 Poster: A snowHead
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A little bit sad what you watch when you're waiting for the snow to arrive..
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@rob@rar, The pesimist in me (and experience) says never get excited about any snowfall before December and even then expect it to go.
ps I have even had snow in July forcing me to abandon a climb up the Bellecote.
pps We are planning to arrive in Les Arcs on December 18th and stay for 10 days in the first instance.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Having said that, the gondolas have obviously been put away, as not showing on the camera this morning, @rob@rar, more than a little bit sad 
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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="johnE"]
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A little bit sad what you watch when you're waiting for the snow to arrive..
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@rob@rar, The pesimist in me (and experience) says never get excited about any snowfall before December and even then expect it to go.
True, but it would be nice to see a little bit more white, whilst I'm being very sad and checking the cameras (and weather forecast) every day.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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@johnE, yes, been caught out by having thigh deep snow in late October and expecting a bumper start to the season, but by Christmas week the pistes were thin and scratchy. I’d like to see it getting colder, and by mid-November the first proper snow arriving. Can but hope…
I’ll be in Les Arcs from about the 10th until the end of the month, so will try to catch up with whoever is around.
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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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The TransArc's new middle station looking, umm, big! I think I read somewhere that it will house a small rock and mineral exhibition (much like the top station of the Vallandry gondola contains a mountain animal exhibition).
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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During the summer I visited the Bastille in Grenoble. They had an exhibition explaining the geology of that part of the Aps. I hope they do something similar in the mid station.
ps the photo looks fantastic.
pps They are doing another discounted lift pass promotion.
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| johnE wrote: |
| They had an exhibition explaining the geology of that part of the Alps. I hope they do something similar in the mid station. |
A little Alpine Geology exhibition would be great (one time geology student here). And maybe do something inventive with the large gondola garage, like they did with the Varet gondola garage.
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Will they knock down the old station at the back of the new one, that's huge compared to the new one.
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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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@stevew, that’s not the old station, that’s the gondola garage for the new gondola cars.
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| rob@rar wrote: |
| @stevew, that’s not the old station, that’s the gondola garage for the new gondola cars. |
Ahh .... it is huge then.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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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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Thanks for the pics of the new stations. A new Transarc was needed. Last season someone in the village mentioned that it may have a small cafe at the mid point ? That may fit in with the rocks display as it does for animals in Vallandry or the small cafe at the top of the glacier in La Plagne ??
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| ipken wrote: |
| Last season someone in the village mentioned that it may have a small cafe at the mid point ? That may fit in with the rocks display as it does for animals in Vallandry or the small cafe at the top of the glacier in La Plagne ?? |
That would be great, either a cafe or another lovely picnic room.
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You know it makes sense.
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| rob@rar wrote: |
@Ryehill Runner, only via the Varet gondola, so you’d have to take the bus (two buses, actually) from 1800 to 2000 and then walk alongside the piste to get to the Varet. .
Welcome to snowHeads. |
Another option (possible on the pedestrian lift pass) is to take the Transarc to the top, then descend on Arcabulle towards 2000. There is then a signed and roped-off footpath to the Varet base station, though at one point it is necessary to cross (briskly!) one of the motorway pistes. This can also be done in reverse.
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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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A cafe there would be lovely!
It's flipping massive!!
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Poster: A snowHead
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@johnE, lift pass promotion…thanks for heads up.
Procrastination got the better of me… I checked prices a couple of days ago, but didn’t commit. Went back tonight and £90 more for my family of 5.
Still a saving… but a lesson to book when they go on sale, perhaps.
It begs another question. Carre Neige. Do folks automatically buy?
And is it worth it over and above your winter travel insurance? It has cost me £120 or so for the family…. But I feel better safe, than sorry…
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Yukon wrote: |
| rob@rar wrote: |
@Ryehill Runner, only via the Varet gondola, so you’d have to take the bus (two buses, actually) from 1800 to 2000 and then walk alongside the piste to get to the Varet. .
