Spent the day in Les Arcs. Conditions were very mixed with poor light at times and clouds overhead, but also a few sunny spells together with light snow on and off all day. The crowds at the main lifts were not to bad and in quieter places there was know waiting.
The pistes across the Arc 1800 and 1600 areas were ok, with a covering of fresh snow which made them fun to ski, but near the junctions the hard compacted icy snow was starting to come through again by the afternoon.
The pistes in the Arc 2000 bowl and down to Villaroger was also in good condition, but the blue piste lower down now has icy patches that need to be skied with care.
The off piste right across the Les Arcs domain was good fun. Although hard packed underneath, the top 10cm was fresh snow and provided a very enjoyable days off piste.
Our main routes included down from the Arpette ridge towards the bottom of the Arpette chair, then down the other side of the ridge to the bottom of the Marmottes chair. Later from the top of the Aiguille Rouge on the left side of the Glacier, then down the Robert Blanc Couloir, followed by going down the right hand side of the glacier off piste and then off piste on the left of the Genepy piste. Later another route off piste to Villaroger and back up to the Droset off piste area before finishing in the Malgovert forest.
And back to George's Wine Bar in Arc 1950 for light refreshments. Another good day on the hill! Sorry no photos today, need more batteries.
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Following from my trip to les arcs w/e of the 11/15th Feb.... a friend of mine stitched together a panorama photo from the top of the Auigulle Rouge...
Today was a powder day. It turned out to be a blue sky cold day without much wind and few clouds. Sometimes the forecast is not always correct.
Managed to get over to the Roche du Mio and do one of the cliff runs again, with a few turns on untracked powder. Then up top of Bellecote Glacier just after the Traverse Chair opened and all the way back down the bowl in untracked powder from within 50m of the top to 100m before the bottom chair. Very nice. Finally up and over onto the North Face for even more untracked powder from just below the ridge to the forest far below. Had a GPS gadget with us today, it recorded 10,262m of vertical height completed today. Plus loads of other data. A fun toy to play with over lunch and at the end of the day in the bar.
Had a great late lunch at the bottom of the Bellecote at the Cheval Restaurant and then back across the pistes and through the forests with a few little detours to the Mushroom Bar in the Arc 2000 bowl for a drink and finally home. The pistes and lifts in the main resort areas are still in good condition in most places, but with the good weather, the lifts and pistes that we used were busy most of the time.
Another great day. It is good to have some powder again. Pics to follow, but not tonight. More to come tomorrow I hope.
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Another few days in the powder. yesterday was very good, but with poor light and vis in and out all day. Today was blue sky, little wind and great snow. The recent snowfall has freshened up the pistes very nicely and made the off piste really fun.
After our trip down the North face of Bellecote a few days ago, we have skied all over the Les Arcs and La Plagne areas and although the queues have been quite bad, the snow is good and today we were still able to find space to put fresh powder lines. There are patches of hard compacted snow where many people have skied and coming into lifts and main stations there are still icy patches to watch out for, but over all the conditions are a great deal better than in the past weeks and those coming out this weekend should have a good week.
Roads are clear and you can drive right into resort stations without the need for chains right now.
After all it is free
After all it is free
snowcrazy, chris is it snowing yet?? the web cams looked a little to sunny for my liking today, we are arriving next Sat, will give you a shout.
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.
livetoski, Been out till now, but the rain is falling in the valley and I heard that it is now snow up at Arc 1950. Hope it keeps going all night.
TODAY was a good day to get across to La Plagne. The crowds have left for a day, but the roads are very busy tonight and the trains to Bourg have been in chaos after an electrical cable came down on a railway line.
The pistes over to La Plagne from Les Arcs 1600 were good. Those over in La Plagne were good in the morning, but on the way back to the VE they were quite hard packed and icy.
The off piste down to Champagny from the Roche du Mio was very good as was the area down to the Bellecote Chair and the Froilin Bowl tour. Loads of places to put fresh tracks and with the new snow arriving again, another chance to do it all after the weather settles down.
