 Poster: A snowHead
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been here a few days and every piste his been skiable
however we have now had two good dumps, its all good 
been loving the Head Titans, great on everything, superb on piste and great in the powder too
there is so much to ski just off the piste for people like me that are just venturing away from the bashed stuff
had a fantastic acrobatic crash today, a forward 360,
nice to meet Chris is George's this afternoon, might catch you tomorrow
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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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Not goood news to anyone travelling out,
It's been lightly raining in 1800 and the snow at the bottom of the mountain is a bit wet. It's quite warm here, after so much snow fell bit of a shame.
Conditions up the mountain are still really good, went from the top of aguille rouge all the way to Vallandry, but do not think it will be possible today!
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I am probably not going out now until April but this is turning into a nightmare season with these warm, wet spells. What a bummer.
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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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I booked last night for a week in April (9th) staying at 1800, so I'll be keeping my eye on the thread. Hoping it stays cold/snowy for the rest of the winter!
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| Layne wrote: |
| a nightmare season |
I don't think so. A couple of warm and wet spells isn't great, but there have been cold and snowy spells too, and it's not even mid-January so any judgement about the season seems a bit premature to me.
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rob@rar, sure. But I like to get my bids in early 
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| Blue_Owl wrote: |
Conditions up the mountain are still really good, went from the top of aguille rouge all the way to Vallandry, but do not think it will be possible today! |
I'd noticed that epic descent on the piste map, but how hard is the black at the top? Not everyone in our group is fully confident on blacks yet, but it would be a great run down the mountain to do if possible.
As a more general question, for someone who has never been to the resort before, assuming the conditions are reasonable where are the best places to head for some not-too-taxing off piste? Only just starting to venture off piste really, so want to break myself in gently!
Apologies if these kind of posts should go elsewhere, but I couldn't find any existing threads that matched, and there seem to be lots of people based in Les Arcs here!
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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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| tjdcollins wrote: |
| I'd noticed that epic descent on the piste map, but how hard is the black at the top? |
Most of it is very straightforward, and probably isn't a black run for most of it's length. The only tricky bit is the first 100m which is narrow, steeper than the rest of the piste and is usually scraped to hardpack snow. It can be a bit intimidating, not least because of the number of other skiers slithering their way down.
If you do take your group up and some really don't like it they can easily head back down on the cablecar. For those who don't want to ski the top section you can meet them at the top of the Lanchettes chairlift (departs from Arc 2000) and then ski down to Villaroger together.
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How do you get from top of AR to Vallandry? Don't you mean Villaroger?
Vallandry from AR would require at least one lift to get you into the right valley.
The top of AR is fine and as rob says only a little bit which is nasty - I did it with twin 9 year olds
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| Boris wrote: |
| The top of AR is fine and as rob says only a little bit which is nasty - I did it with twin 9 year olds |
Yes but they've both probably got a couple of years more skiing under thier belt than me.
Today Thursday
Lower down.... fog, heavy wet snow.
Higher up.. Still OK, but getting heavier.. everywhere. If you watch the aspect of the slopes there is still plenty off the Vager (and G Col) although you can very unexpectedly hit horrible sludge as you get lower down. Never encountered this before.. you're skiing down... all is fine, and then you're sprayed in the face with bits of ice coming off your skis...????
Not unduly unhappy about having to return home this weekend - looking at the forecast... best bring your speedos if you're out next 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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allanm, they have but I'm a big fat, balding scaredy cat so can't be that bad!
Speedos packed
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Yes, I meant Villaroger... always confuse this with Vallandry,
There is a steep black section of the run, but it's not too bad, just very narrow.
The black runs have hard pack modals with fresh snow in the gaps, quite ok to ski on, but some of the modals are huge!
The snow up to about 2000 has been wet, above that compact powder on hard pack.
Best snow is on the Aguille Rouge trail which are all very high up. Conditions in the rest of the resort change as you go down the mountains.
Off to La Plange tomorrow! 
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You know it makes sense.
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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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Just leaving for the airport, very excited about getting on my board for first time this season. First lift in the morning !
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Poster: A snowHead
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snowcrazy, Will poke my head in to Georges over the weekend to say hi.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Not unhappy to go home tomorrow, there is still a good snow to be had, but not everywhere. Actually, on reflection, although we had the 'dump' last weekend , I think the two weeks before were actually better.... in terms of fun.
Went out with a ski club rep today, ignored my advice (in no uncertain terms) and took us to Peisey / Vallandry first - where we had just skied from!!? It was obvious high was best.. hey Ho. Still have my fillings.....just.
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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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allanm, Hope you enjoyed the rest of the day with him. Have a good trip home tomorrow. I agree, first weeks were better for fun, you have to be so careful out there now. Let me know when you are back so we can do some more powder. Love those photos.
Last few days have been fun as well and some great powder up high. We have been doing quite a bit and covered a large part of the paradiski area, finishing today with the North face of bellecote, but by one of the easier and safer routes. Pics coming soon on my facebook group for those interested.
