RattytheSnowRat, I think you should resign again and come out to ski!!!!
Right now there is about a 2 meter snow base around 2000m on the mountain and even if it did not snow again before you came (which is very unlikely as they are predicting more snow next week), with the present conditions, the 'off piste' is starting to turn to nice spring snow if you catch it at the right time of day and as many know, I also like the hard chalky snow which is really fun to carve turns on even in the steeper couloirs.
For piste skiers, having spent today crossing the whole of the ski domain to Mont Albert and back on piste, I can say that all over the paradiski area despite the hard firm snow in many places and the icy areas on the north facing pistes. Most pistes are holding up well to the heavy traffic right now, are fun to ski and the piste natures are all open and in good condition with soft snow still around in the more sheltered areas.
If we get a fresh dump of snow as we had for the past two years at the start of April, with this base it could be another bumper finish to the season. Plus the local businesses are predicting it will not be busy as the French holidays are over in most areas by the end of March. Could be some good bargains to be found in April. My advice to everyone, get booking for Easter as it could be a very good time to come skiing this year. 'But this is only my opinion from looking in my crystal ball!'
Hope that helps RattytheSnowRat, to make up your mind. Plus anyone else thinking of a late holiday.
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
RattytheSnowRat, snowcrazy, we arrive on the overnighter to get there Saturday 30th March for a couple of weeks. While that may or may not be a draw, it would be good to catch up with both of you.
G'won, you know you ought to...
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?
Hi folks, just finished posting the photos of the last few days. Take a look in the new March 2013 Album of my 'LesArcs Winter' facebook page if you are interested in seeing some of the different routes we have been doing.
Today, March 2nd, we went looking for some couloirs to ride and finished with our first trip down the North Face of the Bellecote since the strong winds a few days ago. Interesting conditions!!
The snow on the slopes that do not face south have now started to change from powder to hard chalky snow which grips your edges and allows you to make good turns, even in the tighter couloirs as long as you can hold the edge. On the south facing slopes, the snow is turning to spring slush in some places and becoming quite heavy. Early or late in the day it is likely to be breakable crust off piste and hard or icy on piste after the heavy night frost until the sun has been out for a while or after the sun has dropped below the horizon.
The pistes across the whole Paradiski area are becoming hard packed and firm with a few patches of ice coming through in the busy areas. You need to take care when stopping at lifts or coming into stations.
As long as you stay under control, these conditions are fun to ride both on and off piste. Have a fun week while the sun lasts, it may cloud over by the end of the week!
Here are a few photos I like from the last few days.
Not bad for only a few days training. Anyone can learn to enjoy the off piste if they get the right help and are just a little brave!
And it will not take long before you can turn like this!
Today, Monday 4 March we had a trip up to Val d'Isere before the bad weather arrives so know LesArcs update from me until tomorrow.
If you are interested in reading about our day out, take a look at the write up on my LesArcs Winter facebook page or on the Val d'Isere thread on snowheads. The photos will be posted on my LesArcs Winter page in the March 2013 Album later.
snowcrazy, Arctic Roll, guys - I am mainling orange juice to prevent getting ill again in the expectation that I shall be out on the 30th (drinks on me at George's if I make it). Wish I could resign but I am self-employed at present and work as a consultant. I committed to stay to the end of a project - which just got extended again (curse of doing the job right - they want you to do more). Negotiations are under way today for a partial release for good behaviour so fingers x'd but I really doubt I'll get two weeks - I've not been that good! Nothing's certain yet, tho. Life is getting interesting for a number of reasons.
I got hauled off the mountain for work during a stonking April dump about six years ago and I missed the 'late' skiing the last two years so I feel I am 'owed'
Posting so that I get notifications on this thread......I now have a vested interest
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
We're there on Friday for a couple of weeks
After all it is free
After all it is free
Yesterday it was a very windy day with many lifts closed, but we still managed to get into the backcountry and find some good snow. Take a look if you are interested in seeing where we went.
Photos for yesterday are now posted in the March 2013 Album on my 'LesArcs Winter' facebook page. The Val D'Isere photos will be posted in a new Album tonight.
