 Poster: A snowHead
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Back online at last! Just posted the photos for the 24, 25 and 26 January in the new Album for the end of this month. If you were on any of these days hope you like them! More to come!
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.963443660398767.1073741858.195692797173861&type=1
For those coming out this weekend.
The conditions are still OK. There is plenty of snow on the pistes and they have a good supply to top up where needed in the coming busy week's so do not worry. The pistes across the whole area are firm and hard packed in places early in the day. Then softer around 2pm before becoming hard and smooth on busy routes later in the day.
The piste natures in sheltered areas away from the sun are still in good condition, but if you venture onto sun cooked slopes, you will find it crusty in many places unless you get it just at the right time of day.
The off piste is still fun in many places, but the wind and sun has done it's damage so timing is now very important. Most areas are well tracked, but you can still find some nice soft untracked snow if you look hard. If you are not sure where to go 'take a guide!'
Right now it has been more like March conditions, but with more snow on the way, hopefully everything will be refreshed very soon.
More info and photos to follow tomorrow! Enjoy!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Snowing well now at 1600 looks like a fair bit to come down tomorrow. Bodes well for next week.
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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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30 January 2016. Yes, despite not snowing for more than a week today was another fresh tracks powder day. It really needed to be as one person had come all the way from London just for the weekend! I had to try and make her efforts worth while!
After the normal cruise across Les Arcs we headed over the Vanoise Express and up the Bellecote. Then time to hunt the powder. High up you can still find fresh tracks with a little effort.
After some nice snow it was time to start heading for lunch and meet up with the others.
Once more it was time to search out fresh powder! After more fun above Les Coches we finally headed home through the forest back to the Vanoise Express.
Once back over on the Les Arcs side we headed for the 'Big Drop' with a little untracked snow on the way. Amazing what you can still find if you look hard enough. Everyone did the drop, not a problem!
Then across the pistes and a few short cuts all the way to the Carreley Chair and home!
Another fun day in the powder! The few pistes we used today were in good condition although hard packed. By late afternoon there were many firm slippy patches around.
It was interesting in the morning to see the site they were using for the Freeride competition today. The sunny side of the Aiguille Grive. Not a place we would choose to ride right now! Hope they had fun!
It is now raining in the valley and snowing up the hill. Let us hope it continues all night and tomorrow the snow has been refreshed and ready to start all over again!
I will post more photos shortly, but still have a few days to catch up so please be patient if you are waiting to see your photos from the last few days.
More to follow tomorrow.
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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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Arrived in les Coches last night. Delighted to see it snowing all evening. Can't wait to get out there today. Always delighted to hear insider info about where is the best place to be.
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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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High winds stopped play in 2000 this morning and closed the road out for a while so it was 11am by the time I made it onto the first runs of the week. I was greeted by a lot of powder on the pistes as it had snowed all night and was still snowing heavily all morning. I spent a couple of hours playing in the snow around and above 1800 before stopping for a snack. When I returned to the piste it was raining at 1800 and higher up it was sleet. The light really faded as well as the clouds were very low and at some points I couldn't even see the piste at my feet. Soaking wet and after a few tumbles in the clouds I headed back to 1600 for the bus home. It is warm up here at 2000 the snow on my balcony from last night/this morning is already melting, it will be interesting to see what happens tomorrow. A great first day nonetheless as the pistes were lovely and soft mostly though the powder was very cut up and lots of people were struggling.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Played in the trees today to get a bit of definition. Unfortunately it was raining up to about 1500 so the snow down low was quite heavy. Took a run over to Peisey in the afternoon, snow better there and had a lot of fun off the Derby lift. Soaked through, but it was a great day despite that. Roll on tomorrow!
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31 January 2016. Today was a wet POWDER DAY!.
Woke to the sound of bangs in the mountains as they blasted many areas to make it safe and without looking outside it was clear the fresh snow had arrived last night! Guess there was about 30cm in places.
Unfortunately the snow in the valley had turned to rain and the forecast for the day was not great.
