 Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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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.
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thefatcontroller, how were the badly groomed pistes and slow lifts in La Plagne? hope you left them in good order i'm there on sunday 
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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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Russeh, T'was a rumour spread by a grumpy old git who lives in Montalbert. The slopes were in brilliant condition and groomed like billiard tables.
genepi, Thanks, shall look up next time.
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good stuff, glad it was a good trip thefatcontroller, where you going in march?
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thefatcontroller, twas a pleasure to meet you guys last night, safe journey home.
For anyone heading out conditions are great, fantastic skiing, crap hotel.
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Hi we are traveling on Sunday we stay in 1950 pop into all the bars including George's we have been 4 times now but always après in 1950 what options are they in 2000 ,we have been to the bowling alley .cheers charlie
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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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I am just about to post the photos from yesterday in the Jan 2013 Album Two over on the Les Arcs Winter page. Take a look in about an hour if you are interested.
Hope you all had a fun day today out in the snow wherever you are!!
charlie26, There are a few places up in Arc 2000. Crazy Fox is good for a beer and as is Whistlers and another couple of late bars. It is a bit cheaper than Arc 1950, but not really that much. There are also some good places to eat up there like the Savoy and Kilamanjiro (not sure that is how you spell it). Hope that helps. I will be around again next week so hope to see you in George's Wine Bar in Arc 1950 one day after skiing. 
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Thanks for the reply we will be in George's most nights the skiing looks good hopping for some off piste any insider information on where to go would be appreciated cheers charlie
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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thefatcontroller, Great reports as usual, glad the old slow lifts in flat La Plagne weren't too much hassle for you this year Good luck with the trip home.....
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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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You know it makes sense.
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Sounds like a plan will contact you when arrive ,cheers
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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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Anyone know anything about the two guys winched off the back of the AR yesterday?
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Poster: A snowHead
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Seen 2 guys getting winched off the rocks below AR when in Les Arcs 2 years ago, helicopter landed them on helipad next to piste in LA 2000 they seemed to think it was a joke high high fiving each other as they got off the chopper. Heard they were French nationals, I don't have anything against anyone going of piste but when they are putting other peoples lives at risk attempting to rescue them that's what bothers me, rant over. Looking forward to arring on Saturday.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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its snowed here most of the afternoon at least it did in La Plagne, there was a bit of fog early and the light was flat. When i got here yesterday it was supprisingly warm 5+ degrees, its gone cold again now though. I'v enot checked out the forecast for tomorrow i'm hopeing for some blue skys
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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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I am just back from a brilliant week in Club Med Les Arcs 2000. I cannot say that I could ask for better skiing conditions. This was my fourth skiing holiday and I believe I learned so much. I took a private two hour lesson on Saturday which ended with me tackling the Robert Blanc black run. I stood on the top and thought that there was no way I would do it but the snow was soft, deep and very forgiving. I got to the end bathed in sweat and buzzing like a fool.
My instructor for the week was Stephane Candela who is an ESF instructor. The unanimous opinion of our group was that he was one of the best teachers any of us have had, and some of our group had over thirty years of experience. He was much more than just a guide and was very inclusive with all of his instruction. He was friendly, interesting and polite. If anyone going to Les Arcs is planning to book a private lesson then I would recommend him without question.
Ok, now for some random Club Med Les Arcs advise for those going there. Bring a few 60w bulbs with you, the rooms are very dark. Also the Club Med WiFi in this resort is free. This is because it doesn't work at all. If you must have internet connection then I would advise you to purchase an EU roaming package from your provider.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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palumbex,
Was Stephane originally based out of La Plagne? If so, he's the instructor I had a few years ago in the ClubMed Peissey-Vallandry. Absolutely ACE. Got me doing off piste - and I haven't done that before (or since)!
Skitrack
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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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Just got back from a weekend in Verbier. They have good snow over there as well.
Driving up the valley tonight it did seem that quite a bit of snow has melted lower down. It will be interesting to see how much it has changed in the last few days.
I am sure I will hear about the guys taken off the AR tomorrow. willie5094, I agree with you, it really annoys me as well if people do not know where they are going and get stuck on the cliffs because they followed some tracks. I do not know if that is what happended this time, but I saw it happen at least twice last season in the Arc 2000 bowl. The pisteurs in Les Arcs do a great job and need a lot of respect for putting themselves on the line to help people.
I look forward to meeting up with some of those that have just arrived, see you on the hill tomorrow. I just heard there might be a bit of fresh powder in the morning.
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skitrack, I could not say if was the same guy or not. When I asked at the ESF to book with Stephane I was told that there was three Stephanes in Les Arcs ESF. His distinguishing feature is his ginger hair.
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snowcrazy, Conditions were really good today and its snowing again tonight in LP, would assume it will be similar in LA so should be loads of powder for you tomorrow
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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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araird, Thanks, fasciniting stuff. Always wondered what that concrete lump was to the side of the funnicular in 1600. Make a great apres bar?
