 Poster: A snowHead
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^^ By the looks they didn't hang around long enough to find out..... 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Another fun day comes to an end! Started off with very poor vis and snowing as we headed across Les Arcs from Arc 1600 dipping into the forest then over to the La Plagne side.
Went up Roche de Mio and down the black piste in untracked powder (very lucky), then the blue piste and finally the red piste all the way to Champagny village. A nice long run to get across to the far side of the Paradiski domain.
Headed up the Champagny Gondola and lunch. Then Verdon Sud chair and more fresh snow on the way down to the Indian gully and into Plagne Centre. Up top of the Grande Rochette and back to the Arpette chair above Bellecote La Plagne. Through the forest in more untracked powder to the bottom of the Pierre Blanche chair. One final run back through the forest and all the way to the Vanoise Express.
Once over on the Les Arcs side. A little easy powder run and one final jump before a well earned drink at the Altiport, then home.
The vis today was not that great, but it did improve later in the day. Light snow fell most of the time and the pistes were in good condition everywhere we went.
The off piste has started to freshen up well and was fun in the forest and on the open meadows where we were able to make fresh tracks.
If the weather does improve tomorrow, then anyone out is in for a good powder day. Hope so!
Photos for today are posted in the March 2015 Album on my Les Arcs Winter facebook page. Take a look and see what conditions are really like. Enjoy!
https://www.facebook.com/LesArcsWinter/photos_stream?tab=photos_albums
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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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The notre dame des vernettes is a short walk from Plan Peisey, a bit longer from Arc 1800. And it was open for two of our party in early January 2015. well worth a visit.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Just had an email notification about a buy one get one free ski pass for Les Arc/Peisey Vallandry for week beginning 11th April.
http://lesarcs.paradiski.com/fr/
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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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Got same email, bought passes online yesterday for next week. Typical 
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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whilst on lift passes..... Can you get lift passes in Bourg, as I'm looking at getting a Samdei ski pass when I arrive although don't wont to have to pay for the funicular as well to then get a lift pass at the top, am a talking sense or like I've already been on too much vin?
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| Quote: |
bought passes online yesterday for next week
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 then how would a discount for late season help?
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Sorry my email says from 5th March to 22 March included so would have been our dates must have read the dates wrong so would have been no help after all 
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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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More fun in the powder today, not even time for a real lunch stop! After all it was a powder day!
But it was really windy up top in the morning so we had to think hard where best to go early in the day!
Having found 'storm force' winds on the higher ridges of Les Arcs in the morning we headed over to La Plagne. After a false start where I tried to reach some fresh snow (I could not make the higher traverse) we headed to the Vanoise Express and across the other side.
Up top of Crozats Chair and all the way down in good snow most of the way to the bottom of the Bauches chair. Then up the lifts again and across to the Champagny side. Found some excellent fresh untracked snow on the way down to the Verdon Sud chair then more good snow near the Verdon Sud chair on skiers left and and finally another fun line on skiers right.
The winds had started to drop by then so we went to the top of the Roches de Mio and down the back in more soft snow and even a nice couloir on the way to the Bauches chair again.
Finally through the forest towards Les Coches before heading back over to Les Arcs.
A few jumps and a drink at the Altiport before heading for home.
Despite the high winds and closed lifts first thing. The snow on most pistes was in great condition and the off piste has been freshened up nicely although you do drop thorough onto crud sometimes so you have to be careful.
The sun had been shining all day and by the afternoon the winds had started to drop so it became quite warm. I hope they open the waterslide at the Altiport in Les Arcs soon!
They have already started to build the slopestyle course in Arc 1800 and this year it is up above Edenarc near the top of the Chantel chair. Harder to go and watch if walking than last year, but easy if you are on skis or snowboards. It will be ready for the competition in a couple of weeks. They already have one large jump finished.
Tomorrow they say the sun will shine again so it should be another powder day!
