Fair enough, johnE.
But we are going to stick withSki a la carte for this coming season.
In depth laser enhanced pear reviewed research by boredsurfin in 2018-19 season demonstrated Ski a la Carte matched a Season Pass for casual seasonaires.
And well done to boredsurfin for getting this thread going.
A little bit of optimism is always worthwhile
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
@Jonpim, Those Pear reviews mean a lot Personally I like a nice Williams Pear or sometimes an English conference
Can anyone who knows La Plagne really well advise?
We've booked self catering apartment for 3 weeks in Plagne Villages. I've skied La Plagne many times but never had a reason to ski right into Plagne Villages so don't know it so well. Can't really tell from the piste map but is there a way to ski out without coming up the old drag lift first (Aollets)? Good maps suggest there is a short path that joins onto the end of Bridge just before plagne centre.
Also does anyone know how steep the blue is under Aollets as i've read comments is steep for a blue. Can't really work it out from pictures. Just trying to manage expectations for my nervous early intermediate skier.
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Depending on your location in Plagne Village you can either ski down to Bergerie on the Ecartee (the bottom is steep for a blue but is wide after the bridge) and take the Boulevard or you can go out onto the green slope at the start of Aollets & Chevrette and head down a flattish track to La plagne.
To access the steep part you refer to you would have to gain altitude first using Aollets or bergerie.
After all it is free
After all it is free
@Russeh, Ski-out: as Charlieesays, it depends on where you are staying. Going via Ecartee you can avoid the steep part at the bottom by keeping to the right after you go under the bridge. The route direct to Plagne Centre is quite flat at the beginning, but then fairly gentle.
Ski-in. I agree Dolines/Chevrette is quite steep for a blue, but it is also wide and usually not busy - as the only people using it tend to be those staying in Plagne Villages. If traversing across the piste just take care to avoid the drag lift at the side!
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Thanks @Charliee, @ecureuil. The place we have booked is right next to the ESF office, so right at the bottom there. It's in the block directly behind the start of Aollets.
Cool so there is a way out going down from there. I didn't realise you could get to Ecartee from Villages either. It looks like you have to cross the road and a car park, or can you only do it if you're further up that station?
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@Russeh, there is quite a bit of accommodation in Villages that is across the road, and from much of that you can ski a short distance off-piste down onto Ecartee more easily than climbing up to the snowfront by the ESF office.
From where you are it will be easier to take the flattish route out towards Plagne Centre.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
That's good we've got options then for getting out, at least if she doesn't like the look of the drag lift on the first few days we can take the flat route out.
This is the only issue with La Plagne, its got some nice blues for early intermediates but with little nasty bits like at the bottom of Ecartee and its the same with the runs from the top of Bergerie that drops into belllcote, easy with a bit of a steep bit at the end. There's a natural half pipe down that way somewhere that cuts the steep bit out, remember being taken on that myself as a beginner and thought the instructor was nuts
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.
Russeh wrote:
... its the same with the runs from the top of Bergerie that drops into belllcote, easy with a bit of a steep bit at the end. There's a natural half pipe down that way somewhere that cuts the steep bit out, remember being taken on that myself as a beginner and thought the instructor was nuts
As with Ecartee, you can easily avoid the steep part of Trieuse entirely: just keep right when you reach the (Swiss?) restaurant, and follow the Rhodos easy way/facile piste that traverses around to Arolles - with various options to cut left getting progressively shorter / less steep the further you go. Although not marked as such on the piste map, you can also continue to follow this easy track/piste across the line of the Col de Forcle drag until it meets Ours - making the whole route into an easy blue.
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
@ecureuil many thanks for the pointers, will definitely give those a go with my wife when we are out there for a few weeks (hopefully)
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
@Russeh
If you're staying in a block that backs onto the piste with the two drags, I'd just pootle down to Centre from there rather than crossing the road onto Ecartee
Is the aversion to the drags due to being boarders ?
I've stayed in PV many times and have found the drags very useful. Aollets especially, as it helps get you over towards Bellecote without having to deal with the Bergerie bottleneck
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
@ukredsox nah we're skiers but my wife is a very nervous early intermediate. I've seen a comment somewhere that the Aollets drag is quite harsh and was until recently labelled "difficult" she might not fancy that on the first few days so just trying to cover off options.
Just been looking at a youtube video of the route into Bellcote as suggested by @ecureuil i think that would be within her comfort zone which is good news as it gets her to another station on skis.