There was an avalanche in Les Arcs yesterday on one of the back couliors into the park, one person caught but he was dug out in time and is in hospital I believe. If everyone in the group does not carry the gear, then there is little chance of getting them out in time. This accident shows just how important it is that everyone carry all the gear. Please learn from this and all carry transceiver, shovel and probe at the very least. ABS bags as well would be even better. Ski safely out there.
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Or, alternatively, just as a thought, don't go off piste just at present.
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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.
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Hey guys just had a quick question - am coming to les arcs from 5-12th feb and very much looking forward to it. is there anywhere that would be showing the superbowl like a sports bar with a late license etc? its on the 6th feb so just wondering.
thanks!
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Sandeep170, welcome to 
whereabouts are you staying? - if in 1950 it will be on in Luigi's and / or possibly Georges. Don't forget it's an hour later in France so don't get too many beers in prior to kick off!
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BMF_Skier, a week is a long time, just keep reading the updates I post, still plenty of snow around.
Sandeep170, where will you be based?
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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 thanks for the replies!
I'm at 1800....thanks everyone!
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Hi all,
Just back from La Plagne, didnt get over to Les Arc at all cos the snow was too bad lower down to bother getting all the way down then over the vanoise cable.
For anyone that is heading out to La Plagne this week here is my little report as I couldnt find a La Plagne specific forum.
We had loads of snow on Sunday evening night but the cover on the ground was so hardpacked and tracked out off the piste that it didnt really improve the conditions off piste below about 1800m, you jsut went straight through to very hard packed snow.
Snowed hard again on Tuesday and this time it made a real difference down to about 1600 Id say. Problem was it then rained all the way upto 1800/1900 on the Wednesday night and on Thursday the melt was in full progress at our chalet at Plagne Soleil (1950).
Best snow is up the glacier and anything off piste below about 1700 even if un tracked is now heavy and baked after getting some rain on it and then all day sunshine on Friday and Saturday.
The best run we went to was off the Traverse lift...follow the cat track off the lift and down the first slope to the inevitable flat section (more flat sections in La Plagne than I have ever seen) which narrows to another cat track. At the first bend there is a warning sign marking an unpatrolled area. Traverse left then enter the bowl in one of three places. The furthest along the ridge is where most people seem to go and has a very easy entry. If you stay higher when traversing there is a metal pole. Entering here is harder as its a steeper entry and does have rocks which can poke through. If you are feeling more adventurous you can walk higher up the ridge and then enter via a more narrow and steeper colouir, though the valley that this empties into is accessible very easily from the more easy 'pole' entry point by just traversing hard left once you get in.
All these entry points empy out into a large bowl that is very safe for all levels once the steeper entry had been navigated. You can see the lift you are aiming for, old slow two man, which takes you back to the mid station of the Bellcote cable. The Bellecote cable takes the last skier UP the glacier at 15:25 but stays open till at least 16:30, one lifty I spoke to said they wait till the pistuers are sure there is no-one left on the glacier. The small two man which brings you back shuts at 16:10, though I saw it open later and close earlier!
The snow up there is still good but getting tracked especially lower down as more people get funnelled into a smaller area. At the top where it is still quite steep it was still loads of fun on Friday afternoon as most tracks were going straight down!
Other good spots were the hike from the top of Rossa (easy to spot from the lift on the left hand side) which gives you access to a large wide slope, drop in whereever you want from what I could tell, and all the stuff from the edge of Les Sources which funnels into the Tunnel run (with more excellent flat bits - why..?!?!). You can also enter a small hike from Sources which leads to a long left traverse into a bowl that follows down to skiers left of the Roche De Mio cable and empties into Belle Plagne. This has a fairly technical entry into an easy bowl. Beware that once you finish the hike and start to enter the colouir the more direct looking entry has a large ridge of rocks going right across. Its better to traverse high left and cross the first little ridge and then cut back right to come out below that line of rocks (will make sense when you see it).
Have fun and be safe.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Sandeep170, go to Bar King Mad in Arc 1800 in the Villard area on the square upper level. Much easier to find than it sounds. They should be showing the game. Might see you there.
kangarolf, good report but I think there needs to be a few safety points added. I agree that areas below 1900m have been rained on and have a crust, but they can still be interesting to ski and now that the sun is out these areas are starting to become more skiable again.
We have also been skiing the glacier area for the last few days since the fresh snow came. The entry at the top of the first section mentioned has become very icy and is quite steep. Take great care as a fall here would hurt a great deal. The first entry point mentioned is very steep and in current conditions the pisteurs advise that steeper slopes (i.e. anything over 25 degrees) should be avoided or skied with great care. The entry from the traverse mentioned is a high avalanche risk area at times with a steep north facing entry which has week layers at present. If you enter here take a very conservative line.
In current conditions taking off your skis/snowboards to walk on hard packed or icy snow and rocks to enter at higher points is not a very good idea in my opinion as the chances of falling and being unable to stop yourself are very high. My advice, if you cannot get to an entry point without taking your skis/snowboard off, do not go there.
