 Poster: A snowHead
|
JimW, sounds like you had a great day. As for powder skiing you should try to meet up for one of our off piste fun days. PM me if you are interested, they are not all full on hard stuff. Every other day we do easier things so everyone can join in.
Today we found some great powder, behind A.R. Did a little walk in the mist/fog then dropped off the ridge and ended up down near Villaroger. Great snow at the top. Light powder and no tracks until we were almost in sight of the forest. The mist and fog came and went giving a very spooky feel to the whole trip. At times the sun came out but then it started snowing again. There is nothing quite like skiing in falling snow.
With the great snow depth it was even possible to go down off piste on Droset the steep way through the barriers. Untracked most of the way.
Did a bit of other stuff but today was a real powder day, finshed at the altiport for some free entertainment with the waterslide, when will they learn not to fall over. JimW, have you tried it yet?
Tonight they say the snow will continue to fall and tomorrow will be a bit mixed, then the sun should be out for a perfect weekend. Well that's what one weather site says anyway. I will look out the window in the morning and see.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
Hi Everyone, At the last moment I've just persuaded work to let me loose again week commencing 12th April for yet another week!!!! I’ve been over here (Les Arcs) 6 weeks so far this season, and decided to squeeze the last bit out of my season pass. Anyway…. I’m looking for accommodation anywhere in Les Arcs or Nancroise (Not BSM) for that week just for myself. If anyone has any recommendations – or better – empty apartments (or pointers), please let me know.
Thanks, Allan
P.S. applogies if this isn't the place to ask this sort of thing, please correct me.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
Another great day. Today we went to the North Face of Bellcote. Only one word to descibe the trip. AMAZING  1 km or something like that of uncut powder and there is still room to put down more lines. Snow at the top was light, getting heavier on the way down, but still good until hitting the track at the bottom. Back in les Arcs later in the day, still good snow to resort stations and up top some great powder. If you want to walk, there are still lots of places to find fresh snow. They say more snow is on the way. let's hope they are correct.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
kewhoward, what happened about the passport?????? Sounds like a good trip.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
HI pam w, thanks for asking - see http://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?t=38164&highlight= for the sordid story of incompetence from ground staff, UK Emmigration officials and softy French douniers that let my wife (who could easily have been an international terrorist travelling on a forged passport that was two days out of date) travel repeatedly (well, twice) across international boundaries on commercial airliners. Also - she skied the best I've ever seen her ski - so maybe the lesson is to let your passport expire, run the adrenaline trip of trying to get on board and see how it improves your skiing if you make it (shouldn't think it would help much if you don't though)
Also - I wasn't meant to talk about it! However, I'm pretty sure that our experience will reduce the the chance of any  accidentally letting a passport expire!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
kewhoward,
did you get down to 1950?
Am still here, starting on week 2 Been indoors working all morning, primarily because my v big project goes live today ( and I'm here, not there). The foehn came in yesterday, (amazing the warmth of the wind when on a lift - you could really tell it was the snow-eater) wiped about 40 - 50cm off the base according top the daily depth levels, but...
another reason for being on line right now is well, its been snowing all day, and visibility is v. poor.
In fact its snowing awfully hard. and despite a small reluctance to pop out, this afternoon and tomorrow look like being a real blast!!
Oooooh baby. more powder to play in. Will let you know how its going when I get back to the screen.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
JimW, We did indeed and what a strange place we thought it. Not in a bad way but it reminded me of Celebration in Florida - a Disney owned and controlled village. Also, we struggled to get food there outside of core hours (some of us had lessons 12:30 to 2:30). However, we liked Luigi's bar and the creperie (where you could eat anytime). The prices are noticeably higher than LA2K - understandable since 1950 is the 21st Century vesrion of poor old 1970s (?) Les Arcs 2000. The Cabriolet lift from 1950 to 2000 is a bit slow between trips isn't it? And how strange that a pedestrian lift dumps you in the middle of a piste?!.
How about a drag up from Marmottes / Bois de L'Ours to 1950? A couple of times we were caught out by arriving at the bottom of Edelweiss piste, 50m below the town centre and being lazy we had to go up Marmottes and back down - a 15 min trip. Funnily enough the lift linkage design at Les Arcs 2000 has similar issues (though the problem is flat bits rather than uphill bits there)
All in all I was impressed with 1950 though - it's very attractive in a faux sort of way and the construction appears to be high quality - certainly the fittings in all the public areas we went to.