Welcome to snowHeads. |
Another option (possible on the pedestrian lift pass) is to take the Transarc to the top, then descend on Arcabulle towards 2000. There is then a signed and roped-off footpath to the Varet base station, though at one point it is necessary to cross (briskly!) one of the motorway pistes. This can also be done in reverse. |
Thanks Yukon. I did wonder about this option but was unsure about the connection between Arcabule and Varet. Good to know!
I’m sure the kids will be comfortable enough on the skis later in the week so we can use the lifts and pistes, above is just a fall back option.
62 sleeps and counting 
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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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Ok just starting to plan stuff and doing you can still get discounted lift passes with the extra half day before, which is worth it as we need to get the funicular.
Question though, do they send the lift pass to the UK or can we collect at Bourg?
We will be coming by train and have found a pass for 6.5 days at €331 on the La Plagne site and €350 on Les arcs.
We are staying in Arc 1950. But if they post the passes we may as well get the cheaper ones, right? Or am I missing something.
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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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| Richie_S wrote: |
| And is it worth it over and above your winter travel insurance? It has cost me £120 or so for the family…. But I feel better safe, than sorry… |
I don't but many do.
My understanding is most see it as a convenience for a perceived small cost.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| Lucywuk wrote: |
Ok just starting to plan stuff and doing you can still get discounted lift passes with the extra half day before, which is worth it as we need to get the funicular.
Question though, do they send the lift pass to the UK or can we collect at Bourg?
We will be coming by train and have found a pass for 6.5 days at €331 on the La Plagne site and €350 on Les arcs.
We are staying in Arc 1950. But if they post the passes we may as well get the cheaper ones, right? Or am I missing something. |
They do post passes out to the UK too, no problem.
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It begs another question. Carre Neige. Do folks automatically buy?
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No. My travel insurance specifically excludes having a second policy so if, say, you need repatriating they will point out that it is the responsibility of Carre Neige, not them. I try to never have two policies covering the same thing.
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They do post passes out to the UK too, no problem.
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IIRC it takes about 2 weeks. Just wondering - do you have to pay import duty (plus admin +VAT) on them?
Like @Owlette, we just recharge ours over the internet
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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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| johnE wrote: |
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They do post passes out to the UK too, no problem.
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IIRC it takes about 2 weeks. Just wondering - do you have to pay import duty (plus admin +VAT) on them?
Like @Owlette, we just recharge ours over the internet |
Didn't pay anything additional last year, nope.
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@Richie_S, I know this area is usually a can of worms with lots of different views but we get the Carre Neige cover as it gets off the mountian with no issues plus medical in france as well re patriation. Having used the hospital in Bourg, they are very good and claim back costs using the GHIC card on the 2 times I've been there - once inc an MRI scan
I have paid for medicine and claim that back when in the UK though unless its a lot, I don't bother
We dont work, so have no time constraints on having to be somewhere with only a weeks skiing as we are very lucky to have our own place in Les Arcs.
As such we dont need travel ins extras such as the firm going bust, delayed luggage, missed/cancelled flight etc and our home cover works for jewellery and clothing, so for our specific circumstances, it works for us though it wont work for others
There is also the issue around having 2 lots of cover where some insurers wont cover you if another policy does, though its been a few years since I looked at policies
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Why has the ground changed colour on the cameras today?
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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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From the webcams I see that some of the snow cannons were in use overnight, and there’s some work going on today in the Snowpark including shaping the two large earth piles that were built during the summer and will form the basis of some very large jumps in the park.
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20 November at Arc 2000
https://player.vimeo.com/video/1031457035
50-60cm of fresh snow recorded over the last 24 hours by the automatic meteorological station at 3,000m in La Plagne. More snow expected later this week.
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You know it makes sense.
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Via Facebook, 45cm of fresh snow at Arc 2000
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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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From the webcams someone has spent the morning lapping Grizzly.