Today it is overcast again outside this morning, but you can make out the mountains in the distance. The wind has dropped which is good for lift openings. It is quite warm again and the air is damp. It feels like there might be snow/rain in the air. Time to go and see what it is like up the mountain.
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 crazy, thanks for the continued updates I'm out for the week 16th March and can't wait
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
What fun today turned out to be. I really like it when the weather man gets it wrong and the conditions are better than predicted. We had not expected to do that much, but ended up doing loads.
Having met up with my friends we quickly headed over to La Plagne and the top of the Roche du Mio. We were thinking of going straight onto the Bellecote, but the sky was very overcast and a few snowflakes were falling so we decided to go down to Champagny Village via the 'brown trouser ridge' and the 'gully route', then red piste along the ridge from the top of the Verdun Sud chair.
Good choice, although it was challenging going along the ridge in flat light, the meadow at the other end was ok. When in the gully, it was fun with plenty of spring snow and the visibility was not to difficult even in flat light. We then headed up to the ridge and found the red closed. No worry, we headed off piste in more spring snow and made our way down to the valley far below only joining the piste for the last section.
Back up the Champagny Gondola, chairs and other lifts before reaching the top of the North Face of the Bellecote just as the sun started to break through. What an opportunity!
Instead of going home via the Friolin Bowl as planned, we went straight over the back and down one of my favourite routes on the North Face through the middle cliffs to the forest track with about 3 cm of fresh powder sitting on a hard base in the top section. The result was some very good skiing mixed in with crud, breakable crust in a few places and lots of hard chalky snow as well as the odd patch of soft deep snow in the sheltered areas.
With no tracks most of the way down, only one other group had ventured over the back using the route we choose from the few tracks we could see. We had a very nice ride down in sunshine on a warm spring afternoon.
Once back in LesArcs we headed over to the Waterslide for a bit of free entertainment and a drink after a slight delay when the Vagere chair broke down for 20 minutes. What a pleasant way to finish the day sitting in the sunshine having a drink watching other people fall in the water!!
A good day was had by all and we managed to get some very nice photos as well. Take a look in the March 2013 Album on my LesArcs Winter facebook page if you are interested in seeing what our day was like. I will post them shortly.
For those coming out this weekend, the piste conditions right across the Paradiski area were ok today. The little fresh snow higher up and the warmer temperatures have made the pistes softer in most places and quite easy to hold your edge, whilst not to sticky either. The north facing slopes are still quite hard packed and slippy, but with care you can pass these without difficulty if you control your speed. Coming into the stations and lifts areas where it is still very busy can be difficult so you do need to slow down.
The off piste areas and piste natures are a mix of everything, from crud to wind slab so you need to take care and choose your routes carefully, but you can still have loads of safe fun.
More to come tomorrow when we hope the sun is shinning again!
Here are a few photos I like from today!
Air Time!
A test photo! Does wide screen work on here?
Not always scary, but still fun!
Powder days again!
Last edited by Ski the Net with snowHeads on Fri 8-03-13 0:51; edited 2 times in total
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowcrazy wrote:
Having met up with my friends we quickly headed over to La Plagne and the top of the Roche du Mio. We were thinking of going straight onto the Bellecote, but the sky was very overcast and a few snowflakes were falling so we decided to go down to Champagny Village via the 'brown trouser ridge' and the 'gully route', then red piste along the ridge from the top of the Verdun Sud chair.
although not quite a supprise now you know its there.
sounds like its very mixed conditions at the moment, i guess thats witih the warmer temps resently? Has it rained over in LA?
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.
snowcrazy wrote:
A test photo! Does wide screen work on here?
Yup, widescreen works, but still as fuzzy as ever. Snowcrazy, If you would like to borrow a camera, I have an old brownie spare at the moment, you'll definitely get better results, and it obviously isn't as complicated as the one you have at the moment.
If you want any help (which you obviously need) , either with the camera it's self, or how to use it, give us a shout, we're a friendly bunch over here on snowheads.... Join the Camera club
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
Hi all, this may not be the right place to post this put thought you guys would be the best to ask, what time do the ski lifts shut in lesarcs as heading out on the 16th for the first time ?
