 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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Hi,
Skied La Plagne today so not really a Les Arcs report (but pretty adjacent), the top up we had last night, IMHO, made a massive difference, skied some great snow, fresh powder over there, and not too busy on the 'harder' runs. On saying that, the blues and reds were very, very busy. Proportion of boarders / skiers was significantly different from Les Arcs, although I would say there was probably a lot more easily accessible untracked in La Plagne, perhaps.
bertie bassett, was that you in the Squirrel at about 5:30 today? Wasn't sure...
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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.
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allanm, Yes it was me
I thought todays conditions were 'loverly' - still some soft lumpy stuff around, the off-piste is largely tracked but I'm sure there was some 'breakable crust' if that was your bag...
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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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*** WATCH OUT THIEVING SCUM IN LES ARCS***
Watch out the ski-thieves are out in force in Les Arcs at the moment, one pr nicked from the porch of an appartment block in 1800 and and one pr nicked from outside the Peisey lift having been left for 10 minutes, whilst the kids were taken back to their chalets...
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bertie bassett, both from your group - sorry to hear that.
We had a pair go from Peisey once, but were returned quickly. Was a genuine "take the wrong pair" moment by someone
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Todays conditions were 'mostly good' - the pistes are still firm and there's lumps of fresh in places, but starting to get a little icy in high traffic areas - for example the lift line onto Cachette in 1600 is just solid ice. The classic 'short cut' to the arpette restaturant (leave the rock on the right) and cut offpiste, is really dodgy indeed and I think I did some damage to my bases unfortunately cutting across there. Still decent enough fun to be had on the pistes, but really need a topup now - soon to be shitty for boarders really...
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bertie bassett, Yes, totally agree, I did La Plagne most of the day, getting back to Les Arcs mid afternoon. Reds into Vallandry were quite icy and taking their toll. Quiet day though (as expected for a Saturday) so plenty of space. 'Dark side' of La Plagne was probably a boarders nightmare.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Thanks for the updates guys, please keep them coming - Taking the train out Saturday, so keeping a keen eye on the conditions.
Furgie
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One red into Vallandrt (Aigle/Eagle?) has been icy at the end of the day every time I've been on it.
Off there Sat as well
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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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You know it makes sense.
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Not being unduly pessimistic, but we need more snow.
I don't think the few centimetres that are forecast towards the end of the week will make a blind bit of difference - well maybe for a day at most. Everything is pretty tracked out, even the 'gems' where most don't go. Apart from around lunchtime many runs are very icy, and obviously giving both boarders and skiers problems. The advice from my last lesson - 'keep you weight, downhill, over your skies' has paid off in no uncertain terms
This week is completely different from last, today was exceptionally quiet, not a lift queue in site (apart from Vallandry - see pic). I'm back to the UK tomorrow for two weeks, and I'm not toooo unhappy.
On a different note, for these with season passes the Mont Blanc has stopped cards, but Maximas and the Squirrel (amonst others) are still doing 'something' - ask.
Couple of pics, Vallandry lift queue this afternoon -and pretty much the same all day:-
And another just illustrating the hoards on piste today:;
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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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Looking forward to more updates as out for a week from 10th. Plus any advice of where to go around Les Arcs that's off the well ridden pistes (judging by photos above) most welcome. Seem to remember being told to go down under the cable car is a good run down to 1800? Cheers. K
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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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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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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| thefatcontroller wrote: |
| We are not good enough nor do we know the place well enough to go off piste on our own so as a treat every holiday we fork out for a private lesson to see some new sights. Brillant investment. |
If you want to be taken to places that you won't find on your own you should join the Ski Club of GB as one of the guys who does some of the guiding for the Club, snowcrazy, knows the place like the back of his hand and will take you all over for much less than it costs to pay for a private lesson.
Difficult to learn anything when your sphincter takes on a life of its own 
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rob@rar, Ah didn't know he was. Will look into when we get back. Thanks. Yes my sphincter said no when he wanted us to drop into genepi later (a vat of genepi would have been nicer). Tired and was asking for a fall so we came back the sensible way.
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So who is this "Snowcrazy" would you provide the contacts please..... jI am ust about to book 2.5 hour lesson which is an astonomical Euro 135 (i.e. 135 pounds!). Can not afford to have many of those.
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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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Hey all, just a quick one, appoligies if this ends up in the wrong thread, i'm out in arc 1950 on the 17th however and we're taking the In -Laws this year (they dont ski but want to take in the senery etc etc...) Is it easy to get around the villages by bus? to be honest ive only been to 1950 once before and never had any reason to use it.
Also does anyone know how much is it for a pedestrian life pass as we would like to take them up to the restuarant on the Arcabulle or something similar?
Anyway cheers and roll on the 17th 
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karlos the boarder, you can get info via the Ski Club website. One word of warning though, he's currently injured so not running a normal programme of guiding. I think he's guiding for another week in Les Arcs, then another rep will take over duties. The Ski Club Rep's 'Office Hour' is 6-7pm in Bar Bou Bou in Charvet, Arc 1800.
If you want a lessons you should book an instructor, but if you want guiding about the ski domain the Ski Club rep service might be suitable for you.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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nisaacs, there is a pedestrian friendly lift between Arc 1950 and Arc 2000 (not sure if this is free or not for pedestrians), and from there they could walk up the piste to the Chalet de l'Arc restaurant. There is also a resort shuttle bus which runs from Arc 1950 to Arc 1600 (and from there they could catch the funicular down to Bourg St Maurice, or the shuttle bus to Arc 1800).
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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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Cheers rob@rar , with a pedestrian lift pass can they use any of the lifts around 1950, eg Bois De l'ours ( i think looking at the map) or can they only use a specific ones?
