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LIVE TR: Les Coches, Paradiski

 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
This will be our 8th family Christmas trip:

2009 - Aime La Plagne (Paradiski) - snowmaggedon on the outward journey
2010 - Oz-en-Oisan (ADH)
2011 - Les Coches (Paradiski)
2012 - Les Contamines
2013 - Oz-en-Oisan (ADH)
2014 - Tignes Le Lac - snowmaggedon on the return journey
2015 - Les Coches (Paradiski)
2016 - Les Coches (Paradiski)

Looking back we've had an enormous amount of fun (links above). Snow conditions have been a really mixed bag, not unsurprisingly for the time of year of course. 2009, 2011 and 2012 were definitely vintage years. 2014 and 2015 certainly not. 2010 and 2013 fair to middling. Wonder what this year will bring...

So the fundamentals:

Having had a couple of dodgy years I guess you could say we are playing it safe by going somewhere we know will hold up even if it's another poor early season. At the moment that looks like a smart move. We're going 17th to 24th December because it's a bit cheaper and less busy. May pay the price snow conditions wise but that is pot luck anyhow.

Apartment booked and paid - 1100 Euros for 2 adults 2 children in apartment with 6 day Paradiski lift passes + the free afternoon on the opening Saturday (a great deal)
Eurotunnel booked and paid - £153 (Tesco vouchers)
Annual insurance still running - £132 for Standard cover for France with no cancellation, personal effects or money cover

More updates to follow... how many sleeps!?

Little Angel Laughing snowHead


Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Thu 22-12-16 23:00; edited 3 times in total
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
@Layne, Great resort - one of my faves.

Perfect position to explore the whole of that great area

Hoping to be there myself 18th-21st but waiting to see if conditions allow.
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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?
After lots of umming and ahhhing over the last couple of years - I kid you not - the wife has bought new kit!

Salomon Quest Pro 100 ski boots and White Doctor FT9 skis fitted with Head LRX 9.0 B90 bindings at bargain prices from Glisshop. With all the discounts that little lot was £392.31. Let's hope she gets on with it all. It's all untested Shocked Skullie
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@Layne, I hope they all match wink
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 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
red 27 wrote:
@Layne, I hope they all match wink


Think my concern is that she will trash the new skis on the rocks on the piste which seems an inevitability with the weather as it is at the moment. We are taking her old ones so I might suggest she sticks to using those if things don't improve.

Talking of which I am trying to not get too obsessed with the snow forecast or lack thereof but it's tough. At each day passes I think come on guys there must be something on the horizon. I mean what is the record for the number of precipitationless days in La Plagne!

To ease the pain I bought a new skiing backpack today - Dakine Heli Pro II 28L!!
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I always hate the few days before the Christmas trip. There is always so much going on. I'm knackered from the long slog of work since the summer holidays and so is the rest of the family. Everyone has got SAD. And in the midst of all that you have to prep and pack. This year is no different!

But there is some good news appearing on the snow forecast this morning. Sunday night to Monday morning - possible light snow showers. It's a start people, it's a start. Maybe there is a snow god after all.

Very Happy Laughing snowHead
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 Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
@Layne, fingers crossed the snow arrives
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 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
Bad news, little prospect of snow for 17th to 24th December, the Sunday/Monday stuff is likely to only be a smattering at most.
Good news - looks like the piste down to Les Coches is ready to open. All bashed, and pisteurs putting the crash cushions etc out today. Gondolas and chairs have been test running over the last couple of days.
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Gear ready to load in the morning.





Last edited by You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net. on Sat 19-08-17 22:41; edited 1 time in total
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Looks as though you have more ski boots than clothes Toofy Grin Maybe you are just showing one person's clothes?! Have a great trip and will look forward to the rest of your report snowHead snowHead
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowymum wrote:
Looks as though you have more ski boots than clothes Toofy Grin Maybe you are just showing one person's clothes?! Have a great trip and will look forward to the rest of your report snowHead snowHead

Not sure that is everything is there clothes wise but we are taking less kids clothes this time as we tended to go overboard when they were younger. I travel pretty light. One set of ski clothes, one set of evening clothes plus a few odds and sods.

We've got a lot of equipment. First the kids have both ski and snowboard stuff. And this time round the wife has two sets of stuff because she has bought new but wants to take the old stuff in case of rocky slopes and/or issues.

Roofbox has gone on this morning. I am doing a short day while the wife is off and preparing other stuff.
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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.
Hi Layne

Have you been round to my house whilst I have been out? - I have the exact same ski bags !!

Very Happy

Griggs
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 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
Griggs wrote:
Hi Layne

Have you been round to my house whilst I have been out? - I have the exact same ski bags !!

