Been snowing heavily for the last hour and its back to sensible temperatures (-3 at 1800m). Forecast is for snow all day. Yum.
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
rob@rar, Nice, looks like Montalbert has had a good dusting to so enjoy your day, looks good out there. I too shall have a lovely day, I am off to the sales with wife and 3 kids. Yeah...............
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?
Shame thefatcontroller, ... I'm packing the car for stage 1 of journey to LesArcs....
Still snowing heavily The liason to Arc 2000 is closed according to the local radio, & was bemused to hear that Foret is the recommended piste in Peisey Vallandry today
Good breakfst entertainment watching the carnage on the road outside as cars are skidding & sliding all over the place.
rob@rar, Look out for N & Georgie this morning - I'm not skiing this year because of my knee
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Still snowing heavily The liason to Arc 2000 is closed according to the local radio, & was bemused to hear that Foret is the recommended piste in Peisey Vallandry today
Good breakfst entertainment watching the carnage on the road outside as cars are skidding & sliding all over the place.
rob@rar, Look out for N & Georgie this morning - I'm not skiing this year because of my knee:(
looks wild on the cams. Take it easy - but not too easy
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Looking great guys.
15 days 9 hours 32 mins until the train leaves... don't use up all the good stuff!
After all it is free
After all it is free
Arctic Roll, +2 - me and the g/f are travelling on the 12th and are out for two weeks!! I also hoping to sneak in a cheeky 10 days near the end of the season if the snow holds up! Looks like it's shaping to be epic!!!
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.
Snowy.
Vis might be bad but follow the advice of this helpful sign.
Temperature has risen a few degrees during the day, so the falling snow is now a bit too warm and wet. Thank God for Goretex.
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
The snow got wetter and heavier during the afternoon, and was quite sleety at 1800m, but in the last hour the temperature has fallen by a couple of degrees and we're back to very heavy snow with massive flakes. It's still quite windy at resort level, so might be a wee bit unpleasant higher up!
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
Cases packed. All ready to fly out on Sat.
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.
Setting off to LesArcs from Birmingham Friday am. How is the road up to Arc 1950?
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
All packed and overnighting in Sevenoaks before tunnel early bird tomorrow ....To Lyon tomorrow then up early on Sat so we can hopefully ski
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
wow - that's looks a super heavy dump!
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Difficult to know how much snow fell yesterday as the snowplough driver was on an early shift and cleared my road before dawn, but it must be 20cm at least. However, looking at the trees the snowline was quite high, maybe 1600m. It was very windy at times during the evening, so lots of drifted snow and loaded lee slopes off-piste. Pisteurs have been blasting for the last hour or so.
It's not snowing now but there's lots of cloud around. The wind has dropped down and it's -4 degrees at 1800m.
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Turned out to be a lovely day, especially from mid-morning onwards. Initially there was nothing open above mid-mountain so queues for the main lifts out of 1800 and 1600 were pretty bad. Pistes were in perfect condition, about as good as it gets, and the couple of off-piste excursions I made were knee deep although a bit heavy. At 11am the links to Arc 2000 opened, the cloud lifted and the Christmas crowds dispersed so there were no queues to speak of. We had a light lunch in the Bulle Café above Arc 2000. Less than €3 for two large slices of pizza and espresso for 90 cents, with amazing views up to the Aiguille Rouge. Even the music is brilliant, with a jazz-funk bias and none of the Austro-EuroPap that blights less fortunate resorts Some photos from today, with a few more on Facebook.
View above Arc 1800 and the Golf slopes.
Perfect piste conditions.
Lots of fresh snow overnight.
Home sweet home!
Lots of snow overnight.
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
First day back after my Christmas break and very nice it was too!!
Started over in Arc 1600 for a little warm up about 10.30am and then headed over to Arc 2000 bowl to meet the others for an early lunch (for me anyway, they had all been out skiing since first lifts) at the Bulle. With blue sky and loads of snow after another 20+ cm a couple of days ago, we went searching for some nice snow. Managed to find some good areas off the varet and up on the Grand Col before heading back to Arc 1950 and then Malgovert for a little play in the Piste Nature before finally heading back to George's Wine bar in Arc 1950 for a well earned drink.
Although the resort is very busy, it is still possible to avoid some lift queues and the off piste areas and some piste natures are not busy so there is plenty of room to enjoy yourself.
The bad weather they mentioned in the morning report never arrived and the blue sky stayed all day. Tomorrow promises more of the same. It is great to be back out in the snow!