Tomorrow is forecast to be bad weather in the morning and then improving. Hope so!!
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
how much snow came down in les arcs?
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
dan100, Lot's
TODAY, well this afternoon for a while!!
About 15cm of fresh snow last night and more to come so they say. At last there was enough snow to take the board out for a ride. Tree runs were the order of the day. Poor vis everywhere so waited till lunch time to go up. Still poor vis but the snow is great and I did not hit anything under the snow for once. Stayed around the Arc 1600 / 1800 area, but that was enough as loads of places to ride away from the crowds. Just a pity there are not more lifts in the area any more.
Came back to watch the rugby. Tomorrow should be another good powder day. Hope the clouds clear early to give some better light. Very flat and hard to read the snow today, but still loads of fun and we do have powder again at last. If you can get out here at short notice, now is the time to come. Just a pity about the crowds.
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.
This is good news. Not due out for another month (almost exactly), but been worried about the lack of base by then. Seems like - as long as it stays cold - it should last until at least then! Hopefully, end of March will be free from too many holidaying kids too, which'd be nice. Keep doing the snow-dancing, snowcrazy.
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 wrote:
dan100, Lot's
TODAY, well this afternoon for a while!!
About 15cm of fresh snow last night and more to come so they say. At last there was enough snow to take the board out for a ride. Tree runs were the order of the day. Poor vis everywhere so waited till lunch time to go up. Still poor vis but the snow is great and I did not hit anything under the snow for once. Stayed around the Arc 1600 / 1800 area, but that was enough as loads of places to ride away from the crowds. Just a pity there are not more lifts in the area any more.
Came back to watch the rugby. Tomorrow should be another good powder day. Hope the clouds clear early to give some better light. Very flat and hard to read the snow today, but still loads of fun and we do have powder again at last. If you can get out here at short notice, now is the time to come. Just a pity about the crowds.
7 sleeps to go
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
Les Coches website records depths of 15cm at 1250m and 145 at 3250m - so they say 5cm/15cm fell. Not exactly a mega-dump but welcome nonetheless as high pressure seems to be settled in for the next 10 days at least
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Due out on 12th March with a small mixed ability group and staying in Arc 1800. I'd be keen to meet up and ski with whoever is about. I'm a bit of a hack but can handle most things.
Also, if anyone knows of anywhere that rents ABS cylinders/trigger in the neighbourhood, that would also be great. I am flying through Chambery and know that there have been issues with that airport and cylinder carriage.
[/threadjack]
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
The new snow has arrived. About 25cm over the last few days and due to the cold temperatures it is staying fresh and light higher on the mountain.
Today the sun came out and provided excellent conditions for those in the resort although it is busy on the more popular lifts and pistes.The pistes have been freshened up and although there are hard compacted areas with icy sections where many people have passed or coming into lifts, generally the conditions are very good at present and there is now a good base in most areas.
The off piste has a good 25cm of fresh snow (deeper in some places) and in the more sheltered areas where the sun has not degraded the surface, it is still light powder. In the more exposed areas it is a mix of light snow, breakable crust, wind slab, crud or becoming hard and firm. Great care needs to be taken on the steeper areas where the bonding is not very good as slides are very likely as the temperature changes.
In the last few days we have been on a variety of pistes and off piste areas across the paradiski area with both skis and snowboards. The couloirs have been excellent, although very conservative routes were taken to avoid more unstable areas. The forests are holding the snow well and it is staying light and fluffy. The larger shallow meadows have provided the opportunity to put down many untracked lines, but lower down the snow has turned quite heavy.
Overall for those coming out in the next few days the conditions are great and there is plenty of good skiing to be found on and off piste.
Take a look at the pictures in the photo section of my facebook group page to see what we have been doing. (Should be online later tonight.)
gorilla, send me a pm annd we can arrange something, take a look at my group phots and you can see the kind of stuff I like to do. You can try Christina Sports (thanks for correct spelling) in Arc 1600 or ask at the Intersport shop in Arc 1800. The main Intersport shop in Bourg does ABS services so they should have them. Hope that helps.
Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Wed 2-03-11 21:42; edited 1 time in total
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
snowcrazy wrote:
You can try Christainer Sports in Arc 1600
... suspect you mean Christina Sports (I only know because I booked ski hire there once)
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?
Arriving Saturday ski testing this year will be Dots, Dots and Dots
After skiing across various pistes in Les Arcs and spending some time at the GMX (Skicross competition, French Under 14 National Champs) we headed into the National Park to find more untracked powder.
First, the Champs are an open event for any kids under 14 years of age (there are two age group categories for boys and girls) and the standard was very high. Take a look at a few pics on my facebook group page. Hope to see some British kids in the event next year. Finals tomorrow.
Now for the main part of the day. Most of the pistes lower down near to the stations that we skied are becoming hard and compacted with some icy patches starting to appear again. The blue runs, whilst well covered in most places, need to be skied with great care to avoid catching an edge. Higher on the mountain the pistes are better, but with the heavy usage this week, all runs are now very well skied and many of the piste natures have moguls.
The off piste areas near to the pistes, whilst well tracked do have a better surface and provide good fun for practising those turns and moves you might need in more difficult terrain.
If you take a guide and are up for a challenge, then away from the pistes with only a little effort you can still find great untracked powder for long stretches. Take a look at the photos of todays trip to see just how good it can be (link below).
For those coming out this weekend, although there are plenty of people about, it is still possible to ski to almost every part of the Paradiski area and the snowparks, boardercross, luge, skicross, air bags, piste natures and waterslides are all great fun so you should have a good week.
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Easy day today, cloudy in the morning so went to see the GMX, then a nice lunch and easy ski around and home. To many people being the last day for many. Tomorrow hope to get over to Bellecote tomorrow if vis is ok whilst it is change over day for many. Conditions much the same as yesterday so will not repeat what said already. More snow on the way, maybe?? Just have to wait and see.
After all it is free
After all it is free
Blue Sky day! I do like 'change over' days, no crowds. Wanted to get across to the Bellecote without queuing. After a busy lift out of Arc 1600 we headed over to the VE with quite a few locals all heading up to the Bellecote. Managed a good run down the back of Roche du Mio on the way and then a warm up run back down the Bellecote Bowl before heading over onto the North Face.
Had hoped to do the Cairn or Canadian Couloirs but when we had a look, both looked wind swept and had slabs or breakable crust in places after the recent avalanche so decided to play it safe and went down the Petite Face Nord. Well tracked, but still fun with very mixed snow conditions.
Had a nice picnic and a drink at the bottom, chatted with two local guys, one pisteur and one Ski instructor that had done the Pente du Grand Nant, one of the hardest routes on the north face, serious respect to them. Chatted on the bus with friends who had done the Moyenne and Grande Couloirs who confirmed the snow conditions were not that great. Then headed back across Les Arcs and home after a stop at the Altiport to watch the fun at the waterslide and catch up with others that have just arrived.
A fun day out, with good weather, ok snow, but not powder and quiet pistes. More to come tomorrow.
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.
Les Arcs day today. Not as busy on the pistes as last week, but still some queues on the lifts. Went up Varet, but found a 15 min wait to go higher so went over to the Grand Col area and spent most of the morning practising off piste skills. Still good snow on piste as the warmer temperatures have softened the surface a little although you will still hit the hard compacted icy snow in places which are skied a great deal. The black run from the top of the Grand Col is full of moguls. The off piste was firm and grippy, but well tracked. Had the chance to practise some steep short couloirs as well which was fun.
Then headed back up to the top and over into the park for some quiet off piste skiing away from all the people. Although tracked on the easier route, still good snow and enjoyed by everyone. Had a nice lunch at the Solliet and then down the Droset off piste area and Malgovert off piste area before passing the snowpark and waterslide for a drink at the Altiport then home. Blue sky and good riding all day. If it is not going to snow, then let it stay sunny. More to come tomorrow.
Pics for today will be posted later in my Facebook group if you want to take a look.