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| rob@rar wrote: |
| nisaacs, there is a pedestrian friendly lift between Arc 1950 and Arc 2000 (not sure if this is free or not for pedestrians), .................... |
Yes free for all, called Cabriolet, no passes needed. Runs from about 8am to 11pm.
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You know it makes sense.
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Great.. cheers!
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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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nisaacs, One thing worth investing in up this high is a pair of snow boots. I bought a pair in Aldi for £15 before we left. It is very icy and walking about can be a bit treacherous (went for walk not long after ariving in civy street shoes, flatish plastic soles, fun but more than 15 mins and I would have broken a limb slipping).
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Poster: A snowHead
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rob@rar that's cool. will go via web site as we're staying up in 2000 and don't want to get stuck in 1850... We need a bit of early tuition to iron out those pesky few errors that always return when you jump on your board after a year off. So after that we'll lask for a guide... we were in Les Arcs 2000 last year and 1600 year before so know the terrain quite well... now looking for making some great lines in the snow like your pics... roll on the 10th... and a big dump of snow for quite a while... (We hd an couple of cms in London last night !) Cheers for hlep. Now all we need is to know which are the great places to dart thru the trees or safely decend between the pistes... suggestions please...
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| karlos the boarder wrote: |
| Now all we need is to know which are the great places to dart thru the trees |
The trees underneath the Mont Blanc lift always provide lots of fun. They are a bit tight, but that adds to the challenge, and apart from the 20ft unsighted drop-off somewhere in the middle it seems relatively benign. Lots of opportunities for gentle tree skiing above Vallandry off the Derby lift. For steeper terrain head underneath the Bois de l'Ours lift towards 1950; above Villaroger (although take care not to stray into the nature reserve as you can have your lift pass confiscated), and either side of the Rouelles black down to 1600. Check my blog report (link in my signature) on New Year's Day for some off-piste photos a short traverse off the Aiguille Rouge piste towards Vallandry.
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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, The SuperU in Bourg is a good place for buying reasonably priced walking boots. I bought a pair there a couple of years ago: decent grip and a goretex-like liner for €19.
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rob@rar, We are heading out to your lovely apartment in Feb and our son has discovered his friend is staying up in 1950 the same week. Is there a way of them meeting up in the evening? Does the bus run in the evening?
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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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Hi ruthie, there are shuttle buses which run between 1800 and 1600, and between 1600 and 1950 but I'm not to sure how late these run into the evening. I'd guess it would take the best part of an hour, especially if you had to wait for the bus at 1600.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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rob@rar, ruthie, From Les Arcs website
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Throughout the winter, regular shuttle service mean you can travel free of charge from 7 am till 7.30 pm between the ski resorts of Les Arcs (Arc 1600, Arc 1800, Arc 1950 and Arc 2000) and also with the cable car between Arc 1950 and Arc 2000.
From Bourg Saint Maurice, Free regular shuttle service, from Bourg St Maurice to the foot of Les Ecudets chairlift (ski access for La Rosière), passing through Séez. There’s also a free service from Bourg St Maurice to Landry, passing through Hauteville-Gondon. |
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ruthie, you'll find many of the seasonaires in both 1800 and 1950 will be travelling between the villages of an evening - usually they seem to leave the bars in 1950 about 11pm to make it back to the other places, including BstM so it shouldn't be a major problem to hitch from one to the other if the buses are shut for the night. Just got to open mouth and ask the right questions. OTOH they also run very early in the morning if floor crashing is the last option...
nisaacs, to get to the ice grotto you in laws will need to go around to 1800 on the bus, and then up the trans arc - IIRC it is the only pedestrian friendly way to the top. Bois d l'Ours, Marmottes, Arcabulle at all 6 man detachables, but I doubt v much that they'll let you on sans sliding equipment.
But as Rob and Fat say, cabriolet to 2000 and walk to Chalets de les Arcs. Or down to Pre St Esprit either bus or on foot (reasonable walk along/ slightly off the piste side) and there are great restaurants at both places for meeting up with skiers for lunch / elevenses.
thefatcontroller, Matieu is one of the less crazy ones! You should be glad you didn't get Valarie. Now she's mad, she is...
Looking forward to seeing your block up close and personal in 2 weeks time - leave some snow for us pls.
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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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Update on forecast. Just been out for walk and definitely snowing now at 2,000m. Very light but still snow. Lots of clouds around so can't see this moving during the day  . Better than nothing.
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thefatcontroller, the few inches (maybe 3 at most) we had on New Year's Eve made a big difference, so here's hoping for a few more today. Are those pistes really icy, or just very hardpacked? I've been delighted to encounter no ice on piste in this area so far, though plenty on the pavements. We have friends who arrived yesterday, experienced skiers but not skied for a couple of years since an injury. My friend has vast long skis - must be at least 15" taller than her - she's reluctant to try modern skis but I think I'm going to try to persuade her. Though I suppose that length could be quite useful on hard pistes - and there's no chance of much off piste. Your place sounds great; glad you're pleased with it.
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FAQ
still I`ve got loads to read up on!! 
thanks the fatcontroller we will probably try restraunts in a number of the villages around the La Plagne area. Where you going this year??
Have a great time there - we're out on the 17th 
. Took them for 2 runs in the 2000 bowl but by this point you could have cut my toes of with a blunt knife and I would not have noticed.
Some light stuff promised during the day so will let you know later. Think for the first time ever skiing I am going to put thermals on today supposed to be brutally cold. Thinking of heading over towards Montchavin and staying low today. More later, got to go, croissants been delivered. 
