 Poster: A snowHead
|
Hey there, I have a similar question about blues in Les arcs - we’re a family group who will be there for the first time next week. The kids are on their 3rd or 4th week of skiing with lessons and just looking for some nice blues we can ski together in the afternoon - although they’ll probably be zooming past me at this stage tbh 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
@maniemoo - Mont Blanc. which drops into Arc 1600 from the top of the lift also called Mont Blanc, is an absolutely fabulous blue piste with great views. Alternatively, if you're on the Arc 2000 side, try Dents du Peigne starting from the top of Transarc (via Grand Renard). This used to be a very quiet piste as it could only be reached via Grand Renard which was (over) graded as red, however I suspect it will now be busier as Grand Renard has been changed to blue. From Dents du Peigne you can continue even further on Edelweiss, which is also great once you get past the busy top section. Finally, try Renard if you want a nice circuit as it can be "lapped" using the Derby lift. To be honest there are loads of other choices, but I reckon these ones will suit your family group.
If you are up for a bit of fun, try the blue boarder cross run reached from the top of Transarc off the side of Grand Renard. Our kids come off that with a massive grin no mattter how many times we do it (and the red one too)!
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
@PrinceJohn, Belette worked well as a first red for one of our group a couple of weeks ago. It's accessed from the Derby lift and much of it is visible from the lift. There is a blue cutoff halfway down if it gets too much. The Fragola di Névé snack place at the bottom of the Derby lift is very good.
Are you staying in Les Coches / Montchavin? If not, it's quite a long and not always particularly pleasant slog back to La Plagne so I'd be wary about using up too much of an early intermediate's energy in Les Arcs when they've got a fair bit of skiing to get back.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
@Yukon, thanks so much! I can’t wait - we’re in Arc 1950 but I’d say we’ll give all of those a go! They’ll probably love the boarder cross too
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
| Quote: |
This used to be a very quiet piste as it could only be reached via Grand Renard which was (over) graded as red, however I suspect it will now be busier as Grand Renard has been changed to blue.
|
Grand Renard is still a red piste and IMHO in the middle of the grade. What they have done is simply, and sensibly, renamed the section from the col de la chal to the col du grand renard as Dents du Peigne and given it a blue classification. Since they removed the chairlift to the col du grand renard there appeared no way to get to the Dents du Peigne other than skiing down a red. This did, indeed, put many blue piste skiers off. A shame really as it is a beautiful scenic route.
Mont Blanc can be reached from the top of the Combourciere chairlift. Though it is a bit steeper and narrower than most blues at the top once you get to the Giants of Malgovert the piste opens out and becomes fairly gentle. It is often the first full length piste I do when I get to Les Arcs.
I'll add Barmont to the list of pleasant blues and if the snow is good any of the reds in Vallandry with the possible exception of Combe are worthy attemts at the first red
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
Hi everyone,
Not sure if this is the right place to ask but is there any snow down in Bourg at the moment?
We’re arriving on Sunday, hiring a car at Chambery airport and staying in Bourg. Not sure if it will have winter tyres (have only hired a car in Switzerland and Austria before where they’re mandatory so always have them).
Anyone know a) if there’s snow or ice in Bourg and b) if hire cars at Chambery tend to come with winter tyres?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@vickitav, It is mandatory to have winter tyres or snow chains in the moutainous areas of France from November 1st to March 31st. So you will need at least one of these just to leave the car hire in Chambery. Hether or not you will be charged extra is a different question.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| johnE wrote: |
| @vickitav, It is mandatory to have winter tyres or snow chains in the moutainous areas of France from November 1st to March 31st. So you will need at least one of these just to leave the car hire in Chambery. Hether or not you will be charged extra is a different question. |
Anyone hired a car in Chambery recently?
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
Another fantastic morning's skiing; now rather drained of energy 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hello, hope I'm okay to post here. Just after advice about Plan Peisey in April. Considering Le Quartz, a new residence near the Vanoise Express. Does anyone know it, or have stayed there? I expect the area to be quiet in the evening, but if we want to go out for a meal or drink, is there anywhere that you could recommend? The residence is near Hotel Vanoise so this might be our best option? Also what are the slopes typically like this low in April? We normally stay high during the Easter holidays, but prices are prohibitive this year, and I am wondering if this could work for us. It also gives us the option to spend a day or two in La Plagne. I am mainly fearful that we will miss the snow in resort and the atmosphere, and whether the location will be hard work to ski in and out of. Thank you.
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
@needsnowhelp, I don't know the specifics of Peisey (accom/restaurants) but I have stayed a lot on the other side of the VE in Les Coches, including in early April. And you will be fine. There are pistes either side that are heavily snow cannoned in order that the links stay open until the season end. And there is plenty of stuff above 2000m either side of the VE to keep you are happy.