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
snowcrazy, Thanks for taking the time to post these reports, They are read and appreciated.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowcrazy wrote:
Les Arcs day today. Not as busy on the pistes as last week, but still some queues on the lifts. Went up Varet, but found a 15 min wait to go higher so went .......
15 minute wait for the Aiguille Rouge is merely a dream for most of us. Average is probably a least 45mins, bit more when busy???
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,
Great pics - thanks.
We'll be there in a couple of weeks! Quite looking forward to it.
Can't stop checking the weather / snow reports.....!
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
Agree with snowcrazy, the sun is out and that has to make you smile. I am out in les arc all week with the novice part of the family. So have been helping them get their ski legs back on the easy runs back down to 1800. Sunday saw some pretty crazy French kids out and about, going much to fast on the nursery slopes. One French dad whose kid got flattened took it upon himself to dish out some on slope discipline and gave the lad a smack around the head
so another good reason to wear a helmet
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
livetoski, he must have been a leading endertimologist - they take a very hard line
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
JimW, I am bringing white dots with me, sorry Jim missed your post before give me a shout if you want to meet up
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Little wind, blue sky, still powder to be skied, good company, nobody about where we skied most of the day, but to many people in the lift queues again. Guess you cannot have everything.
Right from the start, loads of people at the Cachette in Arc 1600. Then more at the Arpette. Even more at the Varet and a 20min line at the cablecar to the top of Aiguille Rouge. Oh well, this time we just had to take our turn.
Finally got over the back and had a great run down to Villaroger in good snow most of the way and even some untracked powder in places. The piste at the bottom is still ok although there are a few hard packed icy patches now.
Straight back up to the top of the Varet and some fun short couloirs and tricky drops to play in on the Robert Blanc face before going back over the top and down to Villaroger by another route. More good snow and even longer stretches of uncut powder to enjoy, but I fear if we do not get more fresh snow soon, it will not be possible to find these secret stashes much longer unless we start to hike.
Another very nice lunch at the Solliet and back through Arc 1950 for a change and down to Pre Esprit and up to Malgovert. Another line through the cliffs and finally off to the Altiport for a drink and a bit of free entertainment then home.
The pistes and lifts were busy everywhere we went today near the stations, but the off piste was quiet and lot's of fun. I do hope it snows again soon, but it does not look like there is much chance right now. Oh well, off to do the Bellecote on the snowboard tomorrow for a change. Guess I cannot really complain!
Pics from today will be posted tomorrow. Early night for once.
Boredsurfing, shockingmoment, pleased you like them, I do wonder sometimes if it is worth the effort.
livetoski, might catch up with you at the waterslide tomorrow.
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
The sun is up again this morning in les arc, overnight the temp was only minus 1 at 1850 at 12.30 am but this morning is -3.4 ?
My early coffee on the balcony was accompanied by the sounds of a woodpecker and a chainsaw, nice mix of nature and man made machines doing the same thing
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?
Having done the toboggan run on Sunday (glad of the helmet!) and given the blue sky and hot weather, decided yesterday was to be the my turn to entertain at the watersplash. After gaining a rousing cheer from the crowd for my efforts (...), a soggy trip home to 1950 to dry out. You'd be amazed at how much water a skiboot can hold.
The snow on piste is still holding up, thanks to the effort of the pisteurs, although megamum will be disappointed to hear that the sheet of blue ice at the top of 1800 is still there. But overall the whole place is in unbelievably good nick.
If the temps don't start to fall however, there isn't going to be a lot left for Easter - where they haven't been able to manage the runs (for example in the woods around Peisey under the lifts) it really does look like end of season state. More snow required please snowgods - if not for us, for everyone else coming out.
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Excellent JimW,
I particularly like the hippo sounds in the slow mo at the end. I'm sure you should give it another go to prove that you can. Perhaps the hippo could join you in the water for a tandem stunt?
After all it is free
After all it is free
JimW, brilliant
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.
JimW, great bow wave!
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
snowcrazy,
Quote:
Boredsurfing, shockingmoment, pleased you like them, I do wonder sometimes if it is worth the effort.
FAQ
Poster: A snowHead
