 Poster: A snowHead
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allanm, when are you back out in Les Arc? it looks like we will be there first week in March (5th) with the other bit of the family B is down in ADH, but might be over for a day mid week. Would be good to meet up again 
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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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livetoski, Looking at March at the moment, not sure when (want to see some snow first), although am tentatively looking at accomodation from the 12th...can juggle though if conditions 'dicate'. Not sure about April... perhaps just for a week or so.... If I'd taken advice of some, I'd be out tomorrow... doesn't bear thinking about.. Having said that, if there is a decent dump in Feb (and it sticks), I'll be over!!
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| allanm wrote: |
| JimW, We are talking about that track you can see from Plagnettes and Arcabull...on the right as you go up in either chair???.... starts at Tuffes.... aren't we?...no we can't be. |
yes that's the one. 3Km top to bottom. Why? Does it... worry you? 
We're back out 5th - 12th March, 'boys week': so if anyone is around, I'll either be enjoying whatever has come down in February, or if nothing, in George's!
Well, in George's anyway tbh...
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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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Update: With a mind to some of the knees in our party we didn't ski this afternoon. We are going to try to get over to the other side on the VE tomorow to see how that is holding up. Mind you I'm already not relishing the ski across from 1800 to Peisey to catch it! Or the return trip back to 1800 in the afternoon 
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| JimW wrote: |
| allanm wrote: |
| JimW, We are talking about that track you can see from Plagnettes and Arcabull...on the right as you go up in either chair???.... starts at Tuffes.... aren't we?...no we can't be. |
yes that's the one. 3Km top to bottom. Why? Does it... worry you? . |
What people have said to me, is that it breaks that side of the hill up.. I guess it must have been a bit more popular this week too, as it was unusual to see anyone using it prior to mid Jan. Glad you enjoyed it though.
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This all makes for somewhat depressing reading, starting to regret booking for the 5th of Feb before checking reports on here! Fingers crossed, I will be checking daily!!
Btw anyone know of a pub to watch the ireland v Italy game in 2000? Should arrive just in time to run for kick off and a pint!!!
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allanm, I am sure Feb will see some good snow, but not for another few weeks.
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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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| Quote: |
I am sure Feb will see some good snow, but not for another few weeks.
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livetoski, If the snow doesn't arrive sooner than the next few weeks then I think some Les Arcs pistes will be closing. if you ask me this area needs some decent snow soon if it is to stand a chance of a decently long season. The piste people are working wonders at the moment with what is available with snow making and it is very evident that they are scraping snow off of non-piste areas and pushing it onto the piste. There are now great swathes of freshly scraped areas with lots of earth showing through, off piste, where they have done this. The fan snow cannons on the beginners pistes are operating all day, but we have seen no use of the main snow making equipment (the big over piste cannons) in the Les Arcs areas - perhaps they are operating over night? Snow-forecast into next week shows plus temps which isn't going to help, and their temps have been fairly accurately forecast in the last week from what we have seen here.
Off to put the crampons on now!
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| SkiG wrote: |
This all makes for somewhat depressing reading, starting to regret booking for the 5th of Feb before checking reports on here! Fingers crossed, I will be checking daily!!
Btw anyone know of a pub to watch the ireland v Italy game in 2000? Should arrive just in time to run for kick off and a pint!!! |
We're out there same time mate, gona start practicing my snowdance!! 
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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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| Angry Squirrel wrote: |
| We're out there same time mate, gona start practicing my snowdance!! |
I'd stop practicing and get on with the real thing!
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You know it makes sense.
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allanm, I just heard that B has put his "Pray For Snow" t shirt on and says he is not taking it off till it snows.
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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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livetoski ^^ Blimey... Feel sorry for his OH!
Have just been offered a good deal on an appartment in Vallandry for March 12th onwards. We'll probably come out on the Friday..... Assuming it snow before then, of course.
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Poster: A snowHead
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It's no better folks, still no snow despite those clouds - there has also been a breeze in Les Arcs 1800) which we haven't had before this week which was no so evident in La Plagne.
The VE is noticeably busier in both directions - I think folks are heading for La Plagne.
On the high plateau area between Plagne Bellcote and the VE and there is a fair sized patch of 'true blue ice' - the real thing (no kidding - you don't want to crest the rise at speed and hit it IMV) it's about half way along the mont blanc piste in the mid to left section of the piste. They have started to scrape the off-piste to get snow for the on-piste. Some of the steeper pitches over there are fairing better on their Again, IMO, it is still better over there than in Les Arcs although the paths in both areas are rock hard.
In Les Arcs Grand Melezes off the mid trans arc station is still very sheer, and there are patches of 'true blue ice' on Chavets.
Last day tomorrow - still sorry to be going home, but I sure wish the snow had been better.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Megamum wrote: |
| On the high plateau area between Plagne Bellcote and the VE and there is a fair sized patch of 'true blue ice' - the real thing (no kidding - you don't want to crest the rise at speed and hit it IMV) it's about half way along the mont blanc piste in the mid to left section of the piste. They have started to scrape the off-piste to get snow for the on-piste... |
Someone will be along in a minute to say that snow conditions are actually fine, and noone should take any notice of these negative reports...  just get on and learn to ski [skate] in all conditions... it's fun!.. not.