Last edited by snowHeads are a friendly bunch. on Thu 30-01-25 22:13; 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.
|
Thank you all for your advice. Ended up doing a number of the reds mentioned here and then plenty more. My partner loved it. I loved it. If we'd have brought the dog with us, no doubt he'd have loved it too.
Easily top 5 day I've ever had on snow and can't wait to go back to Les Arcs. Blue skies, perfect pistes, nice and quiet. Couple of untouched powder sections too. Next winter, I think that's where we'll be heading to stay rather than to just visit for the day.
Now for one of those Mont Blanc beers in the sun, a hot bath and out for fondue later. Honestly, skiing is such a joy.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@needsnowhelp, It depends to some extent when in April you are going. The first part of the month is usually fine but things tend to change rapidily during the month and it may be quite a bit worse towards the end of the month but as the Vanoise express is open until Easter Monday they will make evey possible effort to allow sking down to Peisey. After that I suspect the pistes will be green.
From Peisey you can take the lift up to over 2000m, ski across to Derby then to the midstation of the Transarc keeping all your sking well above the 2000 metre mark. The very end of the day may be a little trickier if the snow is poor, but you can always download from the Peisey lift or even the Vallandry telecabine and catch the navette. Unless you are talking about the last week of April or even Easter I wouldn't worry too much about Peisey. We'll be in Arc 1600 at the start of April.
We often call into the hotel Vanoise for lunch and I quite like the place. The food is usually good and afordable but I'm not sure what the evenings are like.
Don't strangle me if the conditions are bad this year I'm just talking about the what I've found over the last 20 years. It may of course be unusually warm this spring and the condidtions terrible, but that will be the same all over the alpes.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
| SnowVillan wrote: |
| Another fantastic morning's skiing; now rather drained of energy |
Same, but in the afternoon. As per another suggestion on this thread, beer and cheese based dinner feels well earned.
Looking further ahead to the weekend are there any rugby bars in BSM or anywhere the diaspora head to for the 6N?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
|
@Layne, @johnE, Thanks both for helping, really appreciate it! If we book to stay in Peisey it would be 5th April onwards. Still unsure whether this is the right location for us though. It might be taking a risk if the ski back is tough and we have tired legs. I'd also feel more confident if there were more reviews about the apartments. Thanks again, and if anyone has anything further to add please let me know.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
|
Confirmation that work on the new Villaroger gondola, which due to open December 2025, starts at the beginning of April is reported in Le Dauphine. This means that skiing down to Villaroger will finish this season on 31 March.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
Very useful information @rob@rar,
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
I see from the newspaper article that they will be moving the beginner area from the village to the Plan des Violettes which is a good thing. Beginners will be able to get the telecabine back down again and of course it will help people staying in the village return when the snow is bad - provided they can ski a red piste. I suspect this is the reason they opted for a telecabine as opposed to a chair lift.
At the moment I tend to terminate my runs towards Villaroger at the bottom of the Plan des Violettes lift rather than taking the often sketchy road down to the village itself. This will no longer be possible. It's interesting how a 3 person chailift that never has any queue of any sort is being replaced by a telecabine. Now I wonder if there are some big development projects being planned for the area.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
@Layne, I guess the new gondola is an essential part of that broader plan, perhaps making it more likely to get external investment in the village along the lines of the Guardian article.
I like skiing ‘the dark side’ when the resort is very busy as it can be a way of avoiding the worst of the crowds. Lots of mellow off-piste available when the snow is good.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
@Layne, Well, there is snow making on parts of the descent.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| rob@rar wrote: |
| @Layne, I guess the new gondola is an essential part of that broader plan, perhaps making it more likely to get external investment in the village along the lines of the Guardian article. |
For sure. I just don't know if there is a development plan that has been formalised and being tracked.
| rob@rar wrote: |
| I like skiing ‘the dark side’ when the resort is very busy as it can be a way of avoiding the worst of the crowds. Lots of mellow off-piste available when the snow is good. |
I don't go over that way often but one of the downsides has always been the slow lifts back. It's got a nice feel though.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@Layne, I think the slow, old chairlifts dissuaded plenty of visitors from heading over to Villaroger, perhaps one of the reasons why it’s always much quieter there, even when the resort is busy elsewhere. Perhaps that will change with the new gondola.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
@rob@rar, my feeling is it will a little bit but not to the extent that it will lose the feel. When I've done it, from what I recall, it's been from the top of Ag. Rouge. And the queue for that last cable car is a deterrent of itself.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A couple reason for the low visitors I think are:
You cannot get there unless you ski red pistes. There is even a warning at the Lanchettes chair lift to that effect. I cannot recall the Rhonas drag ever being open.
