 Poster: A snowHead
|
Martin Nicholas, ,i am going to les arcs on 2 feb first time quite nervous 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
|
|
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?
|
leesaloo, Welcome to  You'll have a great time in Les Arcs - where are you staying?
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
leesaloo, is that you Looo?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
Is it OK to ask about the Auigille Rouge on this thread?
I've heard it referred to as a classic piste but not sure if I'm good enough for the top bit - I'm always nervous on blacks  and think i've only really been on easier ones.
Can anybody advise on how hairy it is?
Thanks
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Thanks Gwaelod, great to see the picture and the advise to let the crowd go - looking at the piste map the key bit does seem to be the link above lanchettes where the red off the top swings away leaving just the black route for a while - is that the bit that rob@rar says isnt too bad? Though it must be black for a reason....?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
gwaelod, nice piccy's.
kewhoward as gwaelod says, its only the first 300m or so that is really steep, after that the red (? Arondelieres) and black share a huge snowfield, then red tracks off left, black goes onto road to the right. The black road is not the narrowest, but the drop off is a tad scary, although there are nets most of the way down. It is certainly not a blue "cat track", so you will need to have a reasonable level of fitness - which is probably a good maxim for the whole run.
The only problem with the snaking red route at the top is when condition are poor: then it is narrow and icy - a couple of times I've been there they have closed the black piste and forced everyone down the track, and to be honest, I'd rather go down the main pitch!
Once you get to Lanchettes, it's red again, although I think some of the mogul fields above Villaroger can get quite 'fun': again, if not your cup of tea, there is a track winding its way through the piste which can be used to avoid particularly 'exciting' bits.
But what makes it a challenge is sheer length: 7km and your legs do burn, and there are enough variations in terrain pitch and snow conditions (3000m down to 1500m - there are bound to be!) to make it a great experience and test of your skiing ability.
As with all blacks, it is so dependent on conditions - kitten or killer? - it can be both!
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Quote: |
Though it must be black for a reason....?
|
... marketing...
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
rob@rar, nice pics. I'm interested to know if they are using snow cannons on the lower slopes to patch up the icy bits, or are they saving water for later in the season?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
gwaelod, ah yes.... lunch is the main reason for any skiing run of that length - although I confess, it usually hot chocolate and tartiflette
geri, sorry if I gave the impression that you should try to make it top to bottom in one run ... er no - I simply don't believe that's possible for anyone! (OK, maybe the pro's...)
You are right: take your time, enjoy the views, and think of it simply as doing 10 runs without having to get a lift in between!
The Black above Lanchettes - its a road: its quite steep in parts, but not that steep, quite wide, interesting drops into the blacks in the 2000 bowl, (but netted where not a piste entrance) and nothing to be afeared of. If it wasn't for the approach from the top, I think it would probably be a red.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
| Martin Nicholas wrote: |
| rob@rar, nice pics. I'm interested to know if they are using snow cannons on the lower slopes to patch up the icy bits, or are they saving water for later in the season? |
Snow cannons are running every night for the last few days. Quite a pain as I had to ski through several of them at 8.30 this morning on my way to Vallandry for a 9am lesson.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
|
rob@rar, Are you working with New Gen? How do you get to Vallandry from your place before the lifts open?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
geri, shadowing lessons with them this week and last. From my place it's a 15 minute hike up the Chantel nursery slope then head across on the Belvedere then Foret pistes. It's a 10 minute ski, and is probably just as quick as catching one of the lifts out of 1800 and skiing back down to Vallandry.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
Has anyone had a go at the Avalanche parc training area at the top of the Transarc / Arcubelle? Its a shame that the training is midweek, because I really need to practice at the beginning of my trip.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
gwaelod,  I need to do 35 hours of shadowing before I move on to the next level of qualification. I've had several lessons with the head of the Vallandry bit of NewGen and he was happy to arrange some shadowing for me this trip. I don't think I'll ever be fully qualified to teach in France, so I won't be working for NewGen.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
gwaelod, that's right, even my 'commute' to 'work' today was rather enjoyable despite freezing temperatures and being blasted in the face by a few snow canons running full bore.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
'Martin Nicholas,
Yes, I had a "go" last season at the Avalanche Parc - it is exactly what it says on the Les Arcs web site. My wife & I were the only people who turned up on this particular day, so we had a free personal lesson in how to use Arva transmitters it was great fun trying to beat "her indoors" in finding the buried "bodies" using the Arva. Wel worth the effort, if only to make a few more people aware of the avalanche dangers in the mountains. Every ski resort should do it, and it should be made compulsory for youngsters taking lessons, once they get to the right level.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
yes them were the days. YTS........ young thick & stupid lol
jus kiddin
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
| rob@rar wrote: |
| The piste is Golf, one of the main reds that drops into Arc 1800, just to the right of the Vagere chair as you look up the hill. |
You are right for a piste just above 1800 it is dead
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
rob@rar ...............congratulations in advance for your 10000th post......................
better make a real good 'un , eh?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
|
sequoiaboard, thank you. I'll celebrate with a weather report: overcast today, and -3° at 1800m. Local forecast is for rising temperatures, higher winds and snow on Sunday/Monday.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
thefatcontroller, Sounds horrid. Wind and rain/wet snow. Having skied in both last February in La Rosiere, I would advise you, and your mates accross the valley, to have the day off
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
Frosty the Snowman, 100kph winds forecast in the Italian border area today
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
rob@rar, Congrats on 10,000 posts. 
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
wow- just loving those pics of les arcs! was there only a couple of years ago but it seems sooooo long ago! such a great place to ski, even without the vanoise down. literally laughed out loud when i saw that pic of the "mistimed" jump- had a couple of moments like that myself but who cares, the fun is in the trying, right?!
High possibility that i'll be skiing in la ros from the 19th of this month so I do hope the rain stays away and we get some good snow and lots of sunshine!
Keep the pics coming Rob- great to see what the conditions are actually like out there!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| papillion_rouge wrote: |
| Keep the pics coming Rob- great to see what the conditions are actually like out there! |
Glad you like them. I'm back in London for 10 days, but will post more photos when I'm in Les Arcs later this month.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
The narrow path at the top although steep isnt too bad for me - because you cant see the drop. Once it opens out there is loads of space & the views are amazing. You dont have to burn down at high speed - just take your time & enjoy the journey 
) so spent a bit of time in the snowpark. Some impressive stuff was on show:
. On piste is extensively hardpack, but good snowdepth so no stones or ground poking through. Seemed even quieter today, so perhaps some of the New Year crowd are beginning to leave the resort.
If it is not raining tell her to stick to the Ecudets chair as it is sheltered through the tress and the runs tree lined (and magnificent of course 
