 Poster: A snowHead
|
|
@snowlamb, I think you are meant to get up at 4:00, open your new toys and play with them until 10:00. I cannot remember what happens after that except that it was boring. Is there a Top of the Pops special or something on TV?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
I see from todays email from Les Arcs that the funicular and navettes will now run until 21:00. It may appear a small extension but it means that an evening slap up meal in the Taj-I Mah in 2000 looks like an early dinner option as a birthday treat. As well as more mundane things like an extended shopping trip in Bourg and possibly (just possiby) connections with the trains
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
@johnE, Have you eaten in the Taj, any good?
We go every holiday with good intentions to eat out but after a day boarding, bath, pj's on and looking out the window in 2000 to, in January often -20c, the enthusiasm wanes...
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
@thefatcontroller, No I haven't apart from their promotional do in London a few years ago. There are two reasons for this:1/ they are very expensive and 2/ the last navette leaves to early to get back home.
We usually eat out a couple times each trip, but never grandly - somewhere plain and simple like the Cairn, or a fondue at the Arpette before a moonlight ski home.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
@thefatcontroller, The bar and restaurant owners that I've spoken to have been told to gear up for opening as normal, although the way the numbers look over there at the moment I'd have to agree that December is looking unlikely.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
well opening up at the normal time at least, not as normal.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@johnE, Ooh I remember that evening in London, Loved it (I still have the USB thumb drive with the glittery bits... and have subsequently booked the venue for other events because it was worked well). As a result, always intended to go. But like TFC, once you're settled, it always seems a bit of a faff.
For posh do's (ie wedding anniversary, often coincides with a ski trip) we tend to use Table de Lys in 1950.
@wills_h, I think my contacts are expecting take-away only. They do own 40+ restaurants across the Alps, so maybe they got some inside intel. I hope they're wrong.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@Arctic Roll, Me too, if only for their sake. Can't see that many of the smaller businesses will survive if they have another severely impacted season.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
@Arctic Roll, I also still have the USB thumb drives and the pens. One's wife, son and one collected one each. The snacks we had there were lovely. And yes we are thinking of a celebration for my 70th birthday.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Press release from French PM today: Those included at his consulting this morning, apparently included head of France Montagne (used to be our ASL director in 1950) and the Chairman of CDA, and elected reps of Savoie and Haute-Savoe
PRESS RELEASE
Consultation of stakeholders and elected representatives of mountain resorts
The Prime Minister today wished to consult the main professional organisations and elected representatives concerned on the opening of mountain resorts for the Christmas holidays.
In addition to the sporting or outdoor activities offered by the mountain resorts, the life of the resorts themselves at Covid-19 is a matter of particular concern for the Government.
At this stage, this issue is not yet clear-cut, as the two options are still being considered given the uncertainties about the evolution of the health situation.
The meeting made it possible to examine more precisely the conditions for the implementation of the different scenarios, be it the definition of a specific sanitary protocol or, in the event of closure, the modalities of economic and social support for the actors, companies and seasonal workers.
In view of the preparation time needed to allow for a possible opening for the end-of-year holidays, a decision will be taken within the next ten days. It will be made in the light of the evolution of the health situation, which must be the essential criterion, and taking care to be as consistent as possible with our neighbouring countries.
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
@Arctic Roll, so basically, no decision?
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
Any info on this gratefully received.
Watching avidly - Eurotunnel booked mid Dec. -all depends on whether a) they will let us in & b) once in, are 'things' open/running.
I can't think UK will prevent people going - providing they are willing to quarantine on return if still necessary.
Hopefully - if things are allowed - people respond appropriately & keep themselves to themselves ) always assuming lifts are managed to allow this).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@kapt, we have a week held at our apartment in January but the wife starts work on vaccine roll out next week so isolation for her not an option on return, not an issue for me but she will likely be vaccinated by then anyway. We are watching & waiting, would like to go as I reckon it will be very quiet.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
|
Holding on with fingernails to my Tunnel crossing on the 18th Dec......
