Poster: A snowHead
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Well, at risk of giving away one of the best kept secrets of the season so far. I can honestly say that I've just finished one of the best early season days on piste that I've ever had. The quality of the snow on Arpette is sublime and couple that with empty pistes and clear blue skies it takes some beating. But shhh don't tell everybody.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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rdsweb, super news. The place should be ok this week, with few people.
But numbers will jump on Sunday - possibly not so much fun next week.
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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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Speaking to an instructor yesterday he reckoned next week was going to be quiet too. Anyway a lovely start to the week and a great relief.
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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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I forgot to add that the temperature has finally dropped so no question of any more thaw and no reason for the blowers not to be on full blast.
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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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Another fine day's piste skiing with the runs holding up well. But really, really pissed off with massed ranks of "Les Etoiles du Sport" skiing too fast in groups of twenty or more and really frightening the two beginners with us. In previous years there were just a small number in "Les Etoiles du Sport" jackets. Now it seems that anybody can get one whether they can ski safely or not. Very angry.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@rdsweb, Pop into the tourist office and make a complaint! Its down by the Post Office in Plagne Centre, there are also equally helpful offices in Bellecote and Belle Plagne.
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I take your point 😄 Jonpim but refuse to stoop to their level. They should know better.
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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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Thanks @boredsurfin. We're at Belle Plagne so I'll find out where it is and pop in.
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Busy preparing our chalet in Les Coches today. No natural snow here but the Pisteurs were busy bashing the homemade stuff on the piste outside - looks like they are hoping to open the link this weekend.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Piste at Les Coches looking pristine, with brown grass either side. Looks like all prepared for opening Saturday.
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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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Train just pulling in to Moutiers. Aime soon after. Bit chilly in the valley. Hope snowguns going full blast up top. I remember pisteurs did magnificent job last year. Looking forward to a beer in Les Mines with a crowd of Skibugs.
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Hi, Im travelling to La Plagne on 31st Dec for a week and looking at the resort website it is showing only about 25% of the runs are currently open, with there not being much snow around is it likely they will open more runs or is this pretty much it till the next big snowfall? Thanks
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You know it makes sense.
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@bhs1922, Totally depends on the weather, if it stays cold they will make more artificial if it rains less could be open! If it snows all could be open!
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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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@bhs1922, More is opening on Saturday - link to the Vanoise express, down to les Coches etc. They are currently working to open as much as lack of snow allows. Check again next week and that will be the plan until New Year unless there is some natural snowfall.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Well, conditions are certainly better than this time last year, mainly i presume to it staying cold - last year was very mild.
The weather is glorious and few people about. No queue anywhere and pistes mainly empty.
We skied all round the left half of the piste map: there's one piste down from Arpette, got up to Roche de Mio via Blanchette and Carella, Inversins open, Source closed, Glacier open.
Stones were everywhere last year: this year only came across stones on piste below the tunnel and coming down from Grand Rochette on Verdon side.
Condition of piste very good almost everywhere.
There's a new cafe/snack bar above Bellecote called Bonnet. Ok for a quick stop: crepes, paninis, burgers. Panini and Crepe ok, but coffee was watery and served in paper cup.
Today we'll check out the right side, and see what is happening with the Envers lift.
As long as it stays quiet it will be fine up to Christmas - not sure after that: according the our weather thread, any decent snow unlikely for some 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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Thanks for the responses, good to hear from people in La Plagne that it isnt all doom and gloom and the pistes are in decent condition!! Weather looking positive for Christmas week so will keep everything crossed!
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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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So, La-Plagnites (not to be confused with Gorgonites): who's here?
It seems change-over day for the next couple of weeks is Friday - today - for many companies.
So, i'm presuming rdsweb might be going, but RobinS is here in Les Coches, Chaletgirl is seeing how much more gym equipment she can squeeze into her place in Plagne Centre, boredsurfin could be down in Montalbert (yet again forgot the hobnobs i'm afraid) . . . maybe more unknown snowheads around the place.
Yes! Time some of us met up, for a ski or a beer or a coffee or even an ovaltine.
We should be out tomorrow, hopefully a little earlier than today (it was midday before ventured forth).
Give us a buzz if you're up for 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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@Jonpim, and the burning question Where's the new Picnic area?? ?.....
Last edited by You need to Login to know who's really who. on Sat 17-12-16 19:57; edited 2 times in total
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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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Oooo!
How did you do that?
and we are searching for the fabled Picnic area - honest.