With delayed lift opening I went up late to meet the others and then we headed up the Cachette Chair. Nothing high up was open and the Mont Blanc remained closed all day.
Not a problem, with knee and even waist deep snow in the forest and open areas around Arc 1600 and plenty of places to make our own tracks we did not bother to go anywhere else.
After making laps of the Cachette Chair in deep powder which was slowly turning heavy we headed for lunch. The pistes were well skied by then, but the forest areas still have loads of untracked places to explore!
One more lap after lunch, but by now it was raining at the top of the Cachette Chair.
With tired legs and not wanting to risk pulled muscles we called a halt and headed for home around 3.30pm.
Another fun day even if a bit wet, but a pity it has become so warm! Hope the temp drops again quickly.
No Les Arcs update tomorrow as busy again, but will try to add more photos from last week if I have time over on the Les Arcs Winter page. More to follow on Tuesday!
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Hi folks,
I'm in les Coches this week and looking for a shared transfer or lift back to GVA next Sat from les Coches or Aime.
If anyone in resort is able to point me in the right direction I'd be most grateful.
Many thanks,
CW 
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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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Wow is it spring already? Lovely soft snow today perfect for charging around on a board. Some crazy queues in Arc2000 this morning meant I got the bois d'lours over to 1600 and charged around there before repeating the journey after I returned to 2000 and found the same enormous queues, very busy! Then I headed over to Vallandry which was quieter though the pistes were slightly firmer but not too hard. Will try to get to La Plagne tomorrow to see whats over there. A lovely day just can't believe it is the 1st of Feb!
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| Quote: |
Some crazy queues in Arc2000 this morning meant I got the bois d'lours over to 1600 and charged around there before repeating the journey after I returned to 2000 and found the same enormous queues, very busy!
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I have never understood this, but why are there more queues in 2000 than on the 1600/1800 side. Is it the ratio of beds to lifts that is causing the problem
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| johnE wrote: |
| Quote: |
Some crazy queues in Arc2000 this morning meant I got the bois d'lours over to 1600 and charged around there before repeating the journey after I returned to 2000 and found the same enormous queues, very busy!
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I have never understood this, but why are there more queues in 2000 than on the 1600/1800 side. Is it the ratio of beds to lifts that is causing the problem |
I think there must be, there was only a few open this morning but rather then get out of 2000 everyone seemed to be queuing for those lifts and even when I returned and more was open they were just as big, perhaps a lot of people don't want to leave that bowl. The queues were huge, bigger then I have seen anywhere else and I've been to Espace Killy during french school holidays when it was busy but I saw nothing like that. The snow was actually better in 1600 and 1800 though I thought, nice and soft perfect for boarding.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Mare a la Plagne post, but it was a day of closed lifts all over the place in la Plagne today, not just bergerie, both la Rossa and rhe Roche De Mio bubble were both stopped for over half an hour. I pity the poor people in the bubble. We had a lucky escape, just three from the front when it stopped. Made it over to Champagny, eventually, and a lot of fun was had in spring conditions before lunch in one of my favourite restaurants on the mountain, les Borselliers. Played under the Verdons Sud, including a rather challenging black bump run, after lunch before making our way home. A great day had by all.
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Headed over to les Arcs today. While the snow in Peisey was a bit sugary in the warmth, up high it was much better. After lunch at la Creche at Col de la Cha we headed down to the Vagere bubble and played in the red bumps below the cable car all afternoon.
It seems there is snow forecast for tomorrow and a significant drop in temperature, both of which will be most welcome.
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You know it makes sense.
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2 February 2016. What a day it turned out to be!
After not getting out yesterday it was great to be back on the snow so had to see how the rain had changed things.
Started with a fast ski across Les Arcs 1600 and up the Arpette Chair. Meet up with the others and headed over to the Varet gondola to watch the World Freeride Qualifier Comp for a while. The snow under the Varet where they held the Comp was very mixed and looked challenging.
As the area was closed in the morning we went to the Grand Col instead. Plenty of room to put down fresh lines in very mixed conditions. But with the sun warming things up from the start we soon found the snow was OK if we were careful which lines we took.