I need to say a big thanks to Gordon at Polaire Star for doing a great job of repairing my skis yesterday. They were great today! If you need any repairs go to the shop at the bottom of the Funi. Worth the extra effort to have a good job done! http://www.polairestar.com/
Photos of today will be posted shortly in the March Album of my Les Arcs Winter page. Enjoy!
https://www.facebook.com/LesArcsWinter/photos_stream?tab=photos_albums
@hethbum, yes you can buy the pass at the bottom of the Funi when you arrive. Just hand over the coupon. Very easy.
Last edited by You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net. on Fri 6-03-15 1:05; edited 1 time in total
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@hethbum, yes the samedijeski discount is available at the funicular lift pass office (at the bottom). Pass the bottle when you're done.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| hethbum wrote: |
| whilst on lift passes..... Can you get lift passes in Bourg, as I'm looking at getting a Samdei ski pass when I arrive although don't wont to have to pay for the funicular as well to then get a lift pass at the top, am a talking sense or like I've already been on too much vin? |
You get the Samedi pass at the bottom Funicular office. That includes the return Funicular and all the ski lifts.
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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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thanks all for the advise, I'm looking forward to getting another few days in before the end of the season. Hic Hic 
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Fresh Powder and Blue sky! What more do you want!
Yesterday we went over to the Bellecote Glacier and managed to spend most of the day putting down fresh tracks in the bowl by various routes and then onto the North Face and home with more good snow, untracked almost the whole way down. An excellent day!
The path out of the north face was not that great, but worth the effort. A drink at the finish and home via the Altiport.
The fresh snow has kept the pistes everywhere we went yesterday in good condition so everyone should be happy now!
Good news!
They are getting the 'Waterslide' ready for this weekend and the Big Air Bag as well.
Spring skiing has arrived for the next week so plenty of 'fun in the sun'.
For those coming out you are in for a good week, with Blue sky and plenty of snow.
Photos from the last few days are now posted in the March 2015 Album on my Les Arcs Winter facebook page. Enjoy!
https://www.facebook.com/LesArcsWinter/photos_stream…
If you are passing through Bourg or staying in the Valley. Check out Polaire Star Ski and Snowboard Rental Shop by the bottom station of the Funi. They have great gear for rent plus all those little things you might have left at home. Gordon also does excellent repairs.
http://www.polairestar.com/
Today (Saturday) a few of us went to Val d'Isere and played in the Off Piste all day. I will post the photos in the Espace Killy Album on my facebook page later.
We managed to do about 9000 Vertical Meters. Not a bad effort. The seven off piste routes we did today were: Col Pers, Cugnai, Les Marmottes, La Spatule, Tour de Charvet, Le Lavancher and Le Grand Vallon.
Most routes had good snow and even some powder at times, but we also found hard frozen crud and wind blown crust.
The sun shone all day and it was well worth the effort of driving to Val d'Isere. We parked at Fornet which is still free.
If you have a week or longer Unlimited Paradiski Pass you get a free day in Espace Killy ski area. You can get to Val d'Isere by bus from Bourg, Taxis, drive your own car or rent one in Bourg for the day. It really is quite easy to organize a day out up the valley. We did it in just one evening once we new the weather would be good today.
Tomorrow back in Les Arcs.
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You know it makes sense.
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One more small questions, is there anywhere in Arc 1800 (or nearby) to buy a prepaid SIM card? Preferably with a data plan. Just for a week. Do you know how much it would cost? Thanks!
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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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On vodafone - I guess the same on the other operators, it's £3 / day flat rate to roam with your own current allowance. In all likelihood, something like that would be your cheapest, if not least hassle option.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Unfortunately I'm not on vodafone and my carrier doesn't have these cheap roaming deals. That's why I asked. In Germany and Austria I usually find prepaid SIM cards at 5-10 euro's which is a great deal. Wondering if in France, and specifically Les Arcs, I can buy something similar.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I was looking for the same thing last year but without much success. I did buy a prepaid sim card but the entire €10 credit was gone in one evening just checking email!
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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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@Pending, which company did you buy from, and where? Thanks!