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
chelt881 wrote:
Hi all, this may not be the right place to post this put thought you guys would be the best to ask, what time do the ski lifts shut in lesarcs as heading out on the 16th for the first time ?
About 5 o clock, they close at different times depending on the time of year. All the lift opening/closing times can be found on the piste map
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
What rubbish weather today. Planned to go up this morning, but when the rain started we choose to take the day off instead. It is still raining lower down now, although I have just heard it is snowing up at the top. The snow/rain limit seems to be around 2000m.
I hope tomorrow brings some better weather.
I have just finished up loading the last for the photos from the past week. The Val D'Isere day trip showing all nine routes we did that day are in a separate album. Take a look at the Val D'Isere and Tignes 2013 Album on my LesArcs Winter page if you are interested in seeing where we went that day. Enjoy!
I have to admit, I have grown a fondness for beaufort and really look forward to a lazy evening meal after a days skiing of bread, beaufort and red wine. Bliss
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Today, Saturday turned into a powder day and we were all very happy!!!
When I left home in the morning I was not sure how much powder we would find. I was told the official count was 10cm above 2000m. If anything it turned out to be a little more than that on the Bellecote.
After a fast ski across LesArcs we headed straight for the Bellecote Bowl via the Roche du Mio face. What a good choice. Fresh untracked powder for the whole day.
We had an untracked run down the Roche (a real surprise), and then made 3 long laps and one shorter lap of the bellecote bowl by different routes before heading down the North Face by a different route to earlier in the week and then finally home through LesArcs by way of the off piste above Arc 1800, the Waterslide which everyone did without a problem, the off piste route down to the Marmotte Chair and then down through Malgovert to the Mid station of the Funicular and home.
A really fun day,with fresh untracked powder almost the whole day and pistes that were refreshed by the recent snow and few people around (change over days are great).
Tomorrow we plan another early start to make the most of the fresh snow before it is all skied out.
If you are interested in seeing where we went today and the condition of the snow right now, check out the photos I shall be posting shortly in the March 2013 Album Two on my LesArcs Winter facebook page. Enjoy!
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?
Sunday was a Powder day!!!
Yesterday was another day of mostly untracked powder. Having decided to head straight back to the Bellecote bowl and see what we could find. We hurried over to the top of the Roche de Mio and down the back to miss the queue on the gondola. Good choice.
There were a few more tracks in the bowl than the day before, but still plenty of room to put our own fresh lines in the more difficult places to reach. Then it was time to check out the North Face of the Bellecote. Only a few tracks in the Canadian Couloir so that was the route for us.
A really fun decent in knee deep powder at times all the way to the meadows, then spring snow to the bottom and a fast careful ride beside the river down to the Restaurant. The track out is becoming very narrow in places.
After a well earned drink we headed back to LesArcs for a quick ride over the waterslide which most people did. One person did not want to get his boots wet (very sad!!).
Then quickly down to catch the second half of the rugby.
The fresh snow and warmer temperatures have helped to keep all the pistes we crossed in good condition even with the heavy traffic. You need to take care coming into the lifts and ski stations as there are icy patches. If you keep your speed under control on the busy pistes you should have know problems. Anyone coming out in the next few days will find plenty of places to ski or snowboard.
Today we have delayed going up as it is raining lower down, but it looks like the morning will improve so hope to be on the mountain later in fresh snow.
I am behind in posting the photos again, but will try and catch up this morning. Check out the March 2013 Album Two on my LesArcs Winter page later in the day to see what we have been doing for the last few days.
Monday 11 March. More powder days! Yes, even after the clouds have lifted and the warm sun had been out for a while the snow was still light and fluffy on top of the harder cruddy snow from earlier in the week.
You had to be careful when turning on the steeper slopes, but as long you had good control the snow was ok to ski and at times it was still real powder.
Today we stayed in LesArcs, went up late as it was raining first thing and managed to time it just right so that we had a good visibility in the couloir looking down on Arc 1950 and then both Lanchette from the left and a variation on the normal Genepy couloir.