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palumbex,
Defo different Stephane. I'd remember red hair 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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araird, '
love the blog, read through all the postings. Great to hear the history of the place. Sometimes these things can get distorted with the telling, so it is fantastic to have an independent reference source. Looking forward to the promised writing about Robert Blanc.
Not sure about some of the apparent ever-so-gentle-dig-at-1950 sentiment tho!  I wonder what are these "cold beds" of which you speak - having had 100% occupancy over Christmas and New Year, and all but there for the Feb holiday periods, it would be tricky to offer seasonniare accommodation.
However I do agree 100% with your sentiment that "something must be done". And not only on the rooms, but also public transport to / from. The restaurant / bar workers for example who have managed to secure rooms in 2000 must leave their posts by 11:00 to catch the last Cabriolet ( road and piste walking being prohibited). Anyone who is based down in BsM ( and I love the idea of using the old Barracks at least until they sort something else out to do with them) would have to catch the last Funi - and snowcrazy will tell you all about that...
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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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Arctic Roll, Hiya, you were quiet last week? Were you frozen to death or to drunk to post? Amazing week wasn't it? What was Hemminways like?
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I'm glad you like it. Did you read the that the Compagnie des Alpes (who effectively own the ADS and therefore Les Arcs!) have declared war on 'lits froids' (cold beds). They intend to buy up under-used appartements, do them up and rent or sell them. They are getting the support of a group of local banks to do this - their idea is that every 'lit froid' is a life pass not sold. See http://www.lesechos.fr/entreprises-secteurs/service-distribution/actu/0202460017283-la-compagnie-des-alpes-mise-sur-l-immobilier-522506.php (in french).
I was deliberately being provocative about the saisonniers plight, but I was really shocked by the council's attitude to the Foyers des Chardons at 1800 which would make perfect accommodations for them. it's even next door to the exisiting hostel La Nova, which is far from adequate. You are right about the public transport situation - if Bourg really wants to be a resort integrated with Les Arcs the funicular, or at least a bus service, should run regularly till midnight, at least. Since Damien Perry went the town versus mountain sentiments of the council seem to have hardened, so I doubt we can expect any change or improvements under Mde. Perretti....
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You know it makes sense.
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thefatcontroller, yes sorry about that - planned to and indeed did leave on the Wednesday evening after some beautiful days, but with a tree root encounter which left me hobbling when not on the planks (bizarrely was able to ski with far less pain than walk. Thinks, must get back out there...)
Hemmingways... bit of a curate's egg actually.
2 steaks, 2 burgers. Burger were good with good helping of chips.
Steaks ordered 'a point', but were far from medium rare, and extremely dry. Disappointed that they would try to serve such rubbish.
So they guys sent them back - something I'm afraid I'm not really adept at - I would have eaten, left and then told everyone to avoid!
However, the second set of steaks arrived - juicy, succulent, beautifully cooked, full of apologies (and probably other things...) but a real pleasure so I was told. They did look good.
So, moral is: they can do it when push comes to shove, but may try it on. Which, I guess is symptomatic of Arc 1950 restaurants throughout. We really, really need to do something about it.
I've now stepped down from 1950 'mayoral' duties, concentrating on the Owners' Association. 3 year term is long enough (and also statutory decree). But spent quite a few hours this final week of office in committee meetings, AGMs, owner and commercant meets, financial meets, 'planning for 2014' meets...
I shall miss it, a little bit. But was better than spending €10.60 on a pint of Guinness in Belle Pintes, that's for sure.
araird no hadn't seen that about ADS. Interesting. When I met Mde Perretti last year for lunch, she seemed reasonably in favour of the mountain: but Damien appeared to be torn apart by tribal warfare. I guess she is a seasoned politician who plays the game better!
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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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araird, Lovely post yet again. Courbaton has always fascinated me: Clearly quite a few people stay there but I have never met anyone. It is really busy in the summer with some youth camps etc and a couple of beautiful footpaths pass through it. It offers fantastic views across the Isere valley but I didn't know about the military bunkers aimed to shell the Petit st Bernard. There is, however a triangulation pillar just off the road to Arc 2000 (it marks the footpath to the rock climbing crag). I will go and search for the surge chamber.It would be great to watch it when they turn off the turbines.
I didn't know that the downhill course went to the north of Arc 1600. For some reason I always thought that there was a course down the Cachette piste that started at the clocheret chair. Next time I am in Les Arcs I will explore. Any chance of a mapor a google earth trace?