To see all the lines we put down today take a look at the Photos in the new February 2016 Album which have now been posted on the Les Arcs Winter page.
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.965448303531636.1073741859.195692797173861&type=3&uploaded=1
After making many laps of the Grand Col area we headed for a late lunch.
Then up the Varet Chair and down the Robert Blanc freeride area where the competition had taken place. The snow was still very mixed and some of the jumps they took were quite impressive considering the conditions. Respect!
Think the snow we found was in better condition!
Finally down to Bois and back over to the Arc 1600 side. The snow was not that great even at 4pm so decided we had done enough for one day and headed for home.
Despite the snow conditions first thing in the morning it turned out to be a great day. The Off piste is changing all the time and there were a few slides around so you had to be careful, but you can still have plenty of safe fun off piste if you know what you are doing. If not take a guide and stay safe!
The pistes are in good condition, if a little firm in the busy places, but anyone coming out for the holidays should have a great time as more snow is forecast which can only help to keep everywhere nice and snowy.
More to come tomorrow.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Rain overnight down in les Coches, but turning to snow now (8am). Hopefully proper snow up above.
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Poster: A snowHead
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meteoexploration.com showing the snow limit going to 200m today so looks optimistic. And a lot colder than it has been for the rest of the week.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Wet snow down at Montalbert. Getting windy. Not a huge amount of new snow, but welcome all the same.
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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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What a phenomenal day! Snow, whiteout, blue sky, gales, fresh tracks and last off the mountain. We started by nipping over into la Plagne on the Salla chair and were pleasantly surprised that it was better than expected. Spent an hour or so there off the Colosses and Blanchets lifts before taking Arpette back up into the ice storm & white out that Crozets & Carroley had become, before a nice lunch at Pierre Blanche (aka "The noisy bar"). After lunch we played in the trees above les Coches until the pisteys escorted us off the mountain making fresh tracks all the way home.
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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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Hi Les Arcs Snowheads,
My son is coming out with his GF later in Feb and I am looking for some advice from the collective. She is a (very) novice skier and we would like suggestions for good novice slopes;St Jacques in 2000 is a given as would be mile 8. Do we know of any lift pass options that would work for a couple only using a few lifts in a day?
Thanks
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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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St Jacques is an incredibly slow lift to be honest. You'd soon be better heading down the blues from Aracubuelle. The two blues off the right, plan vert and dents du peigne where generally very quiet when I was there, with the return to Aracubuelle on plan easy going.
Once happy on narrow perhaps exposed feeling blues, top of the Varet lift to the bottom of Pre St Esprit is a great long run. Couple of flats to deal with and works best done fast but not really difficult.
Depends on the queues of course. The St Jacques runs were virtually abandoned during my two weeks, mainly because by the time you'd got to the top the day had ended.
Last edited by Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do. on Wed 3-02-16 22:26; edited 1 time in total
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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3 Feb 2016. Poor vis, cold, snowing and windy all day with a few seconds of blue sky! Stayed in the forests around Arc 1600 area once the others from over in Arc 1950 and 2000 were able to join us via the Bus. No links were open today between the valleys again.
Although the vis was not great most of the day, it did snow and is starting to refresh the spoiled snow after the rain, sun and re-freeze of the last few days. This made it better skiing today as the snow fell.
By late afternoon we had done quite a few laps of the Mont Blanc and Malgovert forest area plus a few on skiers left side back down to Arc 1600. Really fun in some places, even some powder, but with crud underneath.
The snow on piste is good with a light covering of soft snow and only a few icy cruddy patches by the afternoon. The off piste was starting to be quite nice again, but you did drop through onto crud today. By tomorrow I hope that has changed.
Photos from today are already posted in the February 2016 Album over on the Les Arcs Winter page. Enjoy!
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.965448303531636.1073741859.195692797173861&type=3
More tomorrow evening after what promises to be a good powder day we hope!
@cardweg, since you keep double posting on the Les Arcs thread for the La Plagne side, maybe you would like to meet up for a play in the powder tomorrow when we come over your way for some of the day. Be good to ski with some other snowheads if your interested!