Finally, unless you are very experienced off piste and know this area well, then you really should take a guide. There is a very large sign warning you that this is an unsecured off piste area and you ski there at your own risk. Please all remember to all take your transceivers, shovels and probes as they may save your /others lives. Although conditions are improving, it is still unstable in some areas and slides are possible. There have been a number of avalanches in the La Plagne area in the last few days and a number of people including a Ski Instructor, I believe, have been caught although all have been rescued without major injury.
Stay safe out there.
For anyone coming out to Les Arcs or even the La Plagne area of the paradiski. Each morning at about 8.30am there is an English version of the local weather and snow report for the day direct from the SMA on the mountain to help you plan your day out. The link to my facebook group to read this daily post is below. Hope it helps make your holiday even more enjoyable.
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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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snowcrazy, Is there any chance you could post the SMA daily report here? I think that would be most useful. I couldn't locate it on the Facebook page.
Updated: Now located, it's on the page listed as Wall.
OMG - Yesterday +7 degC 1600-1800M , im not sure it was that warm in the UK !!
3 days to go ...............
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BMF_Skier, The daily update is posted on the wall of my facebook group page (link below) which if you sign up too will go direct to you when I hit the share button I have been told. But you need to wait until I get up and do it as I have to put it into English. Today I had a little lay in 
On Sunday some of us did a cruise of the whole Les Arcs pisted areas and also the snow park, boarder cross, all race pistes and Flying K (KL) areas. After the sun of the last few days in some places there is now a layer of firm chalky snow. In other places it is very hard packed with icy patches, but it is still possible to ski down to all stations in the Les Arcs domain including Villaroger by the blue pistes although this is also very icy and has some bare patches towards the bottom. More details of specific areas and the off piste conditions will be posted later today.
Arvi training this Tuesday (tomorrow) in Les Arcs, see thread in discussion section of my facebook group for details.
http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=134900026541300&topic=170
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You know it makes sense.
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Back at work today from excellent week in les arcs.
Think, considering the conditions so far this year, we struck it pretty dam lucky.
still from one of our vids kinda says it all...
Tux
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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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| BMF_Skier wrote: |
snowcrazy, Is there any chance you could post the SMA daily report here? I think that would be most useful. I couldn't locate it on the Facebook page.
Updated: Now located, it's on the page listed as Wall.
OMG - Yesterday +7 degC 1600-1800M , im not sure it was that warm in the UK !!
3 days to go ............... |
it was 14°C where I live in the UK (Lincoln) yesterday !
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Poster: A snowHead
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| Quote: |
it was 14°C where I live in the UK (Lincoln) yesterday !
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Is that just north of Bourg St Maurice? 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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BMF_Skier, Dont forget it was colder in the Uk at New Year than it was in the Alps!
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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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We've had another great holiday here in LA, and I would just like to say thanks to Snowcrazy for posting all the info he receives on Facebook, it really helped us plan our days and we feel we got the best out of the resort, even though we know it quite well. Roll on next year, and I hope you get the snow you need in the coming few days. See you in 2012!!
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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macduff, pleased you found it helpful, that is why I post those details each day. Hope to see you next year.
tuxpoo, quite agree, great snow and as long as you are careful loads of places to ride. Give me a call next time you are out so if I am free we can go ride some places.
Did not do the Challenge today as I had planned. Instead I tested some skis. The new Dynastar Sultan 85 (Legend) that came out end of last season. Very nice, wish there was deep powder to really test them out, but they were very good holding an edge on the steep chalky snow off piste today.
We skied around the various off piste areas of Les Arcs back down into resort today. The snow higher up in all the north/north west facing slopes where there has been little sun or wind seem to have become this hard chalky base. Great for turning on even when steep if you can hold your edge, but not good to fall on as you could slide a long way. On the slopes facing the sun or where there has been rain lower down, the snow still has a crust in some places where it keeps freezing and melting then re- freezing each night. Very interesting to ski. Maybe not what you would call fun mind.
The pistes are still all hard packed and icy in places, but all areas are passable with care. Even down to Villaroger on the blue if you do not mind the blue ice. More snow would be good, but it is still not that bad for mid Jan, although this warm spell is more like March or April weather.
The weather people say it might start to change later in the week and bring a little snow. We will just have to wait and see. 
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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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Hi all, nearing our departure date for a week staying at Les Arcs 2000 from this weekend, and I'm keeping a keener eye on the forecasts.
The snow-forecast.com 6-day forecast looks promising, forecasting some snow pretty much every day between now up to the weekend, with temps dropping. Any other forecast sites worth checking to help get my hopes up further?!
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Yeah, same we leave on Saturday for Arcs 2000. Desperate for a bit more snow!!!
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Travelling to Villaroger on Saturday for 4 days - forecast is looking up, let's keep our fingers crossed for some new snow.
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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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| rhsr wrote: |
| ....The snow-forecast.com 6-day forecast looks promising, forecasting some snow pretty much every day between now up to the weekend, with temps dropping. Any other forecast sites worth checking to help get my hopes up further?!.... |
Try Here... probably a little less optimistic than snow-forecast though 
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allanm, Still looking up though and the temperature is much better
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FAQ
So bring it on !