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
@Russeh
The Chevette drag would be a good one for your wife to try.
If she's comfortable on that, you can turn right at the top and ski down into Centre. This avoids the flat bit just below the two drags and the Green path to Centre that can get a bit busy.
Getting around La Plagne as a nervous intermediate is my specialist subject. My friends are either advanced skiers or confident intermediates.
Therefore, I've become a bit of an expert at getting myself around the resort (and over to Les Arcs) by relatively easy routes.
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
@ukredsox we'll have to give that a go
How did you find Les Coches going over to Les Arcs? I think those (often) icy tree runs arn't so fun if you're not so confident?
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?
@Russeh,
If you go to iride.co.uk you can ‘virtually’ ski most runs and ride most lifts in La Plagne. Many in 360 degree, HD quality.
With a piste map in hand you can actually have a really good picture In your head of the ski area before you arrive. I don’t know any other resort that has this. Stuart does very good videos.
Fatmap is also excellent.
Eggfried, Thank you for that.
Been a La Plagne fan for years and never come across iride.co.uk and snow-guru.com/vr/.
Brilliant.
Though the slow-mo presentation of going down Palsembleu (https://snow-guru.com/vr/la-plagne-biolley-piste-palsembleu/) was slightly disconcerting - presumably view from a skidoo?
Anyway, now can spend hours doing all the runs in VR before (hopefully) start of season for real.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Russeh wrote:
How did you find Les Coches going over to Les Arcs? I think those (often) icy tree runs arn't so fun if you're not so confident?
Below the tree line the various blue pistes (Mont Blanc, Myrtilles, Pierre Blanches are generally very pleasant apart from the odd short sharp steeper section which are difficult for those not confident. The best snow (most grippy) will be found at the edge of the piste (which aren't particularly narrow) but because of the proximity of the trees those less confident tend not to go there. Don't be tempted by the red Esselet which is very tricky for someone not confident.
Eggfried, Thank you for that.
Been a La Plagne fan for years and never come across iride.co.uk and snow-guru.com/vr/.
Brilliant.
Though the slow-mo presentation of going down Palsembleu (https://snow-guru.com/vr/la-plagne-biolley-piste-palsembleu/) was slightly disconcerting - presumably view from a skidoo?
Anyway, now can spend hours doing all the runs in VR before (hopefully) start of season for real.
Stuart, who publishes iRide also does excellent weekly Reports on the site and Utube. They often run for 20 minutes or more. I haven’t found another weekly resort Repot as good as these. He generally put a short version on Utube and a longer version on iRide. The ‘Yuge’ app is very good too.
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
I will check that out @Eggfried looks really useful.
@Layne maybe its because when i usually visit La Plagne its early in the session but most of those runs are a bit meh at the end of the day. When i go without my wife we usually stay in La Coches so know that area reasonably well but i think its useful to canvas other peoples opinions.
Anyway this conversation could very well be totally academic given the current COVID stats for France and Britain hopefully not though...
After all it is free
After all it is free
You could have gone skiing this weekend!
Picture below shows Plagne 1800 on Saturday morning.
Has stayed cold all weekend, with regular flurries of snow.
Thaw starts today, and back to Autumn by the end of the week.
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.
Russeh wrote:
@Layne maybe its because when i usually visit La Plagne its early in the session but most of those runs are a bit meh at the end of the day. When i go without my wife we usually stay in La Coches so know that area reasonably well
Been on 9 family trips staying in Les Coches either Christmas week or late season. Not that I am dick waving, just of interest. Maybe familiarity breeds contempt and all that but as I say I there are definitely short sections that are quite steep in between what I think are quite mellow longer sections.
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Ski the Net with snowHeads
@Layne familiarity definitely breeds contempt i reckon.
Les Coches is a great location just generally, my preferred based for the whole of paradiski. The only downside is you're pretty trapped if they close the high lifts due to wind, but i've only had that a couple of times for the first hour or so.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
Well, the snow from last weekend has mostly all gone now. From mid winter back to autumn in a week, though the place looks more like late spring with snow still covering gullies in the hills above Plagne Centre.
We've been walking round the place looking at the various works going on.
Lovatière is progressing well, but ski-resort.info suggests it won't be finished until 2021. Watching the helocopter so accurately and efficiently drop the various bits of each support pillar into place was impressive.
Grand Rochette. Upgrading the bottom lift station to allow entry from both sides continues, and will hopefully be finished on time.