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
|
One thing to watch is capacity in the local hospitals. At the moment the word on the rue seems to be that they are very busy and could well do without a load of broken skiers. They have established a big covid ward at Bourg and are shipping patients in from the local large cities.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
|
News but no news.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
At least we've been told that we can travel by Boris, that's a start 
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
epic looking sky from the snow park this evening
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
If the French are going to follow the lead of Switzerland then the resorts will open as planned. Not the best move the Swiss have made. They were so careful at the start of Covid and it felt really safe. Now they have allowed the resorts to open since October the Covid levels have gone crazy. Not just because of skiing for sure, but it could not have helped. If you are going through Geneva be really well protected. It is still the worst hit place in Switzerland. Oh joy!!  Just to add, I went up in the mountains at the weekend. Took one look at the lift queues and went for a hike instead. I think people just stop thinking about Covid when they are going skiing. Nobody I have seen social distances in the queues and you are too near each other on the lifts, in the cable car's and on the gondolas. I hope you have a great ski those that do go out before Christmas if Les Arcs does open, but for me I have decided for the first time in 20 plus years to wait until January.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
Now following closely with everything crossed for January.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
@snowcrazy, It's good to hear from you again and see you are still keen on skiing.
I have sdaly decided to also wait until January or maybe Febuary. Hopefully in 2 months the vacine roll out programme will have started.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A glimmer of good news. Assuming we are allowed to travel, this from the train operators today: one extremely cheap train per day between Paris:BSM (and the interim stations).
| Quote: |
Tickets from 10€ to go to the mountains
From 17 December 2020 to 29 March 2021, OUIGO will set up a new seasonal line to reach the ski slopes from Île-de-France. SNCF low-cost trains will serve Lyon, Grenoble, Albertville, Moûtiers - Salins - Brides-les-Bains, Aime-la-Plagne and Bourg-Saint-Maurice from the CDG2 TGV Airport station and the Marne-la-Vallée Chessy TGV station.
17,000 tickets will be available every week on board these OUIGO trains. Adult tickets will be offered from 10€ one way while tickets for children under 12 years old will be available at a fixed price of 5€. If you want to benefit from low prices to reach the ski slopes, you should know that OUIGO tickets for this new line will be on sale from 19 November 2020.
Please note: to transport your skis, opt for the extra luggage option at 5€. Ski boots are admitted free of charge on board the trains.
Source: https://www.kelbillet.com/blog/ouigo-tgv/ouigo-les-stations-de-ski-desservies-des-10e-a-partir-de-decembre-2020/
|
Now I'll admit - following the link to the website to look at the timetable, it ain't that great for us Brits, unless you want to spend some extra evenings in Paris, But, well, you know... €10 FFS!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@Arctic Roll, trains are out for us this year as it would mean too long in masks, easier just fly and get in a hire car. Nice prices though!!
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
I've always thought some of the slopes in Les Arcs were steeper than in some other resorts but I've had a look at the OpenSkiMap.org site and extracted the following data
Route Grade Distance Slope
Mont-Blanc Blue Distance: 3238mAscent: 2mDescent: 615m Average Slope: 11° (20%)Max Slope: 26° (49%)
Écureuils Black Distance: 1551mDescent: 438m Average Slope: 17° (30%)Max Slope: 29° (55%)
Refuge Black Distance: 1034mDescent: 297m Average Slope: 17° (31%)Max Slope: 36° (72%)
Rêches Red Distance: 2290mDescent: 595m Average Slope: 15° (27%)Max Slope: 33° (64%)
Comborcière Black Distance: 1850mAscent: 14mDescent: 485m Average Slope: 15° (27%)Max Slope: 31° (60%)
Grand Col Red Distance: 1597mAscent: 3mDescent: 336m Average Slope: 12° (22%)Max Slope: 32° (62%)
Dou de l'Homme Black Distance: 1244mAscent: 422m Average Slope: 20° (37%)Max Slope: 39° (81%)
Clapet Blue Distance: 1048mAscent: 9mDescent: 200m Average Slope: 11° (19%)Max Slope: 26° (48%)
Arolles Red Distance: 1520mAscent: 6mDescent: 332m Average Slope: 13° (22%)Max Slope: 24° (45%)
Rouelles Black Distance: 1301mDescent: 455m Average Slope: 21° (37%)Max Slope: 27° (52%)
You'll notice that the red Reches is a tad steeper and steeper than the black Rouelles (They used to be black and red respectively) Dou de l'Homme is very steep with an average slope of 20 degrees and a maximum of 38. It feels about correct. Though Comborciere feels steeper than 31 degrees and certainly steeper than Golf.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@johnE, have to say, there are a couple of pitches on Roulles which I’d say were steeper than 27 degrees. Neither of the pitches are very long, on what is a fairly easy black (although often glorious in bad weather), so perhaps don’t register on that mapping website?