Very Happy

Griggs

You said I could borrow them right?
wink Laughing
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 You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
On the M1. Left MK at 16.38. Crawling between J13 and J12 Sad
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 Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
I hope you packed your sunglasses - there hasn't been a cloud in the sky for at least two weeks now¬
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 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Past the jam (breakdown) and the radio says the M25 is behaving so back on track!
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
RobinS wrote:
I hope you packed your sunglasses - there hasn't been a cloud in the sky for at least two weeks now¬

We've packed some (clouds). Something must have filled the car anyhow!
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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?
At the tunnel. No queues to speak of no bump,still on the 21.50. Time to eat the stuff we emptied from the fridge and fruit bowl earlier!
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Just starting my second stint of driving.
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 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Arrived at Casino supermarket in Albertville bang on opening time. Shopping done now heading into the hills. Frosty -1.5 down on the valley. Drive was smooth though very foggy 50 miles either side of Lyon.
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Arrived in the resort at 11ish.

Went to the agency in Montchavin. No problems getting the keys early as you'd expect. Issue with a missing free childrens ski pass soon sorted.

Drove up to the apartment at Les Coches. First impressions. Place is bone dry!!

Got unpacked and organised. Eventually get on the slopes at 2.45. Ski for about two hours over to Plagne Centre, up the Grand Rochette and back again. It's a real shame to see the mountains looking so bare but they have done a great job with the pistes.

Anyone good for our lot to have a bit of a run out free of charge and will hopefully mean a smoother start to the first full day tomorrow.

Crevettes, Spag Bol, red wine, tea, cake has been heavily consumed. Beds have been made and now it's time for Zzzzzz's
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Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
@Layne, Where are you staying in Les Coches? Do you have easy access to the slopes. We've stayed in Montchavin a couple of times and have booked through Erna Low. However, they are not doing the apartments we went to last year now, so will maybe book direct but also looking at alternatives.
Have a great time, love that area.
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 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
Gilly28 wrote:
@Layne, Where are you staying in Les Coches? Do you have easy access to the slopes. We've stayed in Montchavin a couple of times and have booked through Erna Low. However, they are not doing the apartments we went to last year now, so will maybe book direct but also looking at alternatives.
Have a great time, love that area.

We are in apartment block Le De 3. It is about a 100 metres walk at the start and end of the day.

Can really recommend Immobiliere des Glaciers 33 4 79 04 22 86. We've had apartments from them twice now - in both Montchavin and Les Coches - and they have been very good.
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@Layne, how is the snow. We arrive xmas eve first day skiing Xmas day. Still no fresh snow forecast all looks a bit grim on the webcams Sad
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I decided not to set an alarm for this morning. Everyone was toast when we we went to bed at a little after 10 so I just thought let's see when we wake up. I was the first to rise at 8.45! Slept like logs we did. Eventually the clan get their sh!te together and we were on the slopes at 11am. The sun was shining. I believe it is now about 24 days since there was snow. And that is how it looks. That said we hardly encountered a rock or mud patch through the day. Some of the slopes do have patches that have sheen that tells you there ain't no stopping here but there are some winners too. The shame for the kids is that there are very few side of the piste jumps and other bits and pieces that they have so much fun with. And it just ain't as pretty as it normally is. It's certainly still better than the office and indeed a snowdome.

We just skied in La Plagne today - from the Roche De Mio, Grand Rochettes, Verdon Nord, etc. down.

Big excitement of the day was after a couple of hours on the slopes yesterday the missus was satisfied she could take out her new skis without them getting trashed. She also wore the new boots. As you'd expect it was a tough day with the boots. But she certainly likes them. Might be one pinch point to look at and resolve over time. She wasn't going overboard about the ski's saying they performed "like any other ski" she has had. But that isn't necessarily a bad thing.


Last edited by Ski the Net with snowHeads on Sun 12-03-17 1:16; edited 1 time in total
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
dup


Last edited by snowHeads are a friendly bunch. on Sun 12-03-17 1:15; edited 1 time in total
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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.
@Gilly28 , if your looking for a place in Les Coches you cant go far wrong with Les Chalet de wengen , i own an appt there so maybe biased , its run by Goelia , but if you search for Chalet de wengen on owners direct I'm sure there are several owners on there . Its got a swimming pool and great views over the valley to Mont Blanc and only 50mtrs from the main village square
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 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
@gwatts10, I did look at those last year, but as far as I could gather some of them are a fair walk uphill to lifts? Last year we were advised perhaps not the best with 3 kids (2 families) due to the distance.
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 You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
Spent the last two days over in Les Arcs where I have to say the pistes have been really well prepared and provided great skiing. Monday we weren't exactly early out. Laddo decided it was time to get back out on the board and to be fair to him he stayed with us all day and was making some pretty smooth turns. As there was a fair bit of cloud and a few light snow showers we stayed largely above Vallandry and 1800. When we went to the top of the Trans Arc to come back directly to the Vanoise it was a bit blustery and unpleasant but once you got back into the 1800 valley it was fine again. Tuesday we were out fairly early. The weather was similar for the most part as yesterday although it got sunnier after lunch. Probably the highlight of the day for me was skiing off to the left at the top of the Trans Arc next to the Arcaulle chair. The wind had blown some snow up to make the skiing vaguely powdery and exciting, certainly in the context of this week!
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 Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
The missus



The children


The bare mountains


Last edited by Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name: on Sat 19-08-17 22:43; edited 1 time in total
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 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Kids skiing and boarding above Arc 1800 on Monday

http://youtube.com/v/1_ojHZsLtYs
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
@Layne, Your children have good style on the slopes and also excellent piste etiquette. I like the moment @27s when your daughter controls her speed to take account of the skier below her.