But no success so far.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@Jonpim, How did I do that? simples ...[ spoiler=question]Where's the new Picnic area??[/spoiler]
(I inserted space after first [ to make it display)
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@Jonpim, Pretty busy at the moment with chalet set-up, and first guests arriving in about an hour! Picked up our (JanetS and I) season passes today, so might get out for a ski for a couple of hours tomorrow - but need to be back early as the boss is coming over to check up on us (in a friendly, helpful way). Got some last minute bookings so a fair few guests through until Christmas.
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@jonpim Yes we hit the road tomorrow morning 9am. This is the fourth year running we've been for opening week and despite the difficulties of the lack of snowfall, it has been my favourite. Perfect weather, empty pistes and personal service in all the restaurants especially Monica's at Plagne Soleil and Matafan in Belle Plagne have all contributed.
Hope it keeps up for all those just arriving.
We'll do it all again week commencing 3rd March so we'll see how it compares.
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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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SteveM, you're obviously VERY busy with those webcams - chopkins13 posted that a week ago!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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We're in La Plagne Aime for a week from 29th....staying at Club med... I've heard that the snow is good above 2000m ..... hopefully enough to keep us occupied for the week
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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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Went out for a few hours today from Les Coches, over to Plagne Centre, up to the top, Roche de Mio etc, skied Inversens - lovely, then Tunnel - thin with a few stones showing through lower down. Skiing back to Les Coches was interesting, parts of it negotiating huge piles of snow the cannons have created today, and part on narrow, very "firm" pistes. Perfect weather though, unbroken sunshine, no wind. Also few people about, straight onto every lift with no queues.
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Yes, RobinS, we went the other way: down to Vanoise and over to Les Arcs.
Run down to Vanoise was fun with all snowcannons going full blast - lovely snow.
Les Arcs is similar to La Plagne: patchy until after top of Transarc.
Run down from top of Aguile Rouge was lovely.
Again, mostly quiet, no queues, just the odd stuped bomber.
Staying cold.
Looking good for then next few days as cannons can blast - but no snow from the sky forecast.
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You know it makes sense.
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@Jonpim, and the burning question Where's the new Picnic area?? ?.....
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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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We've just arrived in Longefoy so wondering where to ski tomorrow. Does anyone know if montalbert gondola is open so we can access the rest of the ski area and if not can anyone tell me the best way to get on the piste. We have a car so can drive.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Oh, and picnic area. Could it be the large deck area at the top of the montalbert gondola, you can see it on the far left of the web cam.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@Topperski, Take a look at my Les Arcs Winter facebook page. We did a tour of La Plagne today and I have just posted the photos. Yes, Gondola and Roche Chair working.
https://www.facebook.com/LesArcsWinter/
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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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The Pisteurs have really done a marvelous job to get the link with Les Arcs open.
Both sides, for the last 500m or so, its just a white strip with brown either side.
Probably not so hard on the Plagne side, as that bit is in the shade. But the Les Arcs side is in full sun for a lot of the day, and they've still managed to have 2 ways down. Well done.
So, 3 days, and we've still not managed any of the Becoin area, not been up the glacier, not been across to Champagny sector (hope to meet up with skichampcouk today), and not been down to Montalbert.
So there's plenty to do, and just the smidgen of a suggestion that there might be a bit of snow on Tuesday . . .
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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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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Jonpim, lovely - I envy you.
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Skied the runs on the Bellecote Sunday - fantastic weather and conditions there then. Today only been out for couple of hours, went over to Peisey Vallandry - warmer so less icy and good skiing, but some of the pistes are suffering a bit. The pisteurs have done a fantastic job, but it could be difficult if the weather does not change. The locals in the ski shop reckon it is not going to snow until January.
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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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@Jonpim, Oh, feel slightly disappointed its so close to home
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Well, that's it for my first stint skiing this season.
Today we went up to the Glacier in glorious sunshine.
It was lovely up there in the sheltered places that were protected from last 2 days wind.
The run down by the glacier chair had a good 10 cm of soft fluffy snow on it first thing.
When things got busy we moved over to Combe - they've clearly had to forgo the announcement of leaving the area "Natur" and driven a zig-zag snow road down because not enough snow to safely ski straight down.
After a stop for mint tea and Twixes, the light started to fail as sky filled with grey clouds.
So we came back down - even did Chalet de Bellecote on the way (interestingly bumpy run, as if pisted by Picasso).
Runs mostly holding up, but we're not sad to be going home for Christmas.
Thanks to all those we met up with (espec skichampcouk).
And apologies to chaletgirl for not making it to Les Mines, but they don't serve Ovaltine
Back in 4 weeks . . . .
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