Do you think they could develop the ski area to the North of the malgovert piste to the Arc 200 road. Or would they never get permission to chop the trees down?
thefatcontroller, You can see the other telepherique station still standing in Bourg (or it was the last time I looked - it is further into town the the current funicular station), but that wouldn't make such a good site for an Apres ski bar. BTW the Avri and the Cairn have exactly the same view looking down on Bourg and this is where I have my post skiing Vin Chaud. And I have actually been up and down the telepherique.
araird, Keep up the good work
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Poster: A snowHead
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Arctic Roll, Thanks, back in March, might try. The night we planned to eat out I was knackered due to a terrible nights sleep the night before so had 2 pints, ordered a pizza and promptly fell asleep in front of TV!
johnE, As someone who is now a big fan of the train down to Les Arcs and am without a car on holiday, I do get the feeling a blind man designed the funnicular in relation to the train station and town
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Quote: |
Did you read the that the Compagnie des Alpes (who effectively own the ADS and therefore Les Arcs!) have declared war on 'lits froids' (cold beds). They intend to buy up under-used appartements, do them up and rent or sell them.
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Obviously CDA want to have more punters buying lift passes and to do that they need to have more accommodation and it needs to be of a good standard.
There was an extensive campaign started last year with a programme to renovate aging apartments and have them classified with a Les Arcs tourist accommodation scheme and as well as the national scheme. For example to reach certain standards the apartments had to be over a certain size for 4 people, have wifi, have modern furniture etc. It was a comprehensive set of requirement. They had presentations and fancy powerpoint presentations to convince the owners of the benefit of this. It looks very good, but I am not sure how well it is being taken up. You have to pay to have your apartment classified. I await the results for my apartment.
Certainly there are many apartments in need of renovation.
However there is a lot of accommodation never put onto the rental market or rented privately. How does CDA know what is used and when?
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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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Arctic Roll, sorry I missed you last week, but with the Linecatcher event and other stuff plus the great snow, I just had know time to get to George's. Hope to catch up with you next time you are out. Rest your leg so that we can have a good ski.
araird, some very interesting details you are sharing. Brings back memories of when I was young. I used the old cable car, chairs and tows back in those day. Even have some of the old piste maps and other stuff in a box somewhere. Might try and dig them out. The place sure has changed. Makes me feel old!
CDA might want to develop Les Arcs empty beds, but if you talk to many people in Bourg about the 'ski resort', they will tell you that it is up in Les Arcs and Bourg is a market town, not a place for tourists. This still seems to be a common view held by some folk down in the valley. They live in Bourg, but work up the mountain with the tourists. As for the politics in Bourg. Think I shall keep what I think to myself.
Now for todays skiing. The powder was back again!
Although it's nice to visit other places, it is good to be back and what a nice way to be welcomed home today. 'POWDER DAYS!!' What more can we ask for.
It was another blue sky powder day. Started off a little cloudy, but the sun broke through and then it just kept on shinning!!
On our very first warm up we managed to find fresh untracked powder where normally it would all be tracked out. It is not very busy! That was the start and we did not look back. Found more good powder off the Arpette ridge in both directions and then headed up the Varet gondola and more untracked snow.
After an excellent start to the morning we headed into the Col de Chal by a different route and had more fresh powder most of the way down to the track in the forest although as we neared the forest the sun had done it's job and the fresh snow was starting to turn under it's glare.
Finally arrived back in Peisey and headed to 'La Vache' for a very nice lunch.
Then it was time for more untracked snow if we could still find some. Although within the resort area most places are now tracked, the snow quality was still excellent and we did manage to find a few untracked places hidden away. After a play in the soft snow amongst the trees it was time to head for home and a well earned drink.
Another fun day comes to an end and more powder awaits tomorrow. If you are thinking of coming out, hurry up and do so. The pistes are in great condition everywhere right now and the off piste is really light and fluffy.
If you are interested in seeing what we did today, take a look at the photos in the 'Jan 2013 Album Two' on my Les Arcs Winter facebook page, I think one or two of the pics today are the best yet this season, but then I guess I would. Enjoy!!
The photos I like from today!
Powder!!
Steep and Deep!
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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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snowcrazy i'm loving the reports the conditions over the last couple of weeks sound amazing!!! I'm coming over to plan peisey on the 2/2 with my wife and 4 friends, I would really appreciate some tips on some directions for some off piste action. i've already picked up a couple from you reports but the more the merrier. I've got everything crossed that you get another dump between now and when we arrive to keep it topped up!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Just seen a snow report saying there will be snow on the 2/2 which is the day we get there!!! Woop Woop fingers crossed our first day is a powder day, that will be a first for me 
I'm going to be doing the snow dance all week!!!!
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Well im done in La Plagne for now, moving over to Arc 2000 in the morning. Really looking forward to the Saturday skiing
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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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Off tomorrow to Le Pre, Villaroger for the week - should be good and if all goes to plan travelwise I will be doing some proper preparation for an early Sunday first up Replat by having a Mutzig or 2 in La Ferme tomorrow evening 
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FAQ
. Straight back up to Roche then to do Inversions and Crozats, which often isn't open. Very nice. Then did Pierre Blanches back to the Vanoise on our own. Joyful. It is very quiet.
We will just go for a beer in the evening (maybe) & internet now. The Armoise, however is fantastic - leave skis up by Vanoise Express & walk down steps next to La Solan, & its at the bottom, on the road (next to our apartment 
