Intrawest...
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Good old Intrawest 
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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If it gets the OK then its great for the area, I think other areas have to think in the same way to safe guard the future resorts with snow making and altitude will only get busier as the years go on especially if each season starts like this one did.
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FAQ
), accommodation capacity is being added to stations which must inevitably result in increased density on the slopes (it’s getting very dense sometimes 
