 Poster: A snowHead
|
Have been following the thread with envy this year; but haven't seen much talk about the new TransArc. As we stay in the Altezza (ex Mercure) our morning start is usually up the charmetogger chair, so very curious as to whether the new mid-station has eased the crowding. We rarely take it because the queues look long and don't move particularly quickly. So often we end up skiing down to Carreley or down to Derby/Grizzly, but ideally we'd jump on the Transarc and start the day up in 2000.
Despite it not snowing for a week and temps increasing the webcams look like the snow is holding up remarkably well. Hopefully more due next week before we arrive on 5-Mar.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
@pencain, There are far more knowledgeable folk on here re dark red runs, but my personal favourite red is Grand Col. Take Transarc or Arcabelle up to the top, follow the flat Col de la Chal along and you'll see the Grand Col chair.
From there, head down Vallee de L'arc and stop at Bulle bar (it's a blue and white dome and usually has music playing). The sandwiches and drinks are reasonably priced in there.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
| johnE wrote: |
| Quote: |
Whilst the ski conditions have been amazing in February, we won't be coming back in February half term! Back to Easter for us. February is far too people-y.
|
I never go during the mid winter holidays - far too crowded. But we won't be there for Easter this year. It's far too late and I have to go on a course in Bucharest the week after which will require a lot of preparation. We will be in Les Arcs 9th March and again on the 30th. |
I'm a teacher, so we're limited to school holidays. We had initially planned to come the first week of Easter (around the 6th), but we've booked to go to Vietnam for the full two weeks, so shifted our Les Arcs trip to February. It wasn't ideal, but it was that or not ski. And the second option wasn't even a consideration.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
@yllen, The new Transarc gondola is excellent. The queuing varies. Sometimes it's completely rammed, other times it's empty. Depends whether you catch it at ski school start times (9am/1230/1430 in helf term, not 1230 in other weeks). Outside of those times, it's quick and effective. We usually take it from the bottom, and in busy time there's a queue at the mid station but I couldn't tell you the wait times.
@pencain, John's suggestion of Clare Blanc is an excellent one, that is not for the fainthearted. There's a sign at the top that reads 'Reserved for good skiers'.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
| pencain wrote: |
| Owlette wrote: |
| pencain wrote: |
| Hey thanks @macker13! Having finally checked the accommodation at Les Arc [rolls eyes for level of disorganisation] We are staying at Le Chantel. Do you know if the Precision Ski there is any good? Thanks!! |
We're using the Chantel one this week. My husband hates his boots (but won't go back to change them) and we had major issues with our 11 year olds skis for the first couple of days. We took them to be adjusted on the first day and when it worsened on the second day, I just asked for an exchange and got it. The skis weren't in great condition, but the new set are absolutely fine. So don't be afraid to make a bit of a fuss if the equipment isn't right. |
Thanks! Good to know! Would you use them again? My alternative is Intersport but they are a bit more pricey |
I missed this. Yes, we would use them again. We used them last year, too. They didn't have a problem when I insisted on swapping the skis after the problem worsened. We book through Alpin Resorts, and there's been some debate on this forum as to whether you get the crappy skis when booking with then rather than directly, but the other three sets were fine.
Turns out my husbands boot problem was more of a him problem. Once we worked out what the issue was, they weren't as bad. However, now he's bought his own, he's returned the hire ones early.
Lovely, lovely day again today. Mr. O and I headed over to 1600 via Traversée at 1230 after alighting at the Transarc mid station, which, once we got past 1800 was wonderfully quiet on the pistes. We had lunch at Le Snowdwich near the Combettes lift. The vegetarian panini was lovely, Mr. O declared the meat in the chicken kebab 'questionable'. Reasonably priced there. We hopped onto Combettes, which was excruciatingly slow and kept stopping and then over to the Cachette chair. I left Mr. O at L'Arpette and zoomed down to collect the boys from the Transarc base. We went back to L'Arpette for drinks and crepes and then went over to the Transarc mid station so 11 could pilot a drone. What a fun and fab idea, he loved it. Mr. O and 13 had gone on ahead to Les Enfants Terribles, and we met them there post piloting.
We wound up being booted out of Les Enfants by the pisteurs who told us they were closing the pistes. They corralled us in one direction - the opposite way to the entrance to Forêt Pitchouns - heading down the red (and picking up FP near the xylophone. Mr. O (Mr Cruisey Blue) smashed that section of red, which as it's Vallandry is more purple (I've told him, he doesn't believe me). I mentioned it to him afterwards and he said 'was it red?!'. So hopefully we can be a little less fixated on pole colour going forward.