@Ian Kenvyn, They should get a limited area pass for where they are staying or a Les Arcs only pass. I think you can also get the coupons for individual days or just lifts like in the summer, but you will need to check this. Go to ski pass web page to see the options.
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| snowcrazy wrote: |
3 Feb 2016...
@cardweg, since you keep double posting on the Les Arcs thread for the La Plagne side, maybe you would like to meet up for a play in the powder tomorrow when we come over your way for some of the day. Be good to ski with some other snowheads if your interested. |
Hi Chris, sorry if double posting is the wrong thing to do, but I didnt see a Paradiski thread so thought it would be useful to share my experiences on both.
When we bumped into you on the Vanoise last season you were all kitted out with Avalanche kit. I'm afraid we aren't equipped for that, but thank you for the invitation. I'm not sure what the plan of attack for tomorrow is yet, but "the trees in les Arcs" was mentioned.
Any idea of when you'll be coming across?
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@snowcrazy, looks like we're heading Malgovert way today. Have a good day & thanks for the offer.
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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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That has to rank as one of my all time best ski days. At the ninth time of trying, spread across the last three years' holidays, I finally got to ski under the Bois de l'Ours lift today. Such a great run, steep & deep all the way down into 1950. So worth the wait! After that, we avoided the queues and took the Comboiciere lift back to the front of the mountain and visited the legend that is Malgovert. Pure quality, and not too busy either. We enjoyed lunch in la Blanche Muree, which we subsequently worked off under the Grizzly & Vallandry lifts all afternoon before heading back across the Vanoise Express to our traditional end of the day vin chaud blanc at the Joli Bois.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Ahh, malgovert. What a laugh that run is.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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@Minion1980, @cardweg, delighted that Les Arcs delivered for you today
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I had a great time on Malgovert today too
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You know it makes sense.
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4 Feb 2016. And so our hunt for untracked powder begins!!
Our first run off the top of the first lift in Les Arcs gave us fresh tracks in knee deep powder. So did the next sections on our way to the Vanoise Express and I just knew it was going to be another great day!
Take a look at all the new photos in the February 2016 album to see what we have been doing today. The snow was great, the sky stayed clear until mid afternoon and the wind had dropped.
We made five different routes all in fresh untracked powder and finished with a fun route down through the forest back to the Vanoise Express.
For all those piste skiers out there the conditions are great on piste as well. On our journey across Les Arcs and La Plagne there were very few warn patches and mostly nice snow on a firm base although there are still some hard packed places lower down coming into the stations where you need to be careful as the pistes become busy!
The piste nature areas are also in very good condition again, but a little more snow depth will help to remove the cruddy snow below the surface.
If you are coming out soon for your holidays you should have a great time!
Hope you enjoy the photos and maybe see some of you out on the snow!
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.965448303531636.1073741859.195692797173861&type=3&uploaded=85
@Jenniper, I also love Malgovert!
@cardweg, Pity we missed each other. Yes you do need the safety gear if you want to come riding with us on the big powder days like today, but on other days we do piste natures and just do fun easier stuff. Maybe next time you are out we can arrange to hook up and do some riding together. Pleased to hear you had a great time in Les Arcs today!
@Minion1980, you are also welcome with your board. Check out the boarders with us last week in the photos.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Bah, humbug.
Sat in Leeds awaiting a business meeting and reading about yesterday's fun is - well - frustrating!
However, I wish you all Big Fun 😊
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Poster: A snowHead
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Oops, double post. 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@cardweg, Hi good to see you are having a great time. Where in Les Coches are you staying? We are intending driving over for the first two weeks in April (our school holidays). Did it a couple of years ago and stayed in Les 3 Glaciers in Montchavin and while the apartment was ideal, I'd quite like to stay in Les Coches this time.
We haven't booked anything as yet, just keeping an eye on snow, and also not finalised on whether just our family or friends as well. At present I am just checking out different apartments and prices. Also hoping to get an apartment that doesn't have a walk up a hil at the start of the day to a lift, as could potentially be 3 kids, 2 female adults and only one male adult. But harsh on the male having to carry all those skis!
