 Poster: A snowHead
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CaravanSkier, Crikey! On the narrow link from the Varet? Looking forward to 2 weeks from now. Great to see you had such a nice time.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Used our one day paradiski pass to visit La Plagne Friday afternoon and the lower slopes there (above Montchavin) are much worse than in Les Arc - even down in Vilaroger this morning was better. But higher up La Plagne generally seemed quieter, with fresh tracks still to be had near the piste.
Resort runs in Arc 2000/1950 were still very good today, with the stones and ice of earlier in the week well covered.
Hadn't started snowing when we left Les Arcs at 4pm, but started raining as we reached BSM, and very heavy by Moutiers, so hopefully that means some good snowfall tonight for those who've just arrived.
All in, a great Christmas week for us all!
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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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Thank you Neraida, As we left Bourg it was starting to rain (as f948lan said) and rained heavily as the journey progressed (very slowly due the the bad traffic!) so hopefully that will have been snow higher up and skiing conditions will continue to improve.
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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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Definitely plenty of snow higher up - started about 6, and the road to Bourg was blocked in several places (mostly by coaches with no chains getting stuck) by 7. We eventually got down - although it took the best part of FOUR hours to get to Bourg! Bourg itself was total gridlock even at 11 pm as nothing was getting allowed up the hill and nothing was going anywhere in the Tignes/Val d'Isere direction either. Lots of people won't have made it to their destinations last night.
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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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Left Vallandry at 7.30 yesterday roads out clear at that point. Home by 8 in eve, smoothest journey ever. Want to go back
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Very sad news to hear that a young French lad (correction, he was from Brittany) 18 years old was killed in an avalanche in La Plagne on Boxing day.
The unstable snow conditions predicted once we had more snowfall are becoming very worrying. Be careful out there if you are going off piste, even if just under the lifts on anything that is steep. The snow has not bonded very well and will easily slide.
I will post the weekly update for this New Year holiday week shortly.
Last edited by You'll need to Register first of course. on Mon 30-12-13 8:10; edited 1 time in total
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British? I thought he was from Brittany. Not that it matters much - very sad either way 
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Here are the details of expected conditions in Les Arcs this week. Check my Les Arcs Winter facebook page for updates.
2013 - 2014 SEASON Weekly UPDATE : 30 December 2013 - 06 January 2014
Here is this week's update. This will be updated when necessary, but gives you a good guide of current conditions. Hope this helps with your planning.
2013 - 2014 SEASON Weekly UPDATE : 30 - 06 January 2014.
WEATHER CONDITIONS : WHAT IT IS LIKE OUTSIDE : ( Meteo France, Bourg at 8am on Sunday.)
This week should see mainly sunny periods for the first few days, temperatures remaining below freezing and light winds slowly increasing from the SW to SSE. Becoming stronger by Thursday/Friday. There is expected to be a little snowfall (up to between 5cm possible) between Thursday evening and Saturday with sunny spells returning later in the weekend. The freezing level is likely to be around 1800m dropping to 1400m. The snowline may drop to 800m for a short time later in the week. Temperatures expected, Min - 15 to Max + 1 during the week. The wind chill is likely to make it feel colder during the later part of the week as the poor weather returns.
SLOPE CONDITIONS: (Info ADS slope analysis at 8am on Sunday.)
Altitude 1620/1800 m 2040 m 2400 m 3000 m
Depth of snow: 46 cm 69 cm 97 cm 105 cm
Temperature - 9.4 , -11 , -11, - 12 ,
Avalanche Risk: (1 to 5): 3 risque MARQUE (considerable)
Last Snowfall : 15 cm – Dimanche. 29 déc. 2013
The pistes are in a reasonable condition for this time of year. The fresh snow has helped to cover the thinner patches and a good base has formed on the higher runs, but a few stones are still coming through in the busy areas. If the temperatures stay cold the fresh snow should consolidate and slowly start to bond. However the off piste is likely to remain unstable for some time. The high winds of last week have created many weak points and large slabs could be triggered by single skiers on steeper slopes, take care. More snow is forecast for later in the week which should help improve the pistes everywhere.
RECOMMENDED Pistes: (Info Security de Piste at 8am on Sunday. This changes daily, check notices by lifts.)
SECTEUR 1600 : CLAPET
SECTEUR 1800 : VAGERE
SECTEUR 2000 : PLAN VERT
SECTEUR PEISEY-VALLANDRY : GRIVE
LIFT OPENINGS this week: (Info ADS Lift Company at 8am on Sunday.This changes daily, check with lifts depending on conditions.)
