 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi Guys,
Can anybody recommend a good off piste guide in Les Arcs?
Cheers
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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 don't know specifically but Laurent at http://www.skischool-valdisere.com/ is good and used to live in Bourg St Maurice when I knew him, so should be available.
Some of the Top Ski and Alpine Experience guides who operate from Val d'Isere probably live in Bourg or near it (Laurent originally worked for Topski), so you could try them perhaps.
I gather New Generation ski guides operate in Les Arcs. I have not had personal experience of them but someone on here recommended them.
Evolution 2 ski school do Helicopter drops from Les Arcs with guides so probably also do normal guiding (you would have to ask).
Last edited by Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person on Mon 25-11-13 14:46; edited 2 times in total
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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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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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OK here are the Les Arcs Tourist Offices. http://www.lesarcsnet.com/les-arcs/tourist.html . Click on one and then on "ski" at the top, and then "guides" and they list them.
Personally I have only skied Les Arcs with Chris Harrop (originally English) who lives up the road near Ste Foy. He is good but only does it part time for fun now because he has a lucrative business building and renovating chalets. I shall be skiing with him with a group of friends in March.
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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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Thanks guys, I skied with a guide called Laurent last year at LP thru Oxygene, I can remember his surname. I will try some of these guys and compare the rates, I am over for the season so would be good to do a few days with guide and understand the mountain. Hopefully not like my last guided day in Verbier where the guide got us lost in the trees near Siviez and we missed out on skiing backside of Mont Fort....gutted!!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| Fishmongatti wrote: |
| Thanks guys, I skied with a guide called Laurent last year at LP thru Oxygene, I can remember his surname. I will try some of these guys and compare the rates, I am over for the season so would be good to do a few days with guide and understand the mountain. Hopefully not like my last guided day in Verbier where the guide got us lost in the trees near Siviez and we missed out on skiing backside of Mont Fort....gutted!! |
Pop a pm across to Snowcrazy or post on the weather thread. He skis les arcs a lot every winter and knows lots of the off-piste
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bertie bassett +1. Yes absolutely, he is the snowheads authority on the place.
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Where will you be staying, Fishmongatti? Will you be getting a "chicken pass"? I can explain if you don't know what that is. Presume you have avi gear...
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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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Bobski62, we are sating in Le Berard. Got all the avi gear etc, absolutely no idea what is meant by a 'chicken pass' mind you! Explanation might be required....
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Le Berard... Hmmm. How are you journeying to the lifts each day? Feel free to pm me, as I will be out a fair bit in Les Arcs again this winter, and now and again will dip into some more adventurous off-piste inc. some day tours.
The chickens in question are Tetras Lyre - lyre-tailed black grouse. A large part of the off-piste in Les Arcs (the NE flank facing towards Villaroger / St Foy) forms a nature reserve to protect them (it's a hibernation and nesting ground) and out of bounds without a pass (or guide or instructor). If you like what you see once heading down it with a guide and want to return, it's worth getting along to one of the regular lectures to get the pass, along with any like-minded skiing buddies. Enforced by gendarmes with binoculars levying heavy fines, btw.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Bobski62, was planning on driving up to either Les Granges and grab the funicular or dump the car in 1600. Was planning on trying to get to a number of the nearby resorts whilst there. Bit new to touring unfortunately and my set up is more suited to short skins (fat skis, stiff boots, Marker Barons etc!).
I noticed the nature reserve, no doubt it would have some excellent skiing. Last thing you want is a hefty fine! Where abouts are these lectures held, BSM presumably? Will need to check it out in the first few days after I arrive!
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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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Hi Fishmongatti, hope the daily commute does not get too tedious. Handy that you will have the car. I am similarly minded on the touring front - it's as much about accessing intersting stuff as touring per-se. I tend to hook up with a friend in Tignes for that. Your season pass will give you two free days in Espace Killy, 3V and St Foy, btw. I think the early season discount may be ending very soon so best dive in if you have not bought your pass yet (but hold off if you are working, as better discounts are available).
The lectures are held in 1600 early season then Villaroger later. They will post up the dates and times on the boards that mark access to the reserve (eg opposite Lanchette lift, Grand Col lift). If there is a gang in Nancroix that want to do it I will probably offer to drive them over and can let you know. You will need a photocopy of your passport, a small ID photo, French SAE and about €7 (they will accept cash on the night). It consists of 2 hours of dense French with a slide show that basically says: "it's a nature reserve, you can only ski here, here and here, oh and there's avalanches"...
Here are a couple of links that might be handy (some blurb and last year's dates). They are not super strict with the paperwork/form filling. But they do have a real passion for what they do.
http://www.villaroger.fr/Doc/Aff-seances-hab-2013.pdf
http://www.villaroger.fr/reserve-naturelle.html
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Fishmongatti, I'm also out in Les Arcs for the winter (staying in Peisey). If you do find a guide and want people to share the cost, let me know as there's a good chance I'll be interested! I have a similar setup of fat skis and barons.. 
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You know it makes sense.
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... now I think of it, ditto.
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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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Personally I wouldn't ski most of that steep stuff on the back of the Aiguille Rouge without a guide anyway. (There is a gentler bit at the West end of the North face - near the Villaroger piste - or by skiing over the Grand Col which is a very long route requiring a guide to route-find).
However there is good off piste outside the reserve area too plus the whole huge La Plagne off piste area now combined by the linking lift.
There is a lavish book detailing the off-piste of both areas called Les Clés de Paradiski (http://livre.fnac.com/a6564663/Didier-Givois-Les-cles-de-Paradiski )
Ste Foy is certainly worth a visit too.
Last edited by Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name: on Fri 29-11-13 19:06; edited 1 time in total
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Poster: A snowHead
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If anybody fancies splitting the cost of a guide I would be very keen to get involved. Might need a few days to find my snow legs again but hopefully that should take too long! Also, got the car with me so if anybody fancies a day trip then I would be more than happy to drive!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Hi Fishmongatti - I have PM'ed you.
Hi snowball - I hear what you say. When the mayor's son was killed a few years back in this area, I remember comments along the lines of "this side of the rope it's Disney Land; the other side it's the wild west". And yet, and yet and yet... there must be a compromise to be found between relying on a guide for ever, and learning some moutain craft to use with like-minded friends. It's a toughie in every sense. Probably the subject of a separate thread!
Great book. Likewise the other two. Especially impressive the way they fit in your back pocket for easy reference! 
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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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| snowball wrote: |
| bertie bassett +1. Yes absolutely, he is the snowheads authority on the place. |
Obvious question hopefully, but are you insured with snowcrazy if off piste?
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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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