I know we cant predict the weather and the snow but.....has anyone done the paradiski at easter. we are thinking of going to la plagne 1800 on april 5th. our school hols are early which is helpful. in theory it makes sense as base is 1800m and there is lots of high skiing including glacier. also arcs 2000 will be accessible ...provided the links across the vanoise are ok. would be good to hear from someone who has skied there late into the season. does the snow around montchavin and peisey compromise the link ? will areas like champagny and montalbert be out of bounds due to low altitude ? thanks in advance for your words of wisdom !
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
We have skied Montalbert every Easter for the last 8 years only once have we ended uo with a thin ribbon of man made snow into the village.
The links into the Vanoise Express are always kept open with artificial snow if necessary. Skiing back down into Champagny village is usually kept open but if needs be downloading in the Gondola is straight forward (and if tired legs, easier).
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?
backhojo, Nope, we usually go through 1800 to get back to Montalbert, it does get a bit slushy late afternoon but in April you can't expect anything less
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Skied lots at that time of year. Mostly it's been fine, with the majority of the pistes open, albeit a bit soft in the afternoons and a bit crisp in the morning. Off piste is typically spring snow. Some years, last season for example, it has been epically good. One year it was very bad, but still skiing to be had around Arc 2000 bowl.
April 5th is a good 3 weeks before the resort closes. I have been lots of times at that time of year and even later and the skiing has always been excellent. Indeed one year towards the end of April the temperature in the resort was hitting 20 degrees in the sun but the snow stayed in excellent condition because there was no wind and the skies were clear.
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Definitely no problems in Les Arcs at the start of April even in a bad year
After all it is free
After all it is free
here's a few photos from Les Arcs in April 3 2009 (obviously the snow conditions may vary in other years)
2000 Bowl, looking down from top of Transarc(ish)
Taking the Vagere up out of 1800
Ecureils Piste looking a little thin, but definitely skiable (and this is round towards the sunny side of the hill)
Transarc midstation and environs
Even enough snow for a bit of rugger
Starting to get a bit sticky at the end of the day (just above the main peisey / VE lifts)
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
Paradiski is really well set up in terms of snow coverage so you are extreemly unlikely to have a problem on April 5th - I've been here 10 years and always happily skiied until well after that. The resort doesn't shut till the 27th April this year.
There are two glaciers (1 in Les Arcs, 1 in La Plagne) and something like 70% of the domain is above 2000m making it pretty snowsure. The slopes needed for accessing the Vanoise Express all have snow making facilities and so it'll definitely be open when you come - no issues.
Happy planning. . .
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
bertie bassett, That last photo of yours looks more than a bit sticky
backhojo, As others have said, you should be fine at Easter. I have a friend who has lived there all his life, and he maintains that it often snows in the 2nd week of April.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
Here's a video of our trip to Paradiski this Easter (we were there from 8th April). You can see from the panoramas that there was still excellent snow coverage and conditions only got slightly sloppy on the lowest slopes (1600m and below) from about 15:30 (but still perfectly skiable). We stayed in Les Coches and had no problem skiing all the way back to our chalet throughout the week. I hope this is helpful
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.
bertie bassett, tut tut about the weight distribution on that chairlift
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
backhojo, We have skied La Plagne for the last 11 years at Easter and it is usually pretty good until towards the end of April. I can only remember one season, 2010/11 I think, when there wasn't enough snow.
Most of the main Champagny ski area will be open, it is only the 2 red runs going into the village that tend to suffer later on in the season. They keep the le Bois run through the trees open as long as possible with artificial snow but, as boredsurfin, pointed out you can take the gondola down to the village if needs be.
As it is South facing it a lot of the Champagny ski area can become slushy on sunny days in the afternoon. Skiing back to the top of the gondola can be interesting if you are hoping to take the last lift down.
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
backhojo, Always been able to ski back to Montalbert until the end of the season for the 11 seasons I have had an appartment there ...
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Have ski'd there last few years at Easter and was fine - only really 2010 (I think) which was utterly pants when skiing was restricted to main Arc bowl and one run back to main centres.
Still plenty of skiing though
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
thanks for all the replies. we skied easter last year in tignes and it was like the middle of winter. loads of snow and lots of white outs. def not sping skiing !! we have also had spring like conditions in montchavin in January (but it was a very bad year). skied in montgenevre in early april and that was OK and that's much lower and also further south. thanks for all your help
FAQ
Poster: A snowHead