SECTEUR PEISEY-VALLANDRY : OUVERT sauf TK COMBE
SECTEUR 1600 : OUVERT sauf VEZAILLE / MILLERETTE
SECTEUR 1800 : OUVERT
SECTEUR 2000 : OUVERT
SECTEUR VILLAROGER : OUVERT
LINKS this week: (Info ADS lift Company at 8am on Sunday. This changes daily, check with lifts depending on conditions.)
AIGUILLE ROUGE : Open
TRANSARC 1 : Open TRANSARC 2 : Open
LIAISON ARCS 1800 VERS ARCS 2000 : Open
LIAISON ARCS 2000/VILLAROGER : Open
VANOISE EXPRESS : Open
LIAISON MONTCHAVIN-LA PLAGNE : Open
NEWS for the week : (Info by ADS lift company at 8am on Sunday. )
The SNOWPARC in Les ARCS 1600 is OPEN!
The Sledge track in ARC 2000 " RODEO PARK" is also open.
Whatever your level of skiing do not hesitate to climb in altitude and discover the sectors other than where you live . You will always find a blue piste down (except Grand col and L'Aiguille Rouge ) which will allow you to discover the diversity of the ski area.
COUNCIL SAFETY / SECURITY ADVICE : (Info Security de Piste.)
Observe all signs posted by the Security de Piste. A helmet is Strongly Recommended . Caution in all Circumstances, remain able to control your speed and stopping distance. Stay on the open pistes. FOLLOW THE SIGNS , RESPECT NATURE .
Have a good holiday!
http://www.polairestar.com/
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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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Blue sky day today. Cold and clear all day with little wind. We even managed to find some safe off piste in the trees and on the more gentle slopes in the morning. The afternoon was spent checking out the pistes around Arc 1600 and 1800 and getting the kids warmed up for the floodlight GS in the evening.
Got home quite late, but those that took part said it was fun. Tomorrow is another day race in the morning.
The only down side today was all the people. Queues on most lifts and some were very large. My advice, if you do not have kids avoid coming during the holiday period over New Year. Much worse this year than last year. I hope tomorrow is not as bad.
The pistes on the other hand were mostly good. Hard firm chalky snow and softer snow at the sides, plus we did not find many small annoying rocks on the piste either.
http://www.polairestar.com/
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After a cloudy start to the day yesterday, the sun came out again and we finished with another blue sky day. Managed to find some nice snow off the Col de Chal down to Nancoix in the morning although well tracked in most places with breakable crust still around in a few areas to catch people out if you were not careful.
After lunch the first Open GS race was cancelled due to conditions so we did more race training with the youngsters before the evening slalom under floodlights in Arc 1800. A long day, but the kids said it was still fun although quite cold.
Races over for us now and only prizes to collect later today. An interesting event under floodlights this week for the kids with the 'Kombi' (obstacle course) being a real challenge for all ages.
The pistes everywhere are hard and firm by the afternoons with a light chalky layer on top and many icy patches with a few stones coming through due to the high traffic in some places. The off pistes is very mixed.
It is cloudy again outside right now and there may be snow in the air for later. Time to go. Photos will be posted later today.
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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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Looking for ski buddies next week?
Staying in Arc 2000 from Jan 6-11
Good intermediate skier here!
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Jetdriver, drop a PM to snowcrazy or send him a message on his facebook page.
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You know it makes sense.
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Does anyone know where will be the best spot for watching the Linecatcher? We arrive in Courbaton on the afternoon of Saturday 18th, but lift passes start the day after so I figured it might be worth a quick drive up to 2000 to watch it for a bit.
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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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Jenniper, You'll need a good pair of binoculars from either the top of 1950 or around 2000 (or a long zoom on your camera!) If you are not on the slope itself, you have to be high enough to see into the bowl - and that means being a fair way away. We watched a few descents from up above 2000 last year, but as we weren't prepared, it wasn't a great deal of fun.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Best to walk up to Arc 2000 or Arc 1950 and go up to one of the highest points in the village. Bring your binoculars as it is quite a long way away up on the mountain. They should also have a big scene somewhere, but it has not been confirmed yet. If anyone knows where the screen will be located for SURE, please post.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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snowcrazy, snap!
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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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Cheers guys - I'm not really sure where it's being held but in my head I was picturing it to the right of the Bois de l'Ours lift (as you look at it from 2000). Is that pretty much it?
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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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Arctic Roll, are you out right now?
Conditions today: Today was a real mix. Heavy rain in the valley in the morning and fresh snow above 1600m. About 15cm up top I would guess and even down to Arc 1600 there was at least 10cm by late afternoon.
