Poster: A snowHead
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phhun wrote: |
Interesting changes coming for RdM. Looking at this year's piste map, is there a new red from the top of Rossa chair off Crepines to Levasset piste. Is this to bypass the 'shelf' at Carella/Killis? |
It’s actually been there a couple of years. I think it appeared the winter after we were closed for Covid. It’s a nice little link off the top of rossa, can get quite modules but also catches a lot of snow in the bowl so good for a few nice turns after a dump
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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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Still trying to get an idea of what pistes will likely be open from 14th December (opening week). For example would any of the runs down to Montalbert be open and what about the Roche chair ? Also what about on the Chamagny side, would Borseliers and Rossa chairs be likely to be running ?
Thanks for any info and I'm being a bit wary as once went to Courchevel with Crystal opening week and virtually everything was closed (plenty of snow). Ended up hiring a car to drive to Meribel (was ok) and Val Thorens (very good) before then heading off to Tignes (superb).
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@Jammy 07, https://en.la-plagne.com/discover/ski-area
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Montalbert, Champagny-en-Vanoise and Montchavin - Les Coches: from 14 December 2024 to 21 April 2025 |
Not every piste will be open but I don't envisage a general issue. Not sure what was going on in Courch when you were there. Yes, I'd certainly expect Borseliers and Rossa, and Roche to be running.
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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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@Layne,
Many thanks.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Are there normally early bird discounts available for weekly and season passes and if so, when do they normally come on sale?
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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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Have booked a private transfer using Findtransfers.com from Grenoble Airport to La Plagne one way for 290 euro (4 persons). No idea if it will be any good or reliable as first time using but it's cash/card on the day to the driver.
All I can add is I've now received the contact details for the driver (email and whatsapp) and everything is confirmed so fingers crossed.
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Booked ski train for Mid Jan, but can't find the timetables for navette from Aime up to the resort ... anyone know where they are ?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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boredsurfin wrote: |
Snowing at 3000m today |
Real start of the season !
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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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Jammy 07 wrote: |
Have booked a private transfer using Findtransfers.com from Grenoble Airport to La Plagne one way for 290 euro (4 persons). No idea if it will be any good or reliable as first time using but it's cash/card on the day to the driver.
All I can add is I've now received the contact details for the driver (email and whatsapp) and everything is confirmed so fingers crossed. |
Sounds slightly sketchy, there are lots of dodgy non-french transfer companies operating from Latvia etc, with lots of horror stories. Drivers over worked and not slept, not turning up for jobs etc.
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You know it makes sense.
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timlongs wrote: |
Jammy 07 wrote: |
Have booked a private transfer using Findtransfers.com from Grenoble Airport to La Plagne one way for 290 euro (4 persons). No idea if it will be any good or reliable as first time using but it's cash/card on the day to the driver.
All I can add is I've now received the contact details for the driver (email and whatsapp) and everything is confirmed so fingers crossed. |
Sounds slightly sketchy, there are lots of dodgy non-french transfer companies operating from Latvia etc, with lots of horror stories. Drivers over worked and not slept, not turning up for jobs etc. |
Thanks for the comments and yes I'm definitely a little skeptical and concerned about how this will all pan out. Firstly hopefully they'll turn up, which they might not if a better fare is on offer elsewhere, plus there's then the issue of driver/vehicle safety. Anyway let's see and as I've now got a return booked with them it's either going to be plain sailing, or complications and potential disaster at some point.
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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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Thanks for sharing that pack. Very informative and interesting.
We are brown baggers so looking forward to using the new picnic room in December.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Good that La Plagne is spending money on decent picnic facilities. Les Arcs has a nice picnic room in Arc 1950, and the one built a few years ago at the top of the Vallandry gondola is amazing, even has a little museum of mountain animals to add some interest.
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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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Got a note from the sales team to say tickets will go on sale 19/9/24
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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rob@rar wrote: |
Good that La Plagne is spending money on decent picnic facilities. Les Arcs has a nice picnic room in Arc 1950, and the one built a few years ago at the top of the Vallandry gondola is amazing, even has a little museum of mountain animals to add some interest. |
That picnic spot is absurdly well done isn't it? Feels almost an injustice calling it a picnic spot. It even has vending machines selling beaufort, wine and... knives.
Does anyone know if the glacier is typically not prepped to be open for the opening week(s)? Last season I was disappointed when it wasn't yet open in mid Dec, but that could likely have been due to the new gondola not being fully operational yet.