Hope it dumps overnight.. really wish!!!!
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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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Oh I do so love these armchair skiers sitting at home looking at the web cams or reading what is posted and then making comments about the conditions in a resort they are not skiing in right now.  
Having spent the week skiing in almost all of the local resorts (10 areas), I can now quite confidently say that the conditions in Les Arcs are no better or worse than anywhere else near here. Yes, I will agree that in the last few days the pistes have become more compacted and even have patches of real ice on them in places (normally marked), but there are similar conditions everywhere, some slightly better in places others worse, it just depends where you are skiing at the time.
If this is your only holiday on the snow this year, then do not be to down heartened, even today we found some good off piste conditions at higher altitudes and lower down where it is well tracked it was soft and ok to ski quite often. You just have to read the aspect of the hill and work out which places will be good.
Getting from off piste place to another off piste area meant using the pistes and I have to agree with Megamum, that overall the La Plagne side is standing up better on the busy areas, but they also have large icy (real ice) patches now.
I have found the same in the Three Valleys, Espace Killy and La Ros, La Thuile and St Foy. So nowhere is perfect, but you will still have plenty of places to ski.
As allanm, says, you just have to learn to ski in all conditions it's fun 
But really, if you have a good Instructor he should be able to find you the best snow and for the kids, the parks, nature ride areas, boarder cross courses and air bags are all fun.
It would be nice if it started to snow again mind 
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I'm currently hoping the snow gods smile decide to give us some snow
We're off to La Plagne in a few hours and while it's a shame the conditions aren't great but I guess you can't be lucky everytime. I've had lots of powder days so we're just going to go make the most of those hard pistes. I'm taking my brand spanking new skis so at least i'll have sharp edges, just hope I don't find too many stones :-0
Al
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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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allanm, not specifically you, but collectively yes. Having friends here telling you what it is like is still not the same as skiing it for yourself. As you get lots of time to come out, cancelling for you is a nice luxury. For others with limited time, it was not, is not, will not be bad enough to cancel in the foreseeable future. It could cost them money as they would not get a refund with the present conditions. So yes, it was and still is bad advice IMO.
I am posting what I see when out everyday, people can read what we all post and make there minds up.
I do wish I could make it snow, now that would be very nice
bertie bassett, hope we get a chance to ride or ski together whilst you are out. It will be interesting to read what you think of Mont Albert conditions on their thread when you get out.
Last edited by Then you can post your own questions or snow reports... on Fri 28-01-11 22:15; edited 1 time in total
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Skiing down to Monty must be pretty base-wrecking at the moment..
Fingers crossed it snows in France soon. I love La Plagne and the conditions before Christmas were amazingly good - although rocky down in Montalbert,
Shame to hear LA is so icy, but if nothing else it well help hone your technique. If you can make it down icy pistes, your confidence will be sky high on the next holiday.
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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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| snowcrazy wrote: |
| I am posting what I see when out everyday, people can read what we all post and make there minds up. |
So please don't rubbish what I post.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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snowcrazy, I don't recall allanm telling people they should cancel and I didn't give any "advice" about Les Arcs either (though you earlier accused me of doing so). Why so defensive?
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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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Picadilly, As I posted before in response to your 'rocky' comment on the main Montalbert tourist route I agreed, BUT all the other routes were fine and according to those who are there right now posting on the Montalbert thread the pistes are all holding up well. Check the webcams if you are not sure, aso check the piste map, there are several pistes leading into Montalbert some with snowmaking some without
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snowcrazy, I was only responding to what I have read on here, I don't doubt it's the same story everywhere..
Boredsurfing, glad to hear it's holding up well. I was there the first week of the season so after a load of snow I was surprised to find so many rocks, but in fact as it WAS the first week, I think a base hadn't had a chance to build up.
As I say, I love La Plagne, and the routes down to Monty are lovely.
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You know it makes sense.
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snowcrazy, I sense - and could be wrong - that your view of conditions is skewed by the fact that you will always go off-piste to find good snow. There are a lot of skiers, including snowHeads, who won't or can't do that.
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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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Also, I'm sure snowcrazy is a far more capable skier than many - maybe most - holidaymakers and it can be difficult for people who are really good at something to see things as they are seen by less experienced skiers. Megamum has been making a big effort to describe things very honestly and accurately, as she sees them, and they really don't sound very good. One skier will battle with conditions that others will deal with easily.
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Poster: A snowHead
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| pam w wrote: |
| Also, I'm sure snowcrazy is a far more capable skier than many |
Yes That's certainly true. Than most I would say.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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pam w, indeed, that's really what I meant, rather than a bald comparison of piste and off-piste.
