Nothing if not a glutton for punishment I am putting this thread down on a cathartic whim.
After the Friday Christmas trip cancellation we realised that Easter is going to be a bit tricky on account of our daughter as a Fri-Mon Easter weekend training camp. We asked our son if he would take a week out of school - he is doing first year A levels - and got an unequivocal no. So it looks like we will have to go Feb HT for the first time ever. Of course a lot is dependent on Covid. The good news is 14yo daughter has been booked in for second vaccine dose late Jan, missus is already boosted, I am getting boosted on Monday. And Omicron is doing it's worst very quickly. 19th Feb is far enough away that things may ease up and test to return/isolation in France is abandoned. Fingers crossed.
We have rebooked our tunnel crossing - cost an extra £37. But small beer in the scheme.
Not totally decided but I am thinking we will be taking an apartment in Les Coches again. That's assuming anything is available. Just checked and there seems to be some stuff.
Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Fri 18-08-23 21:01; edited 3 times in total
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Some record that - 100% France.
Why not give Austria a try? I'm sure you would enjoy it!
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?
@Bergmeister, me and the wife have skied a little in Austria pre-kids - Sonnenkopf, Arlberg out of Stuben, Warth-Schroken, Stubai.
France works for us partly because we don't mind shoeboxes and are not into apres and like convenience - especially for a family trip.
How busy will Austria be on these dates? Does it miss the main holidays? If so what's good for convenience, good ski area with off piste, some tree skiing?
@Layne,
Before making a decision on destination don't forget to factor in French half-term holiday's.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
19th Feb Peak week, two areas of France on half term................ and a lot of the UK, Germany, Switzerland, Sweden, Czecho, oh and the Netherlands.............
If Germany is on holiday, Austria will be busy too, won't it?
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
I've kinda been reticent to update the thread in order not to put a curse on things. But we are now less than 48 hours away - surely nothing can go wrong now
Booked this apartment. By fair the most we have ever paid for an apartment at €944.22 which includes €30 Covid cancellation cover. But eh ho what price leaving this island, mountains, clipping in...
Our official Eurotunnel crossing is 22:50 on Friday. It's a normalish working/school day for us so hoping to set off at 5. All fairly standard for us. Driving through the night should get us in reasonably early for food/booze shop at Casino in Albertville and then on up to resort for an afternoon ski! Heaven knows how bad the traffic will be though so we'll see.
Weather forecast suggests lots of cloud and some light snow on arrival and through Sunday and Monday - and also windy on Monday. So may be sticking to the trees, lower slopes a bit. If we make it.
Practiced putting the snow chains on the car at the weekend.
After all it is free
After all it is free
So ahead of the storm in the morning the roof bars and roof box have been put on this evening and loaded with ski's and some other stuff.
Most of the packing is done.
Missus suggested I try to log into our aprr account today to check the credit card is still up to date. But it won't let me in and says "the administrative department has closed your account". Bugga.
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.
Good luck Layne! Looking forward to the TR
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
And we're away.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
Waze tells us we drive normal route (Dartford) and should arrive at the tunnel at 19:40.
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.
I have always enjoyed reading your reports Layne. I hope to read you’ve scored a powder day at some point over the next week.
Please post a few pics if possible.
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
Busy roads overnight but the weather was kind so no issues. A few glitches/breakdowns south of Lyon. Did food shop in Albertville. And a bit stop start since. Satnav says an hour for the last 25 Miles.
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
Not your breakdowns and glitches I hope @Layne! Looking forward to your report.
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
No, no breakdowns on our part although I did have an accident with a bottle of beer when taking stuff from the car to the apartment! Caused a bit of a mess. Fortunately the apartment has a washing machine!
Anyway weather was a bit cloudy bit sunny when we arrived. Got parking just outside the apartment. Agency was just closing for lunch when we arrrived so they said come back for the key in an hour. So we tootled off to buy lift passes and organise stuff in the car.
My daughter outside the apartment building. I think the face was in regard of not wanting a picture taken as opposed to a view of the building or apartment:
We then had a couple of hours hammering around the local pistes. Snow higher up really nice but sugar or hard lower down.
Broody skies late Saturday afternoon looking down from the top of Crozats towards Belle Plagne. The chairlift to the right is Arpette - the main link lift between the La Plagne central area and the Les Coches Montchavin sector
The short Barrieres piste from Crozats down to the new moving carpet tunnel Ange
The fam at the crossover from La Plagne to Les Coches returning home on Saturday afternoon:
Last edited by Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name: on Thu 10-03-22 2:57; edited 4 times in total
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
There was talk at dinner last night of being on the first lift this morning. But not sure it was ever realistic. The wife confessed later that when I gave her a gentle prod to get up she was thinking "eff off". Nevertheless everyone got up reasonable early and did their best to get out. And so it was we sat on our first lift out Plan Bois at 10; precisely. The sun was shining though the sky wasn't cloudless.