Anyone coming out, the roads are clear and although busy, the traffic is moving around the valley without a problem. Right now you do not need chains to get up to the resort stations. More snow is promised in the next few days!! Conditions are excellent right now! Next update tomorrow with photos I hope. Sorry forgot the camera this morning!
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?
rob@rar, snowcrazy, just so that you know Le Bulle is operated by two Corsican brothers so they don't consider themselves 'French' per se which might be why they are not trying to enter the rip-off Olympics the others seem to be competing for. Throw a little Corsican into the conversation and they perk up quite a bit! Nice guys and def my fave resting place in the pm. Very envious of the pair of you.
RattytheSnowRat, thanks, that's interesting. Sadly I'm back in London now, looking on a very rainy and windswept garden, and might not be back in LesArcs this season.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Heading off to Stansted on Thursday, quick flight into Geneva and then driving up to Villaroger. Can't wait until Friday morning when we pick up the Replat, Viollettes & Droset chair lift combination to allow us to drop down over the ridge into Arc 2000. Done it many times before but that first sight of the LesArcs panorama is always a bit special. Snow conditiions are looking really good, many thanks to those local folk who regularly post updates as it helps keep us excitable amateurs in the loop.
Bob Morrison, If you get a chance please let us know what the conditions are like on the Villaroger side. I am out there on 26th January, there is a Mutzig on the bar at La Ferme with my name on it
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Anyone gonna be around between the 12th-19th jan. We will be there if anyone wants to meet up. Warning........ I am a skiboarder so you may have to go slow for me.
After all it is free
After all it is free
Not much time for an update as I am about to go out. Sorry. I will post todays pics later.
Today we went off piste in search of good snow. Much to my surprise, we managed to find a few places where the wind had not destroyed the powder. Very nice!!
Did a couple of routes down towards Nancoix and the Chapel, then back to the Ferme for a late lunch and then a play in the offpiste above Arc 1800 before finally coming home.
Blue sky all day, a mix of soft powder, breakable crust and well skied snow everywhere. More snow forecast for tomorrow. Should be fun.
Hope everyone enjoys themselves tonight!
If anyone reading this is out this week, some of us will be meeting at the Bulle (Mushroom) above Arc 2000 for a New Year Day drink at 12 noon. Hope to see you there!!
graeme, send me a PM nearee the time if you fancy meeting up.
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.
snowcrazy, will do. Staying at arc2000
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
oops
Last edited by Ski the Net with snowHeads on Mon 31-12-12 22:57; edited 1 time in total
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
Might see you there then as 2 of us have pass to escape tomorrow and are planning to head that way. We have had a lot of fun here since Sat - is much quieter than I expected and the kids have had a complete ball playing in the bumps (or dough balls as they are known here)
7 days skiing is so much better than 6!!
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.
HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone!!
Not sure why I am up so early, but a bet is a bet so have to go! Need to be on the 9am Funi. Hope you all have a nice day.
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
snowcrazy, happy new year to you to!!
What a chance encounter the other day, good to meet you, I have emailed contact details etc!
Cheers
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
roche1800, amazing meeting up like that. Thanks for the email.
I hope everyone had a good New Year's Day!
The weather man got it wrong this morning. But now it is snowing on the mountain and raining in the valley.
What a fun day we had today!
Having agreed to being on the first lift up Aigle Rouge last night, well early this morning really (what a silly thing to do), I managed a few hours sleep and then made it for the first lift out of Arc 1600 with blue sky and little wind rather than rain and snow as predicted. I was very pleased the weather man got it wrong today.
We made it all the way to the top of Aigle Rouge when it opened. The snow was good, but it was cold on the top! My nice new heated gloves did the trick!! (I love Christmas presents!)
We managed to get from the top of AR down to Villaroger with a mixture of piste and off piste in variable conditions which woke us all up and made the brain focus. Finally having a drink at the Soillet before heading off to lunch.
Met the others from yesterday for lunch and then headed back up the Varet and all the way down to the Comberciere Chair and up to the Malgovert piste nature. We never get bored of this route. Finally all the way into Arc 1600 and up to the snowpark. A few jumps later and a quick video session with the new machine they have installed and down past Arc 1800 after a nice drink at the Altiport.
One more long run all the way back down from the top of the ridge above Arc 1800 and finally home.
The pistes are well used as it is quite busy, but they are still in good condition. The off piste everywhere is well skied, firm and grippy with a few powder areas still around. If you like moguls you will be very happy.