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Not sure but I think it was SFR, and in the local Tabac shop
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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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@chenav, Go down to Bourg on the funicular, walk up the pedestrian street and call into one of the mobile phone shops there. I did it and I speak no French.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| chenav wrote: |
| Unfortunately I'm not on vodafone and my carrier doesn't have these cheap roaming deals. That's why I asked. In Germany and Austria I usually find prepaid SIM cards at 5-10 euro's which is a great deal. Wondering if in France, and specifically Les Arcs, I can buy something similar. |
I'll be very interested to see how you do, considering you primarily want data, and probably a 'reasonable' amount. I drew a blank a couple of years ago, hopefully things have now changed for you.
It may well be that the freebie vodafone sim with a £10 top up which give you 500Mb data, at an extra £3 a day could still be your least hassle option. Just about every bar in LA has free wifi, use that when you can.
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Did the Grand Col Off piste Route today all the way to Villaroger and much to my surprise after the high winds the snow was very nice most of the time.
Headed up a little later and had an easy ski on and off the side of the pistes until noon. Then headed into the national park. The entrance had good snow and then it was a matter of finding the best snow the rest of the way down.
The path out was passable, but a little rocky in places with big moguls as always. However with all the untracked snow we found it was worth the effort.
After a good lunch at the Ferme in Villaroger we finished at the 'Waterslide' which was still shut, but filling with water. Maybe tomorrow! Then I went up to the snowpark for some photos and finally home. Another good day in the sun and snow!
All the pistes we skied were still in good condition today. Although busy on the pistes, the lift queues did moved swiftly. The off piste in resort is well skied almost everywhere, but if you take a guide you can still find some good snow in those hidden away places.
The photos for today are now posted. I hope you join us on the route down to Villaroger from the Grand Col. If you have not done so already, take a look at the photos in the March 2015 Album on my Les Arcs Winter facebook page. You DO NOT have to be signed into facebook to view the photos.
https://www.facebook.com/LesArcsWinter/photos_stream?tab=photos_albums
@chenav, for data people tell me the SFR dongle thing orks well and is not to expensive. It is also easy to log onto wifi in some bars in Les Arcs at different stations. Ask at the tourist office for which places provide this service. Most are free.
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Incidentally if anyone is on the Three network you can use your UK allowance including any data package you have for FREE in France and many other countries. I was in Les Arcs in January and can confirm that it is FREE, I used my phone all over the mountain including my data package, what a result, check out www.three.co.uk
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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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Although the Three network deal is only with 2 partner companies in France - which are think are Free and Bouygues - so if they have no coverage in an area your phone won't connect
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Free!!!
That's the one, thanks. Someone recently told me about it and I'd forgotten the name. Apparently for €2 a month you can get a SIM card with internet which you can upgrade if necessary when in France. I've just ordered one on free.fr
It did require a french address (I used the Hotel I'll be staying in) but accepted my visa card.
Hope it works now.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Today we stayed in Les Arcs and found some nice spring snow in the resort area and off the back of the Aiguille Rouge with the sun shinning and only a little hazy cloud in the sky.
Started the day with a ski down to the Plagnettes chair through the middle off piste area a few times with some nice challenges and then up to the Grand Col where the snow was very mixed. We then headed for the Varet Gondola and more little couloirs and some firm chalky snow on the Robert Blanc face to get us ready for the later routes of the day. Used some quite steep litte drops to sharpen our skills then it was time to head up the Aiguille Rouge.
Dropped off the back into the national park and a nice run down towards Villaroger via the Genepy variant route. Steep in places and good spring snow most of the way.
After a nice lunch at the Soillet headed for Malgovert and more spring snow on the way down to Arc 1600 and home. A good day and there is plenty of nice spring snow around now if you time it right when getting to the different slopes. Best rule is to follow the sun. But be careful later in the day as it get's soft, it may slide!
The pistes are firm and chalky in places, but still fun to ski and the snowpark has some great jumps. The waterslide had a leak so the opening is delayed. Hope it is fixed soon. The slopestyle area for the Comp is well on it's way to being finished. Should be a great event on the 12 / 13 March.