Back into 1800, with the sun setting behind us, and the boys and I headed back to the apartment, whilst Mr. O returned to Intersport in Charvet to have his insoles moulded. He came back to the apartment and declared 'it's like walking in slippers'.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
@Owlette, We,ve just got back from Japan and the Combettes lift would be considered one of the better lifts there. Niseko has a lot of slow 2 man chairlifts and some one man. Once sitting on the lift Iv'e learned to relax and wait. We actually take the Combettes lift as the first lift every morning (our apartment is in the Cachette building just below Combettes) rather than walk across the village to Cachette. The lifties are usually very friendly It is the beginners section of Arc 1600.
I think I would like to visit Vietnam this autumn or a long standing invite to Korea. But the silk road beckons.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I don't normally mind, but I was conscious of time as we still needed to get on Cachette and across to collect the boys, and the line for Cachette the other day was 15 minutes long. However, yesterday there was no line at Cachette so I relaxed once I saw that and I was back in time to collect them. I was looking around at the buildings, wondering which was yours.
Are you heading out to Asia in the autumn? We are very excited for our Vietnam trip. Our itinerary is Ho Chi Minh City>Mekong Delta>Hoi An>Da Nang>Hanoi>Ha Long Bay>Hanoi. We've got two internal flights for the long travel sections rather than an 18/24 bus or train.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The queues at the Cachette and Mont Blanc wax and wane depending on the arrival of the funicular from Bourg st. Maurice.
| Quote: |
I was looking around at the buildings, wondering which was yours.
|
Ours is the 1974 Cachette building which is the one with the wood facing directly opposite the rocky mountain snack bar. Confusingly the hotel has the same name. Almost the whole of 1600 are listed buildings, but those wood facings are a nightmare. Who would think that cladding a building with wood was a good idea at 1600m. It needs replacing after 50 years at great expense. Most of the others have been replaced during the last 10 years. These old buildings are much less expensive per m^2 than the new builds but there are some expensive replacement items such as the roof 2 years ago and of course replacing all the wood cladding this year.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
Just on our way home. Conditions have been great, but the heavily used blue connections were beginning to get churned up with the warmer weather. Considering uk half term and middle/double French school holidays, the lift queues were not a problem. There were busy moments, but we never waited long (essentials/express passes helped). Didn’t feel overly busy on runs (other than the interconnects/bottlenecks) considering the holidays - even had several moments where we felt like the only people on the run. Made one trip to La Plagne, upper fine, lower sections near the Vanoise were suffering a bit, so didn’t bother returning.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Staying in Les Arcs 1800 (Villards) can anyone recommend a bar which will be showing Six Nations Rugby on big screen/tv Sunday 9 March?
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
On the train heading back now. Fantastic week. I agree with @ChiefChunks, that having the Essentials pass helped hugely with the queues. Sometimes when the new Transarc was backed up, we would hop onto Villards and ski back down to Carreley or Vagare, depending on where we were going. That tended to be a bit more efficient.
It felt busy in the 2000 bowl, but that's pretty standard. Sitting in Bulle felt like sitting next to the M4 in terms of the volume of people coming past, but there was always the opportunity to find quieter runs.
Another fantastic meal at L'Escale Gourmande last night.
@jirac18, Chez BouBou were showing West Ham vs Arsenal game last night, so they might put it on for you. It's in Charvet.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
| Quote: |
| having the Essentials pass helped hugely |
How does it work @ChiefChunks? Do you use different turnstiles to the lowly masses? 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| mountainaddict wrote: |
| Quote: |
| having the Essentials pass helped hugely |
How does it work @ChiefChunks? Do you use different turnstiles to the lowly masses? |
Yes, different lanes at key lifts, generally single file.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
| mountainaddict wrote: |
| Quote: |
| having the Essentials pass helped hugely |
How does it work @ChiefChunks? Do you use different turnstiles to the lowly masses? |
Yes. You get in the marked yellow express lane. Generally single file and goes straight along the side of the queue, rather than looping back on itself. Then you join the lowly masses after the scan turnstiles and scrum for a seat.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
Cheers @Owlette - so appears worth the upgrade at peak times. I'd never heard of it, but expect it'll catch on elsewhere now.
Of course, it would defeat the object if too many people do it. Did it look like much take up?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
@mountainaddict,
| Quote: |
Cheers @Owlette - so appears worth the upgrade at peak times. I'd never heard of it, but expect it'll catch on elsewhere now.