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
@rob@rar, I like Rouelle - it's on our way home but it can be very varied. some days big soft moguls, some days heavy slush. Yes there are a few steep bit but if they bashed it it would certainly be no steeper than say Golf.
There is always some difficulty in calculating slopes from digital elevation models (I used to it for a living) with some of the problems coming from the horizontal sampling spacing with short sharp descents being averaged out. The other major problem is that the height data comes from the SRTM model of the Earths surface. With this the height is determined from space using radar. There is some noise in the data and where adjacent mesaurements are greatly different this can through up spurious measurments on slope. For example the maximum slopes on both Cachette and Vagere are 73 degrees, almost vertical which is clearly not true.
My experience is still that Reches is still very steep for a red. I tried to cycle down it one summer and gave up scared.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
| Quote: |
My experience is still that Reches is still very steep for a red. I tried to cycle down it one summer and gave up scared.
|
As an experienced mountain biker, I can confirm that some of the easiest, stand up and go ski descents of the Alps transform into vertical, walls of death when you descend them by bike... 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@johnE, @mountainaddict, board or skis, Reches is the one run that I really hate in Les Arcs. The bit from grand renard to the top of Derby, I’m just glad to be alive every time I’ve done it
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
| Quote: |
Reches is the one run that I really hate in Les Arcs.
|
It used to be really nasty with lots of stones and I mean lots of stones but since they installed the snow machine at the top it has improved immensely. Though it is still worth while to wait a minute or two at teh top to get a clearish run without too many bodies in the way.
What are other peoples most hated runs. Personally I hate Edelweiss. And it's not much of a flower either
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
@thefatcontroller, beautiful as it is it didn't lighten my mood at all.
I had an email from Les Arcs this morning basically asking us to just come to the resort, breathe the mountain air and gaze at the snow. They are not sure when or if they will be openning this season. All the decsions are out of their hands.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
@johnE, yes got that email too. Their way of trying to persuade people not to cancel bookings but for us Les Arcs = lifts open.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
| thefatcontroller wrote: |
| @johnE, yes got that email too. Their way of trying to persuade people not to cancel bookings but for us Les Arcs = lifts open. |
Did they say 'out about getting there? - ie. Will you have to fill out their required forms(2) including having a 'special reason' to travel. I can (hopefully) vouch not to be showing symptoms, but don't fall into any of their categories for travel. Not sure if that is still applicable from Dec17th onwards??
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
As I understand it, no forms will be required after the 15th December..Unless it all changes again.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
And today some fresh snow on the ground, all the way to Bourg I've been told.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyone know if the Funni will still open for Christmas? I know that it was already delayed due to some maintenance work required, but just wondered if they'll plan on opening it or if they'd consider it a lift and it'll remain closed?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
Seems to be an impromptu snowpark being formed at the bottom of the 1800 lifts
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
No one to regulate what will be going on. What about those going for a ski on the closed pistes! 
The French PM said today people can still go and enjoy themselves. I think I know a few people that will be putting on their skins. 