Hope your big project goes well - can you expose it to the 's ??
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
Also in 2000 last week, snow amazing. On Tues or Weds morning it was absolute blizzard conditions, so we decided to have a look down into BSM, by the time we got to 1600 on the bus it had stopped and was clearing up, but wife insisted we go down the funiculaire. Have to say I was like a big baby stamping around BSM all morning, but got back for 11.30.
Have been there a few times and never did understand the reason for the "col de la chal" piste, long boring pole. Now I get it, just launch yourself off the side into fresh powder and meet the missus at the bottom of the "Plan des eaux" then back up the "Arcabulle chair", everyone's happy. Never did manage to find the elusive water slide, maybe it was too cold, but I didn't look that hard.
As for 1950 you can keep it for me, the place has no more atmos than it did last year. To be fair I only did go down in the evening, but the bars were empty in a resort that was full to bursting  . "Red Rock" & " Crazy Fox" in 2000 are far better IMHO.
Anyone going out in the next couple of weeks at least should still have excellent conditions, unless of course there is rain, but the runs going into Villaroger were starting to look patchy even last week.
One last point, I doubt I will ever book a package again. Went with 1st choice, but the Crystal & Thomson clients had exactly the same experience. Flight changed from Grenoble to Geneva week before, when we landed we had to trawl up to departures to catch the incoming coach but had to wait 2 1/2 hours for it to arrive. Then on departure I kid you not, we were
1 dropped off at terminal 1 unloaded gear
2 Rep comes out sorry Guys terminal 2 load back up off over to terminal 2
3 Go to desk 21-25, that flights for Germany, the desk we need is at terminal 1
4 Try to find rep yes there has been a cock up back to terminal 1, this time walking as no transport available and could not even get a taxi.
5 Greeted at terminal 1 by a rep laughing sorry guys they have changed it back to terminal 2. As you can imagine the air was blue by this time and about 40 of us all from the TUI group demanded transport after about 20 minutes coach arrived, by this time the flight was due to leave in 20 mins
6 Back up to terminal 2, check in, only 1 desk open, then they decide to open another. Get checked in, where's the departure gate
7 Through that door onto a coach and back to terminal 1
You could not believe how totally inadequate these people were with dealing with the situation, very very very poor. I will never book a package again unless it is last minute and cheap. Much easier hiring a car, sticking the tomtom on the windscreen and off you go. 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
off to vallandry at the weekend, has anyone skied it latley and how are the pistes holding up over there, especially the lower ones? Was there any snow left in the village as its the first time for some of the people in our group and it would be great if we had snow around the chalet in vallandry.
thanks
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
chris1989,
No problem last week, would have thought you'll be OK for weekend.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
chris1989, Absobloominlootly was there snow in Vallandry last Friday - oodles and globs of it. It was slightly scratchy in the morning and very slightly slushy in the afternoons (but just fine really) at the very bottom of the runs (last 20%) but perfect for a couple of hours in between and completely perfect for the top 80% all day.
However - it can change quickly but the snow farmers should be able to manage the bottom parts and I'm sure the top half (at Least) will be good for the rest of the season (and beyond) Enjoy!
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
|
Kel, sounds like a nightmare at GVA. Unlucky.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
chris1989 - Everyone, I'm just back after two and a half weeks, last week was probably the best I've had this year. Sunday was 'interesting' though, thought I'd get first lift at 9:15 (as had flight home in the evening) and was at first surprised how icy the reds into Vallandry were, but of course with the clocks changing it was like 8:15 on Saturday. By 10 or so absolutely gorgeous and very warm.
People are saying the snow will hold out until the end of the season, so on the strength of that I'm going out again, for a week on the 12th April (milking the season pass  ) . A certain 'sports' shop in Vallandry did me an excellent 'end of season' deal on an apartment adjacent to the Mont Blanc for 8 days.
Some pics here -> http://www.19x.co.uk/arcsmarch2008/index.htm - nothing special but do show how quiet the resort was if nothing else, and the foot or so of snow on Bosses!.