Any tips on Les Coches most welcome.
Also what's this Malgovert you are all talking about?
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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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| Quote: |
Also what's this Malgovert you are all talking about?
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A red run above Arc 1600 that is only accessible from the Combourciere lift at the bottom of Arc2000. It winds its way down the top of the Malgovert forest to join the Mont Blanc piste at the bottom of the Deux Tete piste, but many people continue wandering down through the trees. It suits good skiers with fast feet and good reaction times.
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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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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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| johnE wrote: |
| Quote: |
Also what's this Malgovert you are all talking about?
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A red run above Arc 1600 that is only accessible from the Combourciere lift at the bottom of Arc2000. It winds its way down the top of the Malgovert forest to join the Mont Blanc piste at the bottom of the Deux Tete piste, but many people continue wandering down through the trees. It suits good skiers with fast feet and good reaction times. |
Mmm red run ok, red run through trees mmmm maybe not so ok
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@Gilly28, it is a Natur Red, something you don't see very often (anywhere?).
As a result, you've got lumps, bumps, narrow bits, steep bits, wide bits (with multiple choice for which route is the 'right' one on that day), the odd tree, the odd rock / monolith, and yes, occasional ice: in fact the whole effect is frankly glorious.
It's not something I'd take an inexperienced 'red' skier on, and certainly not a cruisy blue person: but if you want a unique experience, like nowhere else I've ever seen in the Alps, this is the run for you.
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Superb snow conditions today. Seldom seen better.
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@Arctic Roll, Is it a run that once you are on you have to see it through? Sounds fun , ice doesn't bother me too much, (did a lot of my skiing in Glencoe) but if very steep and also having to navigate trees at same time not so sure I could.
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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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Wow, another incredible day I didn't believe it was possible! I was on one of the first chairs on Arcabulle with the aim to get to La Plagne today and from the top of Arcabulle all the way down to the Vanoise there was fresh powder on the piste, it was only about 10-15 cm's but it was enough to feel the glide-y feeling on the board! Wonderful! Anyway over to La Plagne, a long wait at the Roche Mio bubble and when I got to the top there was a sign saying the Glacier should open at 12:00. I did a red run with more cut up powder to the side then came back up in a very slow chair and promptly got in line for the Glacier bubble which then opened, I must have been on the 5th or 6th bubble up.
I then took a black run down called Chiaupe and I was the first to go (everyone was taking photos of their girlfriends, I was happy not to have one at this point) meaning more fresh tracks in lovely deep powder, incredible! (there were a couple of tracks I assume from the pisteurs). Then I did 5 laps of Lanche Ronde as again it was covered in powder and the few powder hounds around were going proper off piste, I wanted to try the Derochoir black down to the valley but it was marked as closed which being on my own I did not want to take the risk, didn't stop tons of others though.
Once Lanche Ronde was tracked completely I headed back to Les Arcs which was a bit of a journey and a lull after the mornings exertions. Finally I made it all the way up to Aiguille Rouge managing to get the last cable car up after a very long wait so I saw the top of both parts of Paradiski today, proper chuffed! What a way to end a marvellous week, these last two days were the best I've experienced, I usually go to the mountains in March so have never experienced conditions like this before and I totally fell in love with Les Arcs, when it snows here it is incredible (I always thought this would be the case after a visit in 2010 mid March when the snow was not forthcoming but I could see all the tracked out bowls and forests).
@snowcrazy, thanks for the offer but this was my last day, hometime tomorrow
Enjoy the rest of the season you lucky sod!
I'll try and post some pictures tomorrow as I'm tired, have a 4:45am pickup (my flight is at 12:25, thanks Crystal!!!) and this hotel wi-fi is very slow.
Bon Journey!
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Ha 4.45am, you've just reminded me why we started DIYing our trips 
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FAQ
Lots of heavy snowfall predicted for next week (not a sunny day in sight). If the snowcast here 