Anyone here?
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Poster: A snowHead
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I'm thinking about going to 1800 in April (12-19th) and staying in Edenarc. We will be bringing an almost 4 and almost 6 year old with us and hope to get them some private lessons, muck about in the snow, and do a small amount of skiing with them. The oldest managed a couple of long blue runs in La Plagne this Easter, so will probably go further afield, but it's likely the youngest will just be pootling around at best.
Last time we ended up not getting much use out of our adult lift passes, so I'm hoping to save some money by making use of the Dahu lift to do a few runs with the little one whilst alternating the days us parents buy a proper pass. Is this something you can get away with and is there a useful run under it? it's been over 10 years since I was last in Les Arcs and quite a bit has changed since then!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Who were the other folk watching the Vagare cam on and off all day then? I enjoyed having it on in the background whilst I did my marking after school. My TAs just laugh at me.
@ArseCaptain, I'm not sure. There are signs everywhere saying no skis/boots around the Dahu. I don't know how strict they are with littlies.
The run down from the top of Dahu back to the bottom is generally very chopped up and slushy after midday at that time of year so I don't think it would be suitable for what you're hoping to use it for even if you could use the Dahu, it's tough coming down there even when you're not 4 and still getting used to being on skis.
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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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| Owlette wrote: |
@ArseCaptain, I'm not sure. There are signs everywhere saying no skis/boots around the Dahu. I don't know how strict they are with littlies.
The run down from the top of Dahu back to the bottom is generally very chopped up and slushy after midday at that time of year so I don't think it would be suitable for what you're hoping to use it for even if you could use the Dahu, it's tough coming down there even when you're not 4 and still getting used to being on skis. |
Thanks, sounds like that plan may not work then
It seems you can pay €5 per ascent of the Villards gondola, so that might work.
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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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| Owlette wrote: |
| Who were the other folk watching the Vagare cam on and off all day then? |
Guilty as charged
And @ArseCaptain, I agree with everything Owlette said. It can get very heavy and chopped up.
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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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@ArseCaptain, officially you can't share lift passes. You may get away with it. We did in the 3V 15 years ago but....
If I was you I'd be booking late and going somewhere smaller. Much better value for money for what you want.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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The Villards gondola takes you to the top of the Mille8 run, which is much more suitable for your 4 year old to spend time on. Though, if I were you, I'd still be paying for a full adult pass, as that gives you the full freedom to move around the resort with them.
Forêt Pitchouns is a fantastic run/snowpark for littles, with a really gentle run back to 1800. There's also a green up in 2000.
Go armed with loads of mini Haribo bags and have lots of hot chocolate stops. You may find that you spend alternate days exploring and just playing in the snow or in the pool. But at least by having the full pass, you're not limiting yourself to one tiny part of Les Arcs. Especially in mid-April, where the afternoon snow is just slush down there, but absolutely fantastic elsewhere on the mountain. You'd really be missing out.
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| Layne wrote: |
| @ArseCaptain, officially you can't share lift passes. You may get away with it. We did in the 3V 15 years ago but.... |
They were pretty hot on it this past Easter. My then 12 year old was stopped getting onto the Transarc with us three times. He's tall and they wanted to check we hadn't tried to buy him a child pass when he should have an adult one. He said that he got stopped multiple times during ski school, too.
I know that it's a bit easier to pick up child passes rather than spot sharing adults, but I wouldn't be risking it personally.
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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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just looking for a "cheap" way for the one of us who doesn't buy a lift pass on a day to do a small amount of skiing with the littlest one
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In many resorts you can get "points passes" which have no time restriction. Lifts carry a tariff - small for a little drag lift, bigger for a fast 6 man detachable chair!
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@ArseCaptain, I'd play it by ear on the lift passes, you can get a smart card and simply top it up on line for full days or half days per person as and when required.
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FAQ
