 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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2013 - 2014 SEASON Weekly UPDATE : 13 - 20 January 2014.
Here is the update for this week. Not a great change yet in the weather or snow depths since last time, but there is a little more snow on the way tonight and more is predicted for later in the week.
WEATHER CONDITIONS : WHAT IT IS LIKE OUTSIDE : ( Meteo France, Bourg at 8am on Sunday.)
This week will see a mix of cloudy and sunny weather. The snowline over the next few days should fall to around 1200m for a short time. The temperatures are likely to remain below freezing and light winds slowly increasing. There might be further moderate snowfall later in the week. As the wind increases the wind chill is likely to make it feel colder.
SLOPE CONDITIONS: (Info ADS slope analysis at 8am on Sunday.)
Altitude 1620/1800 m 2040 m 2400 m 3000 m
Depth of snow: 53 cm 70 cm 115 cm 132 cm
Temperature -1.4 , -1.5 , -2.1, -3.8,
Avalanche Risk: (1 to 5): 2 Risk Limited.
Last Snowfall : 15 cm – Samedi. 05 Jan. 2014
It has been reported that despite the lack of fresh snow the pistes are still in a reasonable condition. The fresh snow over the next few days should help to cover the thinner patches. If it does not get to warm or windy the fresh snow should consolidate and bond quickly. More snow is forecast for later in the week. The off piste is still very mixed with fresh soft snow mixed in with heavier wet snow lower down and hard refrozen crud in many places. There is still wind slab around and great care should be taken on any steeper areas although in some places the snow is now starting to transform into a firm chalky layer on top. You should still be very aware of pockets of unstable snow off piste which are difficult to anticipate.
RECOMMENDED Pistes: (Info Security de Piste at 8am on Sunday. This changes daily, check notices by lifts.)
SECTEUR 1600 : CLAPET/CLOCHERET
SECTEUR 1800 : VAGERE
SECTEUR 2000 : GRAND-COL
SECTEUR PEISEY-VALLANDRY: BLANCHOT
LIFT OPENINGS this week: (Info ADS Lift Company at 8am on Sunday.This changes daily, check with lifts depending on conditions.)
SECTEUR PEISEY-VALLANDRY : All Open except TK COMBE
SECTEUR 1600 : All Open except MILLERETTE
SECTEUR 1800 : All Open.
SECTEUR 2000 : All Open except FLAMME OLYMPIQUE
SECTEUR VILLAROGER : All Open.
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 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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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'm skiing Sun, Mon, Tue this week. Sounds like snow has come at the right time.
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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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Heavy snow in 1950. Good news as a lot of people have been caught out by the ice on pistes. One of those was a snowboarder today, just off the vallee de l'arc, on the corner to the bois de l'ours lift. i narrowly missed him, but he flipped his board up to the side and I whacked the top of my hand on the edge. Very painful! 
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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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Still snowing in 2000. Not huge amount but better than nothing. Skied over to 1600 this morning, then back into the bowl, then up to Transarc and down to Peisey, then we were back into the bowl and down to Villarogier for lunch in La Ferme. Bit tired by then and a very large 'plat du jour' wolfed down.
Overall conditions aren't bad though some brutal ice about. The top of Cachette just by where you can jump in after skiing the long flat section heading across from Arpette area was the worst I have skied on, its a steep slope but you needed razor blades on it so stop. I didn't so more a case of a few turns and hanging on for dear life.
Hopefully snow keeps on falling overnight and if it does we will board tomorrow, otherwise the boards stay covered as I value my spine.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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If we get a couple of 20cm top ups this week, will that be enough to do something with the ice?
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Jenniper, i think it will be better tomorrow. The piste bashers are holding off here. Hopefully they will groom up some nice powder in the morming!
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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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Hope it buries some of the stones that have appeared. I caught one on Chalets coming into 2000 yesterday pm (which nearly spun me into a class line  ... and "no", I wasn't hammering it). Most run are fine but others like Lac (down to the Bois de L'Ours lift) and Melezes down the bottom of Transarcs are fairly stony.
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about 10 inch has fallen overnight outside our hotel room in 1800 and still snowing, although very light now, hotel forecast board is showing snow every day this week but -20C tomorrow. line catcher team were down for breakfast early today - i am sure they will be on the first lift like me but we will probably go in different directions when we get off it 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Well, 1950 got plenty of snow  . Got out early but Arcabulle wasn't running, so time for an early coffee stop. Visibility is now much better. Looks like a good day!