Of course, it would defeat the object if too many people do it. Did it look like much take up?
|
We've used the Essential Pass in Easter hols before - the resort is much quieter then, but it certainly saves a few minutes at busy times at some "pinch points" and often we are the only people using the fast track line. Sadly the one lift that is pretty-much guaranteed to have a queue at all times - Arcabulle - doesn't have a fast track queue. What swings it for us though is the free Saturday half day skiing (we get the pass to start on Sundays). We normally arrive in 1800 at lunchtime on Saturday and it's great to give all of the gear (and indeed our rusty "ski-legs") a few runs before starting in earnest on Sunday. On top of that, we use it to get half-price on the zip wire and the luge. So it very much depends on whether the overall package is worth it for you when considering all of that - depends on your plans.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
| mountainaddict wrote: |
Cheers @Owlette - so appears worth the upgrade at peak times. I'd never heard of it, but expect it'll catch on elsewhere now.
Of course, it would defeat the object if too many people do it. Did it look like much take up? |
It's been around a while. I am not sure it will catch on. It hasn't even caught on in La Plagne.
I've found it useful at times but ironically the express land can clog up at busy times.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
Cheers @Layne
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
I did notice a lack of express lanes in La Plagne when Big and I headed over there for the day on Saturday. Though because it was Saturday, they weren't needed anyway. We only queued for the drag below the Snowpark on the Montchavin side of the resort, everything else was straight on, no waiting.
Like @Yukon, the half a day on Saturday was a big draw for us. We arrived in 1800 at 9pm on Friday 14th, had a leisurely breakfast and then went to get our hire stuff (busier than I expected in the shop on a Saturday morning), and we were on the slopes by 1pm. Our passes were officially from Sunday to Saturday, so it was nice to have an extra afternoon 'free'.
They also include one admission per person to the piscine in 1800. I had planned to use their sauna but never got round to it in the end. All those pre-ski gym workouts paid off as I skied for 8 days straight, pretty much all day everyday, and didn't need a rest day. We're home now, and still no aching legs. That's a first!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
| Quote: |
They also include one admission per person to the piscine in 1800
|
I think this is only in the afternoon rather than the evening. I've always had to pay full price in the evening.
There are no express lanes in La Plagne but one on the Arpette lift to enable Les Arcs skiers to get back reliably would be very welcome. Though an express lane on the Arcabule would be very welcome it would suffer the same problem as that on the Derby (the only lift in the world named after an East Midlands town) in that entrance is from both sides. On Derby they tried putting a priority lane down the middle but that failed and they have now discontinued it.
Well done @Owlette, on 8 solid days skiing. Fitness definately helps but do not underestimate the contribution from good technique. As for no aching legs I don't think I've had a holiday unless I come back absolutely shattered.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
The half day is good and that has caught on - as it's now done in 3V.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| johnE wrote: |
| Quote: |
They also include one admission per person to the piscine in 1800
|
I think this is only in the afternoon rather than the evening. I've always had to pay full price in the evening.
There are no express lanes in La Plagne but one on the Arpette lift to enable Les Arcs skiers to get back reliably would be very welcome. Though an express lane on the Arcabule would be very welcome it would suffer the same problem as that on the Derby (the only lift in the world named after an East Midlands town) in that entrance is from both sides. On Derby they tried putting a priority lane down the middle but that failed and they have now discontinued it.
Well done @Owlette, on 8 solid days skiing. Fitness definately helps but do not underestimate the contribution from good technique. As for no aching legs I don't think I've had a holiday unless I come back absolutely shattered. |
I've fallen victim to the old Derby express lift line before in half term, it tended to be longer based on my experience, potentially the operators caught on to this.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Thanks John. Definitely feel that my technique has improved this year. Probably not to the expert eye, but I felt in control throughout. Even the slight misstep on a steep section of Aiguille Rouge wasn't too bad. The 'warning: hard packed snow' sign got in my head and I didn't commit to a turn. It was a minor fall (more a sit down), but annoyingly my binding released so one ski went off on a jolly without me. A skier further down stopped it and I got to do a controlled slide of shame down to get it 
Good to know about the evening charges. I would have only gone in the evening, as it was simply too nice not to ski all day.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
Hey all was going well at Les A, (some great runs on Secret yesterday, also off the side of Comborchiere and a try on Routelle). But now the liner on one of my boots has gone{arg! And its a fresh snow day
Any recommendations for either boot fitter that could do new liners (fitted) OR new boots? Where should I go?
(boots are 6 yrs old and done such good work!)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@pencain, which village are you in? If it’s 1800 I’d recommend either labo or the large ski shop to the side of the super market, both in the villards section of the village
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
Thanks @wills_h, Im in 1800 (and willing to travel for good ski boot advice!) I think the Intersport is next to the large supermarket? I was there yesterday and they cut a chunk out of the ankle flex front of my liner (didnt solve prob but did respect the guys optimism though!)