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Well done @Layne and family. A well-deserved first day back on the slopes.
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?
We went over to Les Arc, up Peisey and the traverse to Derby. We skied Reches down to Transact mid-station but then decided to continued on down to 1800 and the Vagere chair and then down Froide Fontaine. My wife tells me this translates as cold fountain, which seems odd! Anyhow, the piste was in excellent condition and we all loved it.
We then got Arlette 14 (is the number significant!) and then over into the 2000 bowl down Lac/Edelweiss/Valley de l'arc to Comborciere and then up and down to black of the same name, which was actually not Bad, if you like moguls.
We then got Pre Saint Esprit up and took lunch halfway down to Varet. Lunch was a quick affair, packed lunch baguette and snack bar. Up Varet we went and the back under and off piste further across from Lanches. It was really nice grippy steepish skied out of piste. The run of the day, we did it twice. There is a new zip wire coming down this route which looks a thrilling ride if a touch pricey.
We then did another run down to Esprit and the Arcubulle and a Schuss down to Grand Col. We skied the chopped up off piste. And then headed home getting back to the VE 10 minutes or so before 5pm closing.
A great days skiing.
View from the top of Le Derby back up the Reches piste to the Col de la Chal
View from the top of Arpette 14 looking down into the Arc 2000 bowl
View from the top Varet 40 the start of the black pistes Lanches, Dou de d'homme and Cretes - feels quite high mountain and intimidating for less experienced skiers. Although the pistes and off piste here is wonderful if you have the confidence and technique
So as expected today was just snowing all day but this is where it pays off to be down in Les Coches because we were able to ski all day below the treeline and had a great days skiing. We skied all the pistes multiple times just using mostly the two lifts Plan Bois and Pierre Blanches. The only errors we made were skiing the black piste Murs - which had quite big icy moguls under the new snow and further down some bare patches - and going up the slow Dos Rond lift above the tree line, which was cold and the vis poor coming back down.
Picks of the day were Essielet, Pelees, Coches and skiing under the Plan Bois chair. Whilst some of the pistes were very busy at times a lot of the time the aforementioned were quiet and peaceful. After problems getting it running yesterday (some settings issues) today I was able to run Ski Tracks which tells me we covered 45km ski distance and 8405m vertical. I have to say I was pretty tired at the head of it. It was very much powder on a firm base with the odd gotcha to keep you on your toes.
At the bottom of Plan Bois and Pierre Blanches it said that the connection to La Plagne was closed because of high winds but I see on another board that Crozats was closed and the only way over was Salla - so a tad confusing to my mind. Maybe they were allowing people to come over to Les Coches but didn't want people going the other way. Not that many woud have wanted to I guess. The VE was open but again there was a notice saying the links to 1800/2000 weren't open. All in all a day to stay local and for us local was good.
Last edited by You'll need to Register first of course. on Thu 3-03-22 2:36; edited 2 times in total
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
A picture of the snow on Monday!
Last edited by Then you can post your own questions or snow reports... on Thu 3-03-22 2:37; edited 3 times in total
After all it is free
After all it is free
......
Last edited by After all it is free on Thu 3-03-22 1:51; edited 1 time in total
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.
......
Last edited by You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net. on Thu 3-03-22 1:47; edited 2 times in total
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
It was a big morning with lots of off piste in glorious sunshine. We were up pretty early but unfortunately missed the 9 o'clock lift opening and by 9.15/9.20 it was veeery busy. On arrival at the top of Plan Bois we saw that Bijolin wasn't running. Mmmm, so Pierre Blanches would have big queues too. So we headed down the Mont Blanc blue and then down under the Plan Bois lift to get some bouncey bounce going in the fresh snow. Sking down here there are a choice of mellow off shoots or a bit steeper straight under the lift. And then some fun bits after it flattens out and leaves the trees. I've always enjoyed it in the right conditions.
Plan Bois was still quite mobbed when we got back down so we decided to continue down the track and piste to the Montchavin chair. There was some low cloud which made it rather unpleasant. There was a queue at the chair but manageable. When we got the top I asked the lift attendent if Bijolin had a technical issue or would be opening soon and she told me it had just opened. If it was closed for the duration I was considering heading over to Les Arcs. As it was open I decided to stick with our original plan to stay the La Plagne side. Montchavin pops out just above the Pierre Blanches chairlift so we grabbed that. Pierre Blanches doesn't look particularly new but it's a 6 man and seems to run at a fair lick. We then contined up Dos Rond.