Can't wait 'til the 12th.
Allan
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
allanm, excellent photos 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
Cheers Rob@rar, I didn't think they were any good, really, but someone's PM'd to say the Malgover is now his desktop wallpaper!
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
chris1989, another note of reassurance from me - the OH (Miss S) and I were there Saturday and Sunday, and riding down into Vallandry was no problem at all. The wooded runs down from Transarc were especially quiet and the snow very conducive to wide cruisy carvy turns. There's loads of snow between the trees as well, if such arboreal jiggerypokery be your pleasure.
Even managed to find some fresh tracks to cut over in the 1950/2000 bowl.
Very jealous of those of you going back... allanm, the photos are awesome. If I end up handing my notice in today is it okay to blame you?
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
snojito, Yes you can blame me, everyone else does! There are some pretty good deals going for week Comm. 12th April, just hoping the snow holds up.
ATB, Allan
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
2 / 3 inches last night, and great sunny skiing this morning.
The Project - implementation of new bin collections in Warwick - I am sitting here in 1950 at the moment, watching the live routes all the trucks are taking, and which bins are bing picked up, when. ( Oh, so not so interesting then!)
kewhoward, yes, all Intrawest places seem to be a bit like that - we immediately thought of the film "Westworld" when first encountering it in Keystone, then Tremblant, Whistler and now 1950: a sort of disney-fied ideal of what an alpine village should be like. But hey, by comparision to 2000 up the hill, we love it!
Right, today's conference call over, off the net, and out back on the pistes - little W after more boarder cross routes, and is bored with me sitting here!!
a bientot,
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
JimW, ahhh now it makes sense - the W stands for Wheely Bin 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Do you reckon La Plagne conditions are very similar to Les Arcs, given that they're next door? Just trying to choose between the two for next week... The Freeze Level seems predicted to be up in the 2000's 
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
Kel,
The new nightclub, O'Chaud appears to be attracting a lot of unfavourable remarks from those living close by, so I guess it is fairly lively! - I wouldn't dance in my boots in 2000 though, in case I go through the rotten floorboards around the abandoned ice-rink!
You also get 5 times as much space per body per apartment in 1950 to the rat-holes that are typical French standard accommodation in 2000 (although the new chalets hotels they have been building recently appear to have a good rep) .
But hey, its the snow we are here for so I guess it doesn't really make a whole load of difference...and 2000 is certainly cheaper than little brother down the hill.
Hard pistes this morning down over to 1800, I believe the phrase is "dure", and a big wind blowing down the valley from the top of Col de le Chal. Occasional cloud cover making visibility patchy, defeintely goggles weather today. Has been snowing again since about 10:30, still coming down hard now.
The W bin Project continues well, so back out in a few minutes!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
We thought 1950 looked nicer than 2000 where we stayed. I think the complex we stayed in had the worst boot locker I have ever seen - a tiny cupboard per "chalet" (read "suite") which meant about 20 "chalets" of 10 people were getting boots from a room not much bigger than a normal bedroom. Truly crap.
Calling a group of rooms and a common living room in a hotel a "chalet" was stretching things a bit too. To say nothing of the noisy bin men every morning...
Skiing was great though!
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
Any Arc 1950 owners lurking here?
We'll stay there for one week, April 15-22, and instead of paying for underground parking would prefer some kind of a barter.
PM me if interested!
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
JimW, hi are you still around this week will be doing some off piste on tuesday if you want to join us.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
| JimW wrote: |
Kel,
The new nightclub, O'Chaud appears to be attracting a lot of unfavourable remarks from those living close by, so I guess it is fairly lively! - I wouldn't dance in my boots in 2000 though, in case I go through the rotten floorboards around the abandoned ice-rink!
You also get 5 times as much space per body per apartment in 1950 to the rat-holes that are typical French standard accommodation in 2000 (although the new chalets hotels they have been building recently appear to have a good rep) .
But hey, its the snow we are here for so I guess it doesn't really make a whole load of difference...and 2000 is certainly cheaper than little brother down the hill.
Hard pistes this morning down over to 1800, I believe the phrase is "dure", and a big wind blowing down the valley from the top of Col de le Chal. Occasional cloud cover making visibility patchy, defeintely goggles weather today. Has been snowing again since about 10:30, still coming down hard now.