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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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Loads of snow. V bad vis at the top lifts, but great fun 
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You know it makes sense.
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Yep, brutal visibility at the top but Mont Blanc was lovely over in 1600. Back in 2000 now for a bite to eat. Sun coming out. Of to play in powder again this afternoon. How is work everyone? 
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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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Still snowing very lightly in Arc 2000. Fabulous day. Lots of fresh, we boarded for the day which we still find exhausting. We never got below 1600 but conditions overall are much improved with the new snow, colder to.
Ache a lot but should board again tomorrow. Aiming to try out the slow lifts and flat plains of La Pagne Thursday.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Stopped snowing in 2000.
As an aside we were a good example of why you service your own skis and boards today. We passed lots of other boarders on hired boards stuck on flat section as their boards gripped the snow as we sailed past. Its a bit of a pain but you knew it was worthwhile when that happens.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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a day to remember... spent most of the day around the derby and grizzly lifts, off piste and between the trees was an absolute treat...i am sure all that are in resort at the moment will agree that we had more snow than forecast and in parts it was mid thigh through the forest...pistes were full of soft snow and even last runs tonight i was still in virgin snow on piste above my boots. forecast for rest of week seems to change by the hour but any snow on top of what fell last night will be good for us and those here next week. hotel reception notice board is saying 27cm for friday!!
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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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Tomorrow will be ballroom skiing, according to a couple of gents that just wandered past our balcony
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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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Sounds perfect, I'm heading back out to Vallandry for the start of February, just booked the ferry tonight, can't wait
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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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MogulMonkey, mid-thigh?! perhaps on a small child...
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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ArseCaptain, down by the belette over the back of the hut off piste..there were some parts that were that deep.
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Morning y'all. Sun shining in Arc 2000 (ok its not but I can see it head over from the top of Bois). Lovely day, bodies are wrecked from boarding yesterday. Boarding is much more physically demanding than skiing. Going to have a lazy morning and head out about 11am, let the sun soften things first.
It is extraordinarily quiet this week, I have seen quiet here but this is the quietest I have seen. I do so love the French and their obsession with 2 hour lunch breaks. Its quiet but between 12-2 is ghost town. Ever seen Plagnette empty from top to bottom, between 12-2 this week fair chance you will. Late start and board through lunch, powered by chocolate and genope, is on the cards today.
How is work everyone?
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Only a couple of days left at work before catching a very early flight to Geneva on Saturday. I hope it's as quiet next week! 
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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 do the bulk of my skiing from Arc 1600. A lovely resort. And it really is my favourite.
The skiing is good and it is actually fairly easy to get else where in Les Arcs. Nowhere is more than 2 lifts away. Though the resort will be very quiet while you are there 1600 is the quietest ski area of Les Arcs (actually Villaroger is).
Though I have never stayed in the Cachette, the public rooms look very nice and comfortable. However, there does appear to be a lot of kids staying there when I have looked in.
If you have saved a lot of money by buying a late deal don't blow the savings on a paradiski lift pass. Just buy a pass for the Les Arcs area.
Some hints:
The Abrevoir (the bar the other side of the place of the dead tree) will have live music at least 2 nights you are there, but there will not be many people there. The Avri bar along the street has lovely panoramic views across the Isere valley and you can watch the twinkling lights of Bourg while enjoying an apres ski vin chaud.
The Arpette restaurant does an evening meal and torch light descent (but without the torches!) once a week.
The new "smoking Boar" restaurant just up the piste is also a good place for an Apres Ski drink.
The combettes lift (just outside the hotel) gives a short ski to the cachette lift and saves a 300m walk. The ski school meets att he bottom of the combettes lift.
Try the Mont Blanc piste as a warm up - a nice cruising gentle blue. The Deux Tetes piste offers a steep corner cut
If ever you miss the last lift in either 1800 or 2000 just get the navette back.
But from 1800 you should not need this. Take the Chantel lift (IIRC the last lift is after 1700) and cruise down the blue piste home in the gathering evening - lovely. After a tiring day my son prefers this gentle return rather than the Vagere.