On the way home we found more good snow on the way down to Comborciere from the Droset side and even on the cliffs into Malgovert and then the Mont Blanc Forest before heading home. On the few pistes we skied today, the snow was getting a little slippy on places, but still ok to ski. The lift queues were getting busy, but not to bad.
There is more snow promised for later tomorrow and into Wednesday so there should be more powder around in the coming days. Very NICE!!
More photos of the last few days will be posted shortly. I am slowly catching up with the back log.
Wednesday 13 March. Another surprise day comes to an end. They had forecast snow again today, but instead we had a little cloud to start and then blue sky for most of the day. But it is snowing a little outside tonight.
After meeting up in LesArcs we headed over to the Bellecote glacier again as the snow had seemed better in the Bellecote bowl. By the time we arrived after a few queues and quite busy pistes we found the clouds had lifted and the visibility was good.
For a change we took one of the steeper couloirs down the Roche de Mio face into the Bellecote Bowl. Then up to the top of the glacier and a couple of loops by different routes looking for steeper areas to practise those skills needed off piste before finally heading down the Friolin Bowl via the ridge to the Bauches chair. Then over the back of the Dos Rond and down the waterfall gully avoiding a number of air holes that have opened on the steeper face and back to Arc 1600 for a drink at the Altiport before heading for home. No waterslide today for us as it was closed when we arrived.
The snow off piste everywhere today had a nice soft top surface with hard firm snow underneath. As long as you took care, it was fun to ski even in the steeper couloirs. Lower down and in the trees it became heavy at times where it had been effected by the sun and wind, but it was still soft and enjoyable in many places.
The pistes right across the paradiski area where we skied were in good condition with a softer top surface and hard firm snow underneath to help you turn. However, coming into lifts, on the more north facing slopes and in busy areas the snow had become hard and slippy by the afternoon and you had to take care not to loose your edge at times.
The fresh snow falling tonight should make the pistes everywhere much easier tomorrow.
The photos of the last few days are slowly being uploaded. I have now added those from the weekend. Take a look if you are interested in seeing what the conditions are like and the places we have been visiting. Enjoy.
Last edited by And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports. on Sat 16-03-13 13:48; edited 1 time in total
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
Just dont sit right by it because there is a chap who comes by about 4:30 every evening it is open, and deliberatly sprays a LOT of water over the crowds, and then skis off.
...
I am sure it would not be a Snowhead though... Would it?
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
Leave home lunch time, in Arc 2000 by tomorrow morning. Can't wait. Forecast looks great for the week, might even get some more boarding/falling in on powder.
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Waterside - I think we'll have some of that!! My 5 year old will want to do it as well! Think we better take a back pack with a change of clothes!!
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
The project to set up a 'National Centre for High Level Skiing' (CNSHN) in Bourg has been abandoned. Big blow to the town, and LesArcs, although it means the Cachette piste and lift will be still be available for us 'normal' people to use. The CNSHN has been the main plank in the town regeneration plan following the departure of the 7BCA army battalion last year.
Just arrived Arc 2000. Overnight train once again, very pleasant. Plenty of snow around, quite cold, a little light snowfall just now. One major mother of a storm forecast for tonight. Will keep all posted.
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?
araird, ooh not good for the town. On a positive note I suppose the politicos will have to start working together now rather than spending their time dreaming.
thefatcontroller, keep it coming - whilst snowcrazy's reports are great, it's always good to have the views of us semi-punters, (as the site might describe the "regulars but not locals").
12 noon in Arc 2000 and snowing heavy Down for the next 24 hours I believe. Boarding tomorrow..........
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Great news thefatcontroller, out a week today to LA 2000
After all it is free
After all it is free
Timberwolf, I think theres enough here to last about 6 months let alone what is forecast over the next week. Even coming up in the funni you could see 1600 is still in great nick and its near the end of March. Seen it worse in Janaury
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.
We are out in Vallandry on 23rd also. Looking excellent.
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
There's more snow by the Peisey chair lift than I've seen in ages! The only melting I've seen has been when racquetting, over by Vernettes - although still lots of cover.
ringingmaster, The runs into Vallandry all look great
FAQ
Poster: A snowHead
although not quite a supprise now you know its there.
. Mondays looking a monster snowfall day 