The conditions in the morning were very varied. Up high there was soft snow on most pistes, but also icy patches coming through in some places due to the number of people around. However the poor visibility at times made it very interesting. Lower down on the pistes it was a similar story, but also a few small stones just to catch you out if you did not look where you were skiing. In the end we headed for the trees so that we could see better.
By mid morning the winds picked up and some lifts started to close as the snow became more heavy. I sat on the Cachette for 10 plus mins when it stopped. Never found out why! The Vagere also had a problem, but after the heavy snowfall around midday the wind started to drop and by mid afternoon the clouds were clearing and the sun was trying to come out.
The off piste was great fun. Before lunch we managed to find some nice powder in the malgovert forest and a few small cliffs which proved a challenge.
After the British Children's Ski Champs Awards in the Golf Hotel during lunch time I was back out again for an hour or so in better light. Found some nice areas with know tracks to put some lines down without having to hike which was nice.
Over all the fresh snow has come just in time to freshen up the pistes and with more snow forecast for the weekend. Those coming out next week are in for a fun time. The off piste conditions are still dangerous with the new snow now on top of an unstable base, so take care as slides are very easy to trigger.
I will post a few photos of the last week here later and the rest over on my facebook page.
Anyone coming out, you may well need chains to drive up to resort over the next few days. Have a good holiday.
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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, not until 25th (and then again at Easter) - but have got some friends in my place this week and next. You've been out with one of them, Richard: he was in Georges tonight...
Jenniper, yup, that's the bowl.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Oooooh I always thought "the bowl" was in the direction of the varet! Well, they are round, I suppose!
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Aye?
Bois de l'ours lift is 'below' 1950 isn';t it, taken you up from Arc bowl back into 1800 side of ridge, surely the only thing to the right of that lift is the trees down towards the slowest lift in the world.
I'd have said bowl was in the direction of Varet as well
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The bowl is Arcabuelle across to the top of Bois, across to the top of Lanchette and everything back up to Arcabuelle including Varet?
Boris, Your bowl leaks, only has one side. 
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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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thefatcontroller, That's my understanding.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Here: (PS 'A' = Arc 1950)
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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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Ohhh that one  hehe
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Are we talking top of lift or bottom - I well prepared to admit to being wrong - think in my mind I'm in a different place!
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You know it makes sense.
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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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and here. The same event from our balcony in Arc 2000, middle left is top of Bois chair, helicopter filming and Arctic Roll new bowl on the right where linecatcher is held. You can just about see the starting gates.
[
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Poster: A snowHead
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Oh is that a bowl too? 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Jenniper, Its a bowl, not the bowl..... 
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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.
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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Two weeks for me. Eeeeep!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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You see to me the bowl is the nice wide space above Vallandry
Otherwise - yes it is a bowl, not what I think of as the Arc2000 bowl
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One week for me too
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thefatcontroller, ah I see the confusion
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| Jenniper, yup, that's the bowl. |
really should have read
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| Jenniper, yup, that's the bowl..... that you are talking about |
And not as was written, which could be (? was) interpreted as
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| Jenniper, yup, that's the (2000) bowl.... |
Silly me. Please forgive.
Now: back to your regularly scheduled programe
PS - Although I like the name "arctic roll bowl" - has a resonance to it...
PPS 3 weeks for us, so I will miss the "craning your neck up at the sky and looking at specks in the distance" competition
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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 booked la Plagne for 19/1 & as a Paradiski first timer was wondering about the practicalities of skiing the whole area. I'm comfortable on any piste & don't mind a play in the soft stuff(although It's been a while). Look forward to hearing from y'all.
CW
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What a fantastic choice you have made, you are perfectly placed for both areas of La Plagne and Les Arcs. In my opinion I would buy the full area pass and not the Decouverte, I have been to Les Arcs the last 4 seasons and going in 3 weeks time and I have in the past purchased the Decouverte 1 day discovery for La Plagne and regretted it once I had used it as I really didn't manage to ski the full area of La Plagne and wanted to go back. Likewise with yourself if you ski over into Les Arcs for one day you will probably regret not getting the full area which is only an extra 20 Euro for a 6 day pass. Ok La Plagne is a huge area to explore but if you are so close to the Vanoise Express why not take advantage of it particularly if you are a competent skier, I stay in Arc 2000 which takes a good 30 mins to get to the Vanoise and I usually split my week between Les Arcs and La Plagne weather permitting of course.
Hope that helps and Happy Skiing.
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FAQ