New accommodation Plagne Soleil. Still some work to do, but it looks like they have maintained the Dou du Praz piste down to Bergerie with road access to the new buildings going over a bridge.
Envers? Who knows
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.
@Jonpim, good to hear as regards GR. Such a pain having to stick around the back if coming from the wrong side.
Presumably VN will stay open until the replacement is finished?
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
Layne, yes, think Verdon Nord it is for this winter. We got all excited that the new lift might be working come December, but though the lift support posts were going in there is no sign of a bottom lift station yet.
And being able to get onto Grand Rochette from the Colorado side is a sensible idea - just interesting how merging 2 queues is going to work.
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
There is a wonderful picture on the La Plagne Webcam site just now: https://www.la-plagne.com/decouvrir-la-plagne/domaine-skiable/webcams/glacier
The view from the Glacier shows a clear dawn with cloud below covering the rest of La Plagne.
Up at Glacier level (and Roche de Mio) is a good covering of snow, but only a dusting down at Plagne Center.
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
@Jonpim, always nice to record them for posterity. I love a nice view. From Roche and the Glacier.
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Thank you thefatcontroller: looks even better in your pics
(Not quite so good now . . . )
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Looks like they are building a Moving Carpet between Colorado lift and Grand Rochette . . .
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?
Jonpim wrote:
Looks like they are building a Moving Carpet between Colorado lift and Grand Rochette . . .
Some sense in that if it goes high enough for children / beginners to easily access Baby. It was quite an uphill walk - with skiers passing both left and right.
Can anyone tell me what the latest Glacier plans are, do I understand they plan to abandon the Chiaupe section to include the glacier chair, ie all of the area to the right of ridge that Traverse crosses.
If so this will be a disaster for 'lift served' off piste routes such as Cul du Nant, Fountaine Noire. I hope I'm wrong or I might be selling my pad in La Plagne!
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Charliee wrote:
Can anyone tell me what the latest Glacier plans are, do I understand they plan to abandon the Chiaupe section to include the glacier chair, ie all of the area to the right of ridge that Traverse crosses.
If so this will be a disaster for 'lift served' off piste routes such as Cul du Nant, Fountaine Noire. I hope I'm wrong or I might be selling my pad in La Plagne!
is it possible for someone give a quick translation of the options and scenarios.
Many thanks in advance
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
There is a school of thought that bubbles to the surface every few years that the Glacier should be ‘abandoned’ as it is in a state of retreat. We have already seen summer skiing up there ceased. It is in the national park (actually it’s not but that’s another argument) etc etc. The latest suggestions have caused a bit of a stir - hence that video - there is an issue with the glacier that by law there has to be a means of evacuation by land if helicopters can’t fly, hence the glacier is closed so often in the last couple of years (there is no safe land evacuation route) when conditions are forecast that would stop the helicopters.
One of the lifts up there must be replaced soon as it has reached the end of its life. The alternative plans are generating much discussion, particularly as it affects the route for the new lift that has to avoid going through the building at Belle Plagne (lifts not allowed to travel through buildings anymore) and thus the Glacier plans involve alterations to lifts as far down as Bellecote and Plagne Centre!
There is much discussion, some well informed, on the Perso Plagne forum - Google will happily translate it if needs be.
http://www.leforumdeparadiski.fr/search.php?search_id=active_topics
After all it is free
After all it is free
Quote:
(lifts not allowed to travel through buildings anymore)
@boredsurfin, do you know what the rationale is for this decision? The current set-up at Belle Plagne is a great advantage for those staying in the village and, in my opinion, works just fine
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
@chopkins13, no, apparently it’s a new French law that when passed ski resorts had a delay, the tele bus from PC to Aime2k was subject to an appeal because it is in a building rather than going through. There are several others around, Courchevel springs to mind, I’m not sure what they are doing.
I vaguely recall it’s something to do with a lift hitting a building as it attempted to enter and caused a collapse and fatalities.
The legislation is here I think - its only 193 pages of EU legalese
http://ec.europa.eu/DocsRoom/documents/29961/attachments/1/translations/en/renditions/pdf
There is also a suggestion it’s something to do with new fire regulations as well.
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Ski the Net with snowHeads
@boredsurfin, thanks for that, I can see their points but feels like over-kill to me - you’re much more likely to die crashing on the slopes/in an avalanche than in a lift accident in a building! Such a shame for Belle Plagne to lose the current set up.
FAQ
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Personally I like a nice Williams Pear or sometimes an English conference 