If I have to buy new boots and can get to elsewhere on the mountain would you still recommend these two places? (thanks so much for your advice!!)
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
@pencain, There are Zipfit dealers in La Rosiere and Aime if you have transport available.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Labo in Tignes is supposed to be excellent but is a bit of a schlep, there is one in Bourg as well near the super U which used to be very good, not sure now as not been for quite a few years.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
|
Husband bought new boots with liners from the Intersport in Charvet last week, opposite Chez BouBou. They're new this year and the guy in there was fantastic.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
@johnE, have you used either of them?
After stalking Zipfit for a couple of seasons I think I'm ready to buy. This season has shown that my current liners are packed out to the extent if I tighten my boots enough I get arch pain and frozen toes.
I was going to wait till next season and buy in the UK but it looks like I'll have a bonus week in Les Arcs from Sunday (staying in BSM).
I'll contact Zipfit to check stock in the stores but wondered if you'd had any direct contact with either....
Cheers,
Elaine
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
| Quote: |
@johnE, have you used either of them?
|
Fraid not. I did oce buy a pair of boots in Arc1800 and I am afraid regreted it. The boots fitted fine for width but were short (I find most ski boots are too wide) . I thought that they would bed in in time but they didn't and I lost a toe nail. All my other boots were bought in the UK largely because we spent hours having them fitted which they do not seem to have the time to do that in resort shops. My current pair were from Solutions for Feet and have zipfit liners.
This is no critisism of buying other stuff in the resort. I find over half of my clothing (not just ski clothing but day to day stuff) and shoes were bought either in the big Intersport in Bourg st Maurice or in other resort shops.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
Ah, thank you for replying. I don't think with Zipfit it's too big a deal, they are almost designed to be DIY fit.
I've done the quiz so know what I want.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
How's the weather currently? Headed to les arcs for my first ever ski holiday on march 22nd and am concerned about the lack of snow and warm temps
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
@Wh289, Download the Yuge app onto a mobile phone which will give you uptodate snow depth reports.
As you will see there is currently 65cm at Arc1800 and a lot more further up. On the piste this snow will be very dense and slow to melt. Warm tempertures during the day will melt the top layers and then the sub zero tempertures at night will refreeze them. The temperatures are forecast to rise over the next day or two then drop again. I cannot foresee a big loss in snow cover unless we get a sustained foen over the next couple of weeks.
We are going out on the 9th for a week then again on 30th to Arc 1600 and personnaly have no worries about snow cover. There will be skiing until the end of the season 5 weeks after your trip.
Remember the factor 50 sun block
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
| Wh289 wrote: |
| How's the weather currently? Headed to les arcs for my first ever ski holiday on march 22nd and am concerned about the lack of snow and warm temps |
We're going out on 6th April and not worried at this point. It's been a good snow year so far so should be fine.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
| Yukon wrote: |
We've used the Essential Pass in Easter hols before - the resort is much quieter then, but it certainly saves a few minutes at busy times at some "pinch points" and often we are the only people using the fast track line. Sadly the one lift that is pretty-much guaranteed to have a queue at all times - Arcabulle - doesn't have a fast track queue. What swings it for us though is the free Saturday half day skiing (we get the pass to start on Sundays). We normally arrive in 1800 at lunchtime on Saturday and it's great to give all of the gear (and indeed our rusty "ski-legs") a few runs before starting in earnest on Sunday. On top of that, we use it to get half-price on the zip wire and the luge. So it very much depends on whether the overall package is worth it for you when considering all of that - depends on your plans. |
With the express, plus Saturday afternoon, and discounts on zipline, it was worth the little extra. Even when express is queuing outside the fencing, and standard looks half full, its still quicker.
On the bubbles, the line drops you on the incoming side, so you naturally end up at the front.
Agree re Arcabulle - you notice it when you go for a lift that doesn't have express.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| wills_h wrote: |
| The Labo in Tignes is supposed to be excellent but is a bit of a schlep, there is one in Bourg as well near the super U which used to be very good, not sure now as not been for quite a few years. |
A friend used the Labo in Bourg 18 months' ago and was very badly treated.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| johnE wrote: |
@Wh289, Download the Yuge app onto a mobile phone which will give you uptodate snow depth reports.
As you will see there is currently 65cm at Arc1800 and a lot more further up. On the piste this snow will be very dense and slow to melt. Warm tempertures during the day will melt the top layers and then the sub zero tempertures at night will refreeze them. The temperatures are forecast to rise over the next day or two then drop again. I cannot foresee a big loss in snow cover unless we get a sustained foen over the next couple of weeks.
We are going out on the 9th for a week then again on 30th to Arc 1600 and personnaly have no worries about snow cover. There