The W bin Project continues well, so back out in a few minutes! |
I stop in the "Hotel Augille Rouge" and as far as French ski in ski out hotels go I don't think it is too bad, as long as there are only 2 sharing a room. The food served is also very acceptable.
But the big plus for anyone like me and lets face it that must be 95% of people who go skiing for a week at a time, rather than a season ( I am in the unfortunate position of having to work to so that I can afford to pay for my winter hols  ), you can go to the above twice for what it costs to stop in 1950 and dine out every night. I can live with the rotten boards, its not like actually makes a difference to my Hols
Looking to maybe catch a late deal week after next, any rat hole will do as long as there is a metre of snow outside the boot room.
Enjoy
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
Fabulous conditions today. Fresh powder and bright blue skies.... Not a cloud in sight. Not at all what was forecast!
Was very chilly this morning but much warmer this afternoon.
Snow forecast - but looks like freezing level is rising so hope the rain lower down isnt too heavy!
It is so nice being here when the slopes are so quiet. Thought as it was the school hols it would be busy - but it is really empty - didnt queue at all!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
Hi, I'm back out on the Saturday 12th for 8 days leaving Sunday night. Have a [small] apartment adjacent to the Mont Blanc pub in Vallandry (that bbbiiiggg block to the right of the MB as you look up the hill). Bedding is sparse, but if anyone wants a rat hole for that week, PM me.
Can't wait.
Allan
http://www.19x.co.uk/
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
Every had that feeling when you look out the window that it would be better to stay in bed. Well that was what the grey sky made me feel like today. I am so pleased I made the effort to get up the mountain. The fresh snow made up for the poor light and the sun even tried to come through and give good vis for some of the day. Lot's of off piste all day, mostly in fresh snow or soft snow lower down near resorts. Even some untracked stuff away from the resort. None of the icy crust or heavy slush we were expecting. The conditions have changed again now, it is snowing outside on the mountain and it is expected to continue all night. Let's hope it clears for another good day tomorrow. Anyone coming out to Les Arcs or already here PM me if you want to meet up for a bit of off piste during the next couple of weeks.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
Hi Chris - If you get tired and feel like a bit of baby sitting (i.e. doing some easier stuff!) I am out here for a couple of weeks without Steve at the mo. Or call in for a beer.
Mind you the weather looks pretty grim over the next few days!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
Another day of soft snow and high temps. Some good snow to be found in sheltered north facing areas but even there it has turned soft by lunch time below 3000m. They say that the temp is coming down and even some snow is due friday night/saturday. The long term forcast for the next week is not much better so it could be a slow finish to the season. Let's hope that the weather picks up a bit in the coming days.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
allanm, and all...We had a few happy lunchtimes at the Mont Blanc - very pleasant so long as you sat with your back to the car park - really enjoyed the food and thought good choice and (relative) value. I really liked Vallandry but may have been spoilt with a) great snow right down to the bottom lifts and b) the Vanoise Express being closed. Does it make a big difference? Our TO said that twice as many people go from LA to LP rather than the other way, ergo LA is much quieter with no VE? Does it get hairy in the PM with people racing to get back? Meanwhile , do you know if the MB does rooms?(looked like they did but not sure) Long distance planning but I'd like to go back - either in a big group (30ish) which likes fully catered or a more normal sized group of gentlemen or even family!!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
kewhoward, The Mont Blanc does rooms
Interesting comment about the use of the Vanoise Express - I 've been told its the other way round & more people come from LP to LA  I would say the rush back to Plan Peisey just before the last VE back to LP obviously hasnt happened this year, so it has been marginally quieter, but I think there have been more flat light days this year which has had more people skiing in the trees. I dont know - just an observation. It would be interesting to hear what Christoph at Le Solan & Will at Flying Squirrell think about numbers.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I would say that there is an almost even number of people travelling each way on the VE (when working)
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
But surely they all go back at the end of the day?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
ranging from timid second week skiers, through 3rd week boarders to reasonably expert racing /instructor level (not me sadly, I'm a skier stuck at on piste intermidiate). And there was something for everyone..