We then skied down and off immediate skiers left from the Dos Rond piste. This off piste route I think many are unaware of or leave alone because it takes a bit of knowing and is going well away from the patrolled area. It starts off with a bit of mellow slope then steepens before you hook a right into a widish tree sided gully. You have to be careful not to ski too far and miss the exit (did it once). The exit off right eventually connects up with a slight downhill section of cross country track and you can quickly traverse back into the piste/lift system. We skied under the Plan Bois lift again. One of my skis got caught under lying branch near the bottom which must have amused those in the lift!
We then returned up Plan Bois and straight on to Bijolin. We traversed left at the top to try and find some fairly untracked slope down to the Crozats chair. Again always like this little field as it's a nice pitch to get a good set of powder turns going. From the top of Crozats we went left and down the boulevard to the bend where you would normally ski down to the Inversens chair but both the lift and piste were closed. We weren't going there anyway but instead straight on and off piste. We skied a little down and then hooked a right and made some nice tracks on the long ski down. Plenty of room for people to find their own route. My son took a tumble when he went over what looked an inviting jump that turned out to have a bit of a rocky top. The snow got slightly heavier lower down and the effort and sun was making us a tad sweaty. And of course there is a flat track with a bit of sticking to get the Bauches chair.
As the wife needed a loo we delayed lunch and headed up Bauches/Crozats. After she relieved herself we headed down to Bauches again mixing a bit of piste with the off piste. I must have lost focus at one point and did an excellent face plant. At Bauches we sat and ate lunch (about 1.30) before going up Bauches and Crozats again and then straight over off piste down to Belle Plagne. When we arrived Colosses was fairly clear. This was our second Passe Vaccinal check of the week. We skied back down and by the time we got the bottom (3ish) things had got busier. We queued for a bit to go up Blanches and over the top of the ridge down to Carella which wasn't to bad queue wise. At the top we took the opportunity to turn right and along the ridge to do the off piste back to down to Carella.
We went up again and this time hooked a left and followed Sources down which is a great piste. At the bottom Arpette was absolutely heaving. By far the worst queue of the holiday. But we just had to grin and bear it (for around 20 minutes by my calculations) and then we skied home via Mont Blanc and Coches.
Despite a couple of lift queue issues a fine days skiing.
The morning after the night before - lovely pow to be had underneath the Plan Bois lift
Later in the morning - skiing down the hidden valley off the top of Bijolin
Later in the morning - skiing down into Bauches valley
Last edited by Ski the Net with snowHeads on Tue 15-03-22 1:59; edited 3 times in total
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
Wednesday was another great off piste skiing day. Not that we travelled that far. We were out early-ish and at the top of Bijolin saw that Inversens was open today. That was important as it meant we didn't have to drop into Belle Plagne to access the ridge from the Roche De Mio (a fav of the wife). Anyway at the top of Bijolin we traversed left quite away and then right down the fairly gentle slope. The powder was forgiving enough. We then went up Crozats and down to and up Inversens.
We along the ridge and found a line and did some filming. The ridge puts enough people off to allow at least some possibility of putting down a fresh line. We did another lap and then a third but this time pausing for lunch before skiing down.
After getting back to the top of Mio we shaped as if going down to Inversens but cut left into the little off piste valley off to skiers left. It's a couple of nice pitches and flats away from the crowds before a mini couloir back to the lift.
To be continued...
View from out lunchspot on the ridge
Laddo making his seat for lunch
The fam on the ridge
Avalanches at the side of the Inversens piste
Couloir/gully exit from the off piste to Inversens base
Last edited by snowHeads are a friendly bunch. on Sat 12-03-22 2:03; edited 1 time in total
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.
Layne wrote:
Wednesday was another great off piste skiing day. Not that we travelled that far. We were out early-ish and at the top of Bijolin saw that Inversens was open today. That was important as it meant we didn't have to drop into Belle Plagne to access the ridge from the Roche De Mio (a fav of the wife). Anyway at the top of Bijolin we traversed left quite away and then right down the fairly gentle slope. The powder was forgiving enough. We then went up Crozats and down to and up Inversens.
We along the ridge and found a line and did some filming. The ridge puts enough people off to allow at least some possibility of putting down a fresh line. We did another lap and then a third but this time pausing for lunch before skiing down.