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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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pam w, I really do not understand what you feel you are contributing to this thread, you are not in Les Arcs, you have not been here unless I am mistaken for some time and yet you give opinions on what people post, why? Do you just enjoy joining in the chat for know real reason. Agreeing with some comments and disagreeing with others without really knowing anything yourself about current conditions. I am sure you will have a comment on what I have just posted so go ahead. But do not expect a response unless it is relevant to the conditions about Les Arcs. Why not start a thread of your own for the place where you are based or is there one already, if so please share the link so posts can be made on that thread.
Hurtle, not at all, whilst I do go off piste to find good snow I also ski on the pistes a great deal to get to where we go off piste. I think the higher pistes are holding up well right across the paradiski area considering the current conditions, but agree with most of what Megamum, has posted about the lower pistes into the stations. All are very hard packed and some are indeed showing signs of real ice. Not fun for anyone to ski, but good for your balance
allanm, if I have misunderstood what you meant by cancelling your trip then my apology for that, but I still do not agree with your comments regarding conditions especially off piste over the last few days although tonight things are changing fast and quite possibly not for the best.
Having just come home, now that the wind is also blowing tonight, the boiler plate surface in some places lower down may well spread to higher slopes as well by tomorrow. If that happens then the wind slab effect on the off piste areas may become quite severe in Les Arcs as well and what little soft snow built up by the snow canons overnight on the pistes may well be destroyed.
This may not be very good for the overall off or on piste conditions. Time for bed. Only tomorrow morning will we know how the conditions have been effected by this latest twist.
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snowcrazy, yikes, if I were heading to LA tomorrow, your last comment would not fill me with confidence...
.. luckily I'm not!
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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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| snowcrazy wrote: |
Hurtle I also ski on the pistes a great deal to get to where we go off piste. |
Some of us mortals ski them for fun.
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snowcrazy, fair enough, but I still stand by my earlier comment that
| Quote: |
| people's opinions on snow conditions, and even more on piste difficulty, are inevitably coloured by the standard at which they ski. |
I've formed the view from reading this thread that I probably wouldn't be quite as upbeat as you, had I been in Les Arcs over the last few days, but that I might be a little less affected by the poor conditions than Megamum, for the simple reason that I have much less ski experience than you and a bit more than Megamum. I guess that the conclusion which can be drawn from that is that you've both done your job on this thread very well! But, there again, it's because I have a fair idea of how you both ski, and not just your respective descriptions, which have enabled me to make my own judgment.
Obviously I too am not in Les Arcs, but it's a place that interests me, since I've been there, and I think that the subjectivity of snow reports is an interesting topic of discussion in itself, so feel entitled to join in the chat, if that's OK.
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We are off out for a last morning + today (only local to 1800) as we are driving home overnight - I won't be able to post what I find, but I am expecting more the same and possibly worse.
Still we are off to VT at Easter, and of course that earlier morning boiler plate corduroy outside the Oxalys is going to be a 'walk in the park'!!
Joking apart, I do hope you are all correct and that the icy conditions have improved my skiing. It would be a shame to have spent a week skiing on the damn hard stuff and not to have got anything from it. At the very least I can now hop down down the side of piste finding what half skiable snow might still exist there!
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My thoughts.... (not intended to beat up Les Arcs or other thread contributors)
With my 30 - 40 weeks ski experience (one stops counting after a time), Other than 2 April ski weeks i have always skied in January and have NEVER had a complete week of such poor conditions.
I don't do serious bumps, jumps or off piste. Lack of equipment, and 2 duff knees stop me doing that now. Or my knees remind me of that I was a silly sod for attempting it at the end of the day!
So, I choose to ski on piste and do prefer the soft stuff but am more than capable of this hard pack too.
I still believe the conditions are dire.
I'm uncertain if it was the conditions or just circumtances, but in an one hour period, yesterday afternoon, we witnessed 4 stretcher bound snow users, one about to be helli transported.
Currently, pistes marginally better in La Plagne that 1800 , probably due to a combination of things:- Slope aspect and better snow management. For example, yesterday, despite low temps and icy (beyond hard pack pistes) no snow making here in 1800 during the day. There was on previous days. Plenty of man made ready to go in La Plagne, none evident here in 1800.
BTW, we have still had a good time and everyone in our group has progressed. Beer, Xante, Powerade, hot chocolate, apple juice, vin chaud, pizza, Plat du jour, swimming and the best chalet cook in the Alps (Megamum) have helped!
If you are coming out here, please take care.
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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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hascas, and that's why you shouldn't read internet forums about conditions...
You need to focus on the word HOLIDAY and not on "serious concerns".
Tough to avoid the worry I know, (otherwise I wouldn't be reading the forum!), but try to ignore what others say, wait until you get there and make your own mind up.
Snow can come at any time. Fun can be had in a variety of ways. Do not spend time worrying at home on the basis of what someone else has experienced a week or two before you get there. It is a wasted effort, and not at all good for the soul.
And for goodness sake, relax and enjoy what ever the mountain throws at you - even it it does mean spending time in the spa / bar!
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FAQ
... can you not make it snow????