The funicualr is more or less on your doorstep and Bourg has a good public swimming pool.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Oh and if you arrive early on Saturday or Sunday the Combettes lift is free at the weekend. It is only a beginners slope but it still steep enougth for real skiiing
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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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Thanks for the tips! Which piste is the Smoking Boar on?
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It is at the bottom of the Mont Blanc/Cachette/Source runs. To the right of the piste as you look down. You cannot miss it. It is the obviously new garish wood.
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You know it makes sense.
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Thanks
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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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johnE,
Brilliant information, thanks so much!!
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Poster: A snowHead
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| johnE wrote: |
| It is at the bottom of the Mont Blanc/Cachette/Source runs. To the right of the piste as you look down. You cannot miss it. It is the obviously new garish wood. |
They managed to nearly hide it, don't quite understand why it isn't further out onto the main part of the cachette run?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Ok, very late and lazy start to the day, we are on holiday. Put boards on at about 11.30am, went down to Bois, did the run under Arpette (the lift was shut?) and realised we were knackered after yesterdays boarding. Made our way down to 1800, up Transarc and did Plagnette down towards 2000, a steep challenging run on our boards. We went back into the apartment and got our skis and boots.
Decided to got to La Plagne about 1pm. 1st time this week we went down to Peisey, runs in very good nick. What have they done to the Vanoise, someone vomited on it and called it art? Also why have something with incredible views and then block them?
Skied down to Montchavin, icy (when isn't it?) but in good condition. Then back up and across to Plagne Bellecotte. the sun had gone it, it was freezzzzzzing. Quick spin back down Pierre Blanches and through Les Arcs and now back in 2000, thawing out. Sunny morning, bitterly cold afternoon. Clouds around, lets see what the night brings.
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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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thefatcontroller, They probably were not permitted to build it on the piste. You do have to leave the piste to get to it.
I agree totally about the Vanoise express - why have one of the best views in the world and then try and hide it? Perhaps that is why I don't understand art or fail to see why people complain that Les Menuires is ugly - at least I can see past them and appreciate the view of the mountains.
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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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Anyone ski grand col area today? we spent most of the morning there off piste and had a fantastic time - it must have snowed a lot there last night at it was almost all untracked when we first got there. Was going up Aiguille Rouge but line at the cable car was a long way out the station door so changed plan and came down cretes which was my first time down that run but and really enjoyed it - lots untracked but had a few scrapes on the bases on the way down.
thefatcontroller, the arpette lift was closed before lunch(not sure why) and by the time we had drink by the bottom of the arpette lift it had opened so we went up to go on the ours run but that was closed - strange because it had been skiied on a lot.
La plagne tomorrow - looking forward to seeing what they have done to the VE.
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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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The Derby lift was late opening; the operator said that there was a problem with one of the pylons near the top. Coming over from 1950 this meant that we had the fresh Belette piste more or less to ourselves (for our one run) before heading over to La Plagne. Agree with the comments about the Vanoise Express and the icy Montchavin run, except it was busy when we did it and not a lot of fun. We did 9 to 2:30, with one quick coffee stop and then called it a day, had a relaxing late lunch and watched the clouds roll in.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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jtr, Ooo Belette - the scene of my accident 2 years ago  My favourite run, prior to that!
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genepi, I hope a coincidence  but I was hit on Belette 2 years ago (also during the second week in January). I think there were only about 4 people on the run at the time and it must have required some skill on the part of the "dude" to track, intercept and bring down his target. It is still my favourite run though!
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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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MogulMonkey, We were about around the GC . Gorgeous morning and very quiet. Arpette was broken until after lunch.
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What a difference a few days makes. Look at the snow depths now. With more snow promised very soon.
SLOPE CONDITIONS: (Info ADS slope analysis at 8am on Sunday.)
Altitude 1620/1800 m 2040 m 2400 m 3000 m
Depth of snow: 68 cm 89 cm 130 cm 145 cm
Temperature -5, -9.5, -10.9, -12,
Avalanche Risk: (1 to 5): 2 Risk Limited.
Last Snowfall : 19 cm – Mardi 14 janvier 2014
Details sent to me today. It is starting to look a little better at last and getting colder. Let the snow keep coming!!
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FAQ
I achieved it all by myself. OH was the only other person around & he was well behind me when it happened (it was Christmas day).