After getting back to the top of Mio we shaped as if going down to Inversens but cut left into the little off piste valley off to skiers left. It's a couple of nice pitches and flats away from the crowds before a mini couloir back to the lift.
To be continued...
I have no perspective as I've not been to La Plagne. I hope to get there for a couple of days in mid March though. I'm looking at the map now. So when you got to the top of the Inversens lift and took a line between the lift and the Roche De Mio gondola? Near the Les Inversens piste? (So the western side of the ridge)?
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
So anyway as we got off the top of Inversens the wife suddenly notices her edge has come away from the body of her ski. On closer inspection it turns out be from half of the ski. She knocked it back together with the butt of her ski pole but it wasn't going to stay in for long. We still skied the off piste down to Inversens but then carried on down the black piste to the Bauches chair.
We headed up Bauches/Crozats/carpet lift to get back up so the wife could ski back to Les Coches to sort out her skis issues whilst me and the two children cruised around the pistes above Les Coches for another 1.5 hours.
The ski shop said the White Doctors were irreparable. So she has had to hire some fur the rest of the week. For some reason she got 20% off so paying 65€ for 3 days use of Völkl something all mountain skis.
Parepenters in the valley between Les Arcs and La Plagne
Les Arcs equivalent of the Hollywood signage
Last edited by 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 on Fri 19-08-22 16:10; edited 3 times in total
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
The last couple of days have turned out to be mostly piste days. Yesterday over Les Arcs for the whole day. It was sunny, temps average. Piste conditions generally very good. In Les Arcs at the lifts they have the Rapide Express lane for those with a Paradiski pass which can help. We didn't bother with the 2000 bowl.
Today started off with clouds and light snow. It was colder. We were a bit slow out then my daughter noticed her sunglasses were broke so had to go back to the apartment for a spare. This set the tone for the day. We went over to Les Arcs and did a few runs but with the weather decided to lunch at the Salle de Sac at Les Coches. While we were having lunch the clouds dissapated and the sun came out. We went up Plan Bois and skied down to Bijolin. While the rest of us went through the lift pass OK, my daughters wouldn't work. The liftie can over and said the pass was invalid. We explained we'd used it all morning and showed him it was valid on the Yuge app. There was a theory that paying the pass for Saturday had over written the 6 day pass. But that didn't make any sense has it had worked in the morning. Anyway the liftie said some barriers might just have a problem and sent us on our way. We had a problem at every other barrier. Sometimes the liftie just pinged her through, sometimes we had to explain, sometimes she limbo'd underneath. Right pia though.
Last edited by You know it makes sense. on Fri 19-08-22 16:12; edited 1 time in total
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
We did all our documents for the tunnel and return to England on Sunday morning at breakfast time so we could relax and ski knowing it was sorted.
Last edited by Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name: on Mon 14-03-22 11:43; edited 1 time in total
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Tomorrow looks like being a nice sunny but cold day on the slopes. Hopefully with less people about.
Will be checking out the apartment early doors.
Scenery Shots
Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Mon 14-03-22 1:40; edited 1 time in total
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Never ceases to amaze me how few people are out on Saturdays. Was able to zip all over La Plagne with barely a lift queue in sight. Sunny but very cold. We finished at 4. Got changed and all the gear packed away and drove at just after 5.
No traffic problems coming out but lots of traffic going into the resorts - queue's back to Albertville.
We will stop in Chambery for wine purchase and Buffalo Grill meal.
Last edited by Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person on Fri 19-08-22 16:13; edited 1 time in total
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?
Made it home fo 9 this morning. More reflections, pics and videos later.
View from the top of the Cretes drag looking at the entrance to the Grande pente black piste
And looking right to the Etroits black "Natur" piste and off piste area
Chilling on a quiet changeover Saturday
Whilst the children engage in a bit of play fighting
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Trip costs:
Costs:
Tunnel Crossing: £245 (mostly paid in Tesco's vouchers)
Apartment: £791.87
Lift Pass 6.5 days: £989.66
Lift Pass second Saturday: £92.74
Fuel: £228.48
Tolls: £144.29
Food: £189.64 + £75 for meal on way home
Ski hire (due to ski breakage): £55 (3 days)
Insurance: £75 (50% of annual policy)
TOTAL: £2886.68
Per Person: £721.67
Per Person Per skiing day (7 excluding bit of Saturday): £103.10
Costs were a fair bit more than we normally pay at Christmas or Easter because of the extra cost of accommodation at HT and adding C19 insurance on it and paying a bit more for wifi.
Also extra cost of ski hire because of broken ski.
FAQ
Poster: A snowHead
