 Poster: A snowHead
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rob@rar, I'm looking at booking tomorrow for Plan Peisey for one week from 17th Feb. Been there before in Feb 2005 and snow was excellent, so a little apprehensive this time although the snow in your pictures looks good. I noticed the snow cover below the trees on 'ours' looks a bit bare but I'm thinking that I shouldn't be worrying as much, as on piste skiing should be fine. Can you give me an honest appraisal (make me feel better) as I am booking for a small party of friends.
According to current snow forecasts, there seems to be some snow middle of the week with more predicted for next weekend, so maybe I need some faith 
Thanks
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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pokemon, On piste conditions are good, although the temperatures of the last couple of days have meant much icier conditions. There are a few places where small holes in the snow are allowing the ground to poke through, but this is entirely restricted to areas below 1800m which directly face the afternoon sun (and the pisteurs are doing a good job of repairing this damage to keep it to a minimum). Runs which are pisted are fine for most of the day, but bump runs are becoming increasingly difficult (for me at least ) because they are now mostly mis-shapen icy lumps. Lower runs to villages such as Pesiey are currently very icy in the morning, and very soft in the afternoons. Some of these runs rely on artificial snow and pisteur creativity, but skiing down to the lower villages is no problem. The forecast is for cooler weather over the next few days, which should allow the cannons to run for a bit longer than they did yesterday, and it seems to be looking hopeful for fresh snow at the end of this week (GFS also seems to indicate a little bit of snow tomorrow?). I'm sure that this will make an immediate improvement to on-piste conditions as just about all pistes have a reasonable base on which new snow will settle.
Off-piste seems to be a different story. All the easily accessible off-piste is completely tracked out, and is mostly lumpy crust from the passage of many skiers/boarders and the freeze-thaw of recent weather. There are very occasional patches of softer snow, but I've found these as a matter of luck rather than judgement. My view is that the stuff in the trees isn't skiable safely because of thin snow depths, but more experienced off-piste skiers may disagree. According to fellow snowHead BernardC if you are prepared to hike there are good off-piste conditions to be found: he was in St Foy for a couple of days last week and skinned for an hour to Foglietta and skied virtually untracked powder down the north face. So if you hire a guide and are prepared to work for it there are good off-piste possibilities available.
In summary, limited off-piste enjoyment unless you hike. On-piste conditions are OK; by no means a very good year, but equally not a very bad year either. I've read the doom and gloom in the press and here on snowHeads, but so far this season none of this tallies with my experience in Les Arcs or elsewhere in the Tarentaise. I'm off to Tignes today, so will compare conditions later.
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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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rob@rar, My husband did the north face of Bellecote & also down to Champney last week off piste with a guide, & conditions were pretty good.
I agree, conditions on piste were fine the last 2 weeks - despite what you read. I'll try & post some pics later when back from work.
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pokemon, Just back from 2 weeks in Plan Peisey, & it was great. The small dump in the first week covered bare patches, & subsequently its been cold enough at night to make enough snow to keep the rruns back down to resort pretty good - despite warm daytime temps. They've got some new model of piste basher apparently that transforms pistes overnight.
I hope you have a great time.
BTW has anyone else enjoyed that new restaurant in ARC 1600 - Chalet de l'Arcelles?
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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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pokemon, do you need some cheap flight tickets?
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| Quote: |
On-piste conditions are OK; by no means a very good year, but equally not a very bad year either.
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I'm just back from Arc 1800 and, compared to the last few weeks' postings in various threads, I was pleasantly surprised. Yes, the snow is all a bit hard and icy but its there and holding up to the warm weather in the main.
I needed to review my rather limited mogul technique though, with the Ours run to 1950 having some boiler plate like lumps to deal with. Highlight runs of the week were Refuge from Grand Col (and the off piste next to it), where the snow stayed excellent all week, and Boisses (I think) down to Vallandry which, despite having a stated pitch of 46 degrees, they managed to piste bash most nights!
Hats off to the staff and machinery there. A great resort and superb for young families, despite the lack of green runs (the blues include plenty of forest roads and wide easy cruises).
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rob@rar, geri, Thanks for the info...sounds good. Most of us are on piste skiers, so should be great.
marc gledhill, I think we are OK but can you let me know the details as I may have friend who will fly out separately.
Thanks to all
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Very quick update: after several days of blue skies it has finally clouded over, and there are one or two flakes of snow drifting down at the moment. The local weather forecast is for 10cm of fresh snow today, and more snow for the next several days. According to one local they are hoping for/expecting 50cm by the start of next week. Good for the start of half-term next week 
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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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rob@rar, I was speaking to John Thomas at New Gen last night.