More tomorrow over on the La Plagne side. Some great photos today, but it is late so they will have to wait until tomorrow for posting. Hope everyone out this week is having as much fun as we are!
Remember if you are passing through Bourg or staying in the valley. Book your ski or snowboard rentals from Polaire Star at the bottom of the Funicular. Best to do it online before you arrive.
http://www.polairestar.com/
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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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France Meteo have a couple of potential dumps over the next two weeks or so, main one seems to be this Sunday. If it's good, I'm out there soon!
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France Meteo have a couple of potential dumps over the next two weeks or so, main one seems to be this Sunday. If it's good, I'm out there soon!
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You know it makes sense.
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Anyone staying in Peisey / Vallandry next week? I have my suspicions that the Mont Blanc will become our second home.....
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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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Out in Vallandry on 28th - hoping for some nice skiing
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Poster: A snowHead
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Peisey / Vallandry is as good a place to be in Les Arcs in poor visibility for piste skiers. The four reds down to the bottom are wide and have trees either side to see where you are, and they keep any wind down.
I am in Bourg for four days from Sunday and this will be my second trip in a row with snow forecast every day I'm there. Highly annoying seeing the number of bright sunny days there have been this year that I've missed.
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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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| allanm wrote: |
| Anyone staying in Peisey / Vallandry next week? I have my suspicions that the Mont Blanc will become our second home..... |
I'll be there with a few friends. Can't wait 
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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turbosmurf, Plan Peisey, Peisey or Vallandry..?... or Nancroix..
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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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Today was Omelette restaurant day. A group of us met up at the Vanoise Express and headed over to Montalbert for lunch.
The piste on the way were firm and very hard packed with some icy patches and plenty of chalky snow. The freeze of the night before never really melted all day and these conditions stayed with us for most of the time.
On our return trip after lunch from the restaurant, although in places where the sun had shone the snow was a little softer, conditions remained very firm on most pistes.
Our lunch as usual was very good and it was a nice end to a fun week.
I headed up to the Slope style Comp in Arc 1800 after we returned, but was a little late for any real action. I returned later after a nice cup of tea and saw a few tricks before heading for home.
The comp was good, but being up the hill near the top of the Chantel Chair was a pain. I hope they move it lower down again next year.
If anyone wants to come ride or meet up for a beer in the coming week. Send e a PM on facebook. Hope all those arriving have a good holiday. They say the weather may change now and bring more snow. I hope so!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| allanm wrote: |
| turbosmurf, Plan Peisey, Peisey or Vallandry..?... or Nancroix.. |
Plan-peisey near the cable car apparently...
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It ain't brilliant, we didn't get out until 12ish, and no further than top. of thr derby, a great crack, but hard icy of the sides.
So good to see so many people I knew from the last ten years or so, absolutely magic.
Last edited by Then you can post your own questions or snow reports... on Sun 15-03-15 8:41; edited 1 time in total
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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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off to Club Med Arc extreme @ Les Arcs 2000 tomorrow....can't wait !
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March 15. Very Windy up top and some lifts closed as the day went on. But will still had a nice ski across to Champagny and back.
I had a look at the Slopestyle course above Arc 1800 in the morning which has not been knocked down yet. Look's fun, but not as good as last year. Mind the iron bolts in the ice if you are tempted to have a try!
After a quick ski from the top of the Grand Renard chair down to the Vanoise Express we started looking for good snow over on the la Plagne side. Not easy today.
After some fast piste skiing with a little look at a few off piste spots (all hard packed and not much fun) we arrived at Champagny for lunch. Then back toward Les Arcs via the the top of the Roche de Mio. Very windy up top. The tunnel is not as good as past years. Where have all the animal noises gone?
Then those with energy kept going through the forest back to the Vanoise Express and we even found some better snow.
A final blast across Les Arcs and home. Ths Waterslide at the Altiport is ready at last. Come and try your luck. The best free fun on the mountain!
The photos of our trip down the Friolin Bowl are now posted and more to follow of the other days shortly. Enjoy!
https://www.facebook.com/LesArcsWinter/photos_stream?tab=photos_albums
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FAQ