Great TR - Slightly depressing to see the slopes so bare at this time of year but you guys seem to be making the best of it which is admirable
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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?
red 27 wrote:
@Layne, Your children have good style on the slopes and also excellent piste etiquette. I like the moment @27s when your daughter controls her speed to take account of the skier below her.

Great TR - Slightly depressing to see the slopes so bare at this time of year but you guys seem to be making the best of it which is admirable

Cheers red 27. For sure we do tell talk to them a lot about safety on the slopes and being aware of what is around them. It's good to see it is paying off Smile
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Had a nightmare with my boots yesterday. Early afternoon the bases of my forefeet were feeling painful, especially the left one. By 3.30 I was in such pain I had to turn in. A real rarity for me. When I took my custom inners out the front of the left one had a lip turned downwards at the front, with a groove in the middle. This had raised and disfigured the forefoot. Thankfully the apartment had an hairdryer and I was able to heat it and mould it flat. There was also a theory that the 5 to 10 kgs of middle aged spread I had put on since buying them a decade ago had slightly increased the volume of my feet. I countered this by wearing my thinnest ski socks. A combination of the two seemed to do the trick as I had a trouble free day. I have no idea how the footbed came to be disfigured in this one as there was nothing in the liner or shell that would have caused. A theory is that I had taken it out and placed it next to a heater but I am sure I would have seen it when I put it back in. Who knows. I do have a couple of pairs of quite thick socks. I can't say as they have been a huge problem previously but I will be sticking with thinner ones for now.

The missus hasn't worn her boots since Monday and is unsure whether to try and get the pinch point sorted here or back in blighty. As of now it looks like the latter.
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 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Today the weather started out cloudy but then got sunny later in the day. We once again returned to Les Arcs - Vallandry and 1800 sections. Aggy Rouge was still shut. Nothing much is changing one way or another so it's pretty much a case of enjoying the piste skiing, snow park, etc.
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@Layne, we arrive at les Coches tomorrow lunchtime so just after an update on the piste conditions. I see the forecast indicates warmer temps so will the run down to les Coches be skiable? How are the piste conditions through the rest of la plagne. Just trying to reassure mrs Jirac and the kids that we will have enough skiing to enjoy ourselves. I have forewarned them not to expect a winter wonderland!
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Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
jirac18 wrote:
@Layne, we arrive at les Coches tomorrow lunchtime so just after an update on the piste conditions. I see the forecast indicates warmer temps so will the run down to les Coches be skiable? How are the piste conditions through the rest of la plagne. Just trying to reassure mrs Jirac and the kids that we will have enough skiing to enjoy ourselves. I have forewarned them not to expect a winter wonderland!

Definitely skiable back to Les Coches at the moment and I would expect it to remain so as they've used snow cannons a lot earlier in the week to build up the base. If the temps are high some runs will suffer a little and stones will start to become an issue. But I don't think you will lack for enjoyment.
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 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
Decided to head over to Les Arcs 2000 bowl today to see whether we could get up the Aggy Rouge for the first time this week. It was a lovely sunny day with virtually no wind. After a good blast down to the Vanoise Express, we were soon over the other side. Up and down to the Le Derby where there was no queue at all. And then from there a blast down to the bottom of the Trans Arc where again there no was no queue. When we got over to 2000 we first of all had a blast off piste down the side of Arcabulle. This pitch never fails to deliver whatever the conditions so we had a couple of blasts down and then headed over to the Grand Col. This was not in great shape and so after one run we headed on down to the Varet, stopping for a quick picnic lunch on the way. Then it was straight on the Varet and then Aggy Rouge cable car. The top of the Rouge run was challenging with a few small rocks to keep you on your toes. But the snow was generally good. After a while we split left on to the unpisted Genepi. Again you had to be careful of the odd rock sticking out but it was a great ski. It changed from grippy snow to crusty to a little slushy. Great fun. We then headed back over to above Vallandry and made a couple of runs down. Pistes still in good condition. After getting back over to Les Coches we got one last chair lift to end the day with a nice easy run down with the sun setting on Mont Blanc in the distance.
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The glorious view on the last run of the day



Last edited by You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net. on Sat 19-08-17 22:44; edited 1 time in total
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We aren't skiing on Saturday. Half packed. Always sad to see the week end tempered by the fact that it's going to be busier with no imminent change of conditions.
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