They expected snow by the weekend at the lastest, and then some into next week. Some were saying it would be several light dustings, others thought a few bigger storms may emerge.
Does that ring true?
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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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Spot on! About 15 minutes ago it suddenly got much heavier Just about to head back out to the slopes after lunch...
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You know it makes sense.
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rob@rar, aint technology wonderful 
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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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rob@rar, geri, Thanks for info etc. I've now booked and the proud owner of a weeks holiday in a chalet in Plan Peisey on Feb 17th, with my friends  . Shame its the second half term week as it will be busier than I'm used to but its still skiing! anyway I can see that the snow is continually improving.
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Poster: A snowHead
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A little bit of snow today, but only 5-10cm. It's made things a bit prettier with a dusting of snow on the trees and some of the bare patches beginning to be recovered. There's fresh snow on piste, but by the end of the day it's been scraped into piles of soft snow interspersed with icy patches. Forecast is for continued light snow for a day or two, then heavier snow over the weekend.
On piste above Peisey today
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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pokemon, I'm sure you'll have a great time
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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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| boredsurfin wrote: |
| rob@rar, aint technology wonderful |
Sadly the heavy snow didn't last for too long, and was replaced by heavy cloud meaning visibilty above 1900m was awful. Poor visibility + tired legs = time to stop, so I packed in for the day at 4.15. Tomorrow should be a bit nicer.
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rob@rar, Oh shame, are on hols or working from home? If the latter at least you'll get ahead of the workload
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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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| boredsurfin wrote: |
| rob@rar, Oh shame, are on hols or working from home? If the latter at least you'll get ahead of the workload |
Bit of both really. Holiday with my brother-in-law but also doing some work, keeping up with email, etc.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| rob@rar wrote: |
| ...... are you having lessons with John? He's a top guy. Say hello to him from me (Rob Rees). |
Was on the phone again with him last night - he says hello back 
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rob@rar,
Great report and nice photos glad you are getting the good snow at last. Must admit my idea of bliss is not AC/DC at full blast though.
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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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Snowing quite heavily here at the moment. Maybe three centimetres in the last couple of hours at 1800m. So far this season this is par for the course, as I leave the resort tomorrow!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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still snowing outside the Flying Squirrel in Plan Peisey. Luvverly Jubberly!
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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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Another 8 weeks til we're back flying_squirrel, rob@rar, sob - let's hope it continues in the same vein as this week for that whole period!
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Snowing quite hard at the moment, probably 10cm or slightly more since yesterday at resort level. The local forecast is for heavier snow over the next day or two. Conditions will be much improved. Don't expect waist deep powder, but the entire domain should be open including runs to the lower villages, and icy patches confined to only the busiest piste intersections. If you're heading to Les Arcs for half term hope you have a great holiday
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You know it makes sense.
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rob@rar, looks great - nice pics thanks for sharing up the minute reports!
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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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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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brian
brian
Guest
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Poor Rob - you have had your share of transport stresses this year eh.....
mmmm not sure I like the idea of all this snow..... especially down to Bourg..... twill play havoc with our builders progress....
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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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rob@rar, But where are you stuck? Airport or Les Arcs
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| boredsurfin wrote: |
| rob@rar, But where are you stuck? Airport or Les Arcs |
Les Arcs. BA sent a text message to say my flight was cancelled. Next available flight is tomorrow morning.
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| rob@rar wrote: |
| Next available flight is tomorrow morning. |
No Ski train?
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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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Hope no one else was needing to get in your appartment Rob... What an absolute pain when you've geared yourself up to go.
We've had 2000 schools shut today... It really is unbelievable how the UK grinds to a halt. Hope you get sorted out a.s.a.p.
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| matthew wrote: |
| rob@rar wrote: |
| Next available flight is tomorrow morning. |
No Ski train? |
We have a hire car from Geneva so need to go back to the airport. It was either stay in resort for one more night or head to the airport and try to find a nearby hotel. The comfort of staying in resort won!
jayne durham staying and extra night isn't a problem, but it was very frustrating as we were just about to leave when we got a text and email confirming the flight cancellation  It would have been some consolation if it was heavy snow at this end of the journey which had caused the problem, but light snow in London being responsible is just galling. Surely BAA could afford a small fleet of snowploughs for the rare occasions when the airfield at LHR needs clearing? First available flight is tomorrow morning as everything was full for the rest of the day from GVA to LHR and LGW. Even the wait lists were full.
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FAQ
It really is a Mickey Mouse airport 