There are a limited number of pistes
It goes low. Many people want to stay as high as possible even when there is good snow lower down. This is also the case for Granges. Who, for example, has done Bois de Saule (I have - it's rubbish).
The road at the bottom is tedious, which is one reason I don't go below the second lift.
People love queuing for Arcabulle.
The restaurant at the bottom is not as good as it used to be. I blame Top Gear.
In my dotage I do not mind slow lifts, but hate lift queues, which is one reason I haven't been up Aiguille Rouge for over 2 years. I always start from the Lanchettes chair lift and the occaisionally nice Combes piste (when it's not covered in stones at the top that is)
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
I'd have thought that the chairs will be reaching the end of their lift span and whilst I don't know the difference in cost between a high speed chair and a gondola, the mechanics are likely to be largely the same, so it's probably going to be an easy choice to go gondola?
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
It's interesting that they replaced the slow 3 man chair at Comborciere with a fast 4 man that barely copes even now but a much bigger lift for those coming from Villaroger even though their existing lifts are lightly used. But as they are 40 years old I expect it is cheeper to replace them than continue maintaining them.
In ye olde days Comborciere used to be a drag lift. I bet that was fun.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@stevew, @johnE, I was in Les Arcs for a week recently and returned home on Saturday 25 January 2025 to the UK. I skied down several times all the way to Villaroger on two different days. It's a great run black right from the top of Ag. Rouge, then red then black option or you can stick to the red plus there is a blue alternative for part of the bottom section. I'd forgotten how good some of these runs are in that neck of the woods as hadn't skied in Paradiski for ages. After a decent dump with plenty of fresh snow, the bottom section after the Ag. Rouge top section would be good for relatively mellow off piste as well.
Must say that overall I prefer the skiing in the two nearby mega ski areas which are either side of Paradiski, good old Val and Tignes and Trois Vallees to the skiing and terrain in Paradiski.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
|
Gotta feel for the people trapped in their cars on the A90 between Moutiers and Albertville following a landslide. I know 2 people who just missed it, but the road is closed and emergency accommodation has been set up in Macot and Aime.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
@rob@rar, @johnE, went over this week via the Rhonaz drag(actually walked up rather than queued) which was open because Launchettes closed (only time it is open)
Snow was great all the way to the bottom, twice, on the reds, and lunch on La Ferme balcony was good value despite it being a 'destination:.
according to my sources,the replacement gondola for the creaking lifts will be the same design as Vallandry & Transarc and the meadow at the begining section of Dorset lift will become a beginners area : classes being downloaded at the conclusion
Biggest.error (IMHO) is no midstation planned: therefore you are committed to the bottom irrespective of conditions
I know they're not cheap, but seriously ?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
|
Also; anyone know if Solliet is going to reopen? A missing piece of the puzzle atm
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
| Arctic Roll wrote: |
| Also; anyone know if Solliet is going to reopen? A missing piece of the puzzle atm |
if be amazed is it doesn't reopen. The new gondola will naturally draw in more skiers in that area.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
| SnowVillan wrote: |
| Gotta feel for the people trapped in their cars on the A90 between Moutiers and Albertville following a landslide. I know 2 people who just missed it, but the road is closed and emergency accommodation has been set up in Macot and Aime. |
Oh noooo
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
Any ideas for alternate routes? Is the route from
The north into Alberville open?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
Thanks just found it, looks a nightmare
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Quote: |
Confirmation that work on the new Villaroger gondola, which due to open December 2025, starts at the beginning of April is reported in Le Dauphine. This means that skiing down to Villaroger will finish this season on 31 March.
|
@rob@rar, thanks - indeed very useful. Do you know exactly the lifts/pistes that will be closed after that date? Ie, what's the lowest point on the full Aiguille Rouge route that will be possible to ski and return from in April?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nice and quiet today, suspect that’s due to the road issues/closure limiting traffic in, but very enjoyable knocking about above 1800. Pistes are on good shape but the off piste looks pretty well tracked out.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
| Yukon wrote: |
| @rob@rar, thanks - indeed very useful. Do you know exactly the lifts/pistes that will be closed after that date? Ie, what's the lowest point on the full Aiguille Rouge route that will be possible to ski and return from in April? |
I don’t have any info on that. I’d guess they’ll keep the Droset chairlift open, with no skiing below the bottom station, but that’s just speculation on my part.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Evening all. What's the best time of the day at this time of year to do the Aiguille Rouge (first week of Feb 2025)? Is early in the day likely to be icy/harder than later? Not sure if and when it gets the sun. Thanks!
Last edited by Ski the Net with snowHeads  on Sun 2-02-25 21:47; edited 1 time in total
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