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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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@Ruswit, Last it was late opening because they were still getting their safety certificates and stuff.
Finally opened 29th December.
Would have thought it would be open from the get go this year.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Fingers crossed, makes me feel more confident booking an earlier trip in Dec if the higher altitude stuff is all available.
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what dates? When I look now just the usual price.
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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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yeah it shows the normal price until you click on it and add your details and the dates you want in
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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yeah that site. its working for me, my dates were 26/1/25 for 6 days, add a participant and search and it gives you the options
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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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Trying to do 22nd-27th December, possibly all the bargain ones have gone already?
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yeah looks like they have, I tried my dates again and its now up to €334
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You know it makes sense.
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drat! Should have been more on the ball.
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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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On the Les Arcs website the discounted prices only apply to low season weeks. School holiday weeks are not discounted by much, if at all.
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Poster: A snowHead
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that makes sense
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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 everyone. I'll be staying in La Plagne (Belle Plagne) with a mixed ability group the last week of January. Never been to La Plagne before as I keep getting outvoted and instead we go to Val Thorens (which is of course lovely but I fancy a change). This year, I've finally won! We're doing a self drive on the Friday, spending a night in a hotel in Chambery and then hope to get up into the resort by about 9 on the Saturday morning.
We've booked the full Paradiski passes because the current promotion meant they were actually cheaper than the one for just La Plagne. How feasible is it to ski much is Les Arcs from Belle Plagne? It doesn't look all that far on the map but these things can be deceiving. I'm also conscious not to overface the couple of beginners in our group by marching us all off there if it's not suitable.
Would one of you more seasoned local experts mind filling me in on any dos and don'ts for staying there? Piste recommendations, lifts to avoid, quirks of the village etc.
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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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@PrinceJohn, good skiers will have no problem skiing to Les Arcs and back, and ski plenty of runs while there. To reach the Vanoise Express is just the Arpette chair and a short rope tow. Competent blue run skiers should also be able to get there and back, provided you are careful to pick the right route, but complete beginners would probably struggle.
Most of Belle Plagne is ski-in / ski-out. Beginners will have lessons near the village. Others ski out by dropping down to the lifts at Bellecote. In 2025 you should be able to also use the intermediate stop on the Roche de Mio gondola for the last time, although this sometimes has a longish wait for an empty cabin. Many people ski back via the top of Arpette. The Blanchets/ Quillis chairs or Col de Forcle offer an alternative approach, but may need the steep Tyrolienne drag to reach the higher parts of the village.
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PrinceJohn, what ecureuil says is good advice.
Belle Plagne is an excellent choice: I used to stay there every year the last week in January throughout the 2010s. Always had a good week.
You are quite right to be wary of "marching" your beginners off to Les Arcs too early.
As you are a mixed ability group, presumably the better skiers could bomb off to Les Arcs and check out the route, while the beginners potter around more locally to Belle Plagne.
You will actually find there is more than enough to ski in La Plagne, but a trip over the Les Arcs is a fun adventure.
Definitely don't miss out on the Champagny sector with has runs perfect for a mixed ability group.
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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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@ecureuil @Jonpim thanks very much for the tips
In terms of more intermediate/ advanced skiers, do you have any recommendations for pistes/ zones which are "must dos"? Either in La Plagne or Les Arcs?
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Well PrinceJohn, my favourite runs may not be your favourite runs, but if they are open:
Étroits (top right of piste map, off steep Cretes drag) always feels like a real adventure.
Rochu (top left, off top of Glaciers 2 gondola) is definitely an adventure.
And the wide areas beside Inversens and Teppes pistes are glorious after new snow (Inversens and Crozats lifts).
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@PrinceJohn, does any of the group ski off piste?
In terms of pistes my personal favs:
La Plagne:
Sources
Verdons
Emile Allais
Mont Blanc
Esselet
Les Arcs:
Aguille Rouge
Grand Col
Combe
Ours
Grand Renard
But that is stuff plucked out the air and we ski off piste a lot.
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@Layne
Thanks for that! I always like to make a little plan of pistes I'd like to try. Something to keep me going before the trip!
None of us really do much off piste at all apart from the occasional little foray a few dozen yards either side of the piste, certainly not without a local guide.
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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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Not skiing related, but strong rumours a stage of the 2025 TDF will have a summit finish at La Plagne
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