The bad weather only really arrived around 4pm and then it came in fast. Snowing up top right now. Take a look at the pics of yesterday in the Dec 2012 album and for today in the new Jan 2013 Album over on the LesArcs Winter page. ( I will post them later tonight) ENJOY!!
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Powder days are here again!
Last night the snow started to fall just as we were heading home. By this morning there was enough to freshen up most areas.
A group of us headed over to Mont Albert and the Omelette restaurant for lunch. With poor vis from the start, we took the forest track to Peisey and then across the Vanoise Express (VE) and over to Plagne Bellecote via a few gullies before trying our luck on the Champagny side. Good powder, but poor vis forced us back over to Plagne Centre via the 'Indian Gully' and then up the new chair by the race course (very nice). Down the powder field off the ridge towards the Mont Albert chair and then lunch at the 'Omelette restaurant'. Always very good.
After a great lunch, back over to Plagne Centre via the powder fields near the chairs in poor light. And then a little more fun on the way down to the Arpette chair in Plagne Bellecote. Finally a last play in the waterfall gully on the way back to the VE.
After a quick ride over the gap it was a mad rush to get the last lift back into the Arc 2000 bowl. Some of us made it, others took the bus all meeting up in George's Wine bar in Arc 1950 for a well earned drink. He has some very nice British real beer right now as well as his usual selection of wines.
All the pistes today were in great condition in the morning. By the afternoon some had become a little slippy, but still ok. The off piste was excellent with powder everywhere. Now that La Plagne have also added some Piste Nature areas, there are plenty of safe places to play on the other side of the VE as well. Despite the poor vis at times, everyone had fun both on and off piste.
Take a look at the pics I have just posted in the Jan 2013 Album on my LesArcs Winter facebook page. Enjoy!
Today was one of those days you just do not want to end!
Everywhere we went there was fresh powder to be found, most of it untracked.
After a quick warm up going down under the Arpette chair and then from the top of Bois de l'Ours Chair off piste down to the Marmotte chair below Arc 1950, we headed over to the National Park behind the Aiguille Rouge and made a circuit of one of the shorter routes before some people had to leave to take part in a ski race.
Instead of stopping for lunch the rest of us headed back into the park by one of the longer routes making our own tracks in most places until it was time to head home via a nice forest run and finally off piste from the top of the snowpark back to Arc 1800.
The fresh snow has left most piste in an excellent condition. Only where it is very busy are the pistes becoming hard packed and tricky to hold an edge. The off piste has been transformed by the fresh snow and it was great fun today. However this surface will become compacted and firm over the next few days and could present other difficulties.
Here are two of the photos from today that I like.
If you are interested in seeing more, take a look at the latest photos in the Jan 2013 album of my LesArcs Winter facebook page. Enjoy!
The 2013 RED BULL LINECATCHER ! LesArcs 12 - 19 Jan.
This event is planned right now to be held in the off piste bowl looking down at Arc 1950 above and to the right of the Bois de l'0urs chair (sorry cannot remember the name of the bowl at this time of night). It is likely to run in the mornings quite early each day due to avalanche risk. But this might all change depending on the weather conditions.
You should be able to see it from Arc 2000 and Arc 1950 JUST!!, but to go and watch up close it might be quite hard unless you can handle riding in off piste.
Check out the trailer ! Red Bull Linecatcher 2013.
The event is being filmed and there will be pictures taken. It is more about the publicity the riders will get from this, but the standard should be very high with some crazy free ride tricks being tried.
If anyone is around and wants to meet up to go and watch send me a PM over on my facebook page.
Hope that helps.
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?
Today was another excellent powder day. I will write a more detailed report tomorrow with some photos. Over 5000m of vertical decent today off piste mostly in untracked powder. Very nice!!
And the pistes we traversed to get there and back were all in very good condition as well. More to follow, time for bed now!
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.
Snow Dragon, Great stuff. I wish there was enough time (and money) for me to be able to do that. Also I wish I could get away with those multi colour ski trousers.
.
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Starting out from Cambridgeshire 5 weeks yesterday, cant ***** wait now, with a midday tunnel and an overnight near Troyes (the Val Moret at Magnant, recommended on this site). I'm assuming the traffic will be cr*p so we're not aiming to hurry - get up to Arc 1950 for 14-15.00 ish in time to pick up skis etc.
FAQ
Poster: A snowHead
Some photos from today, with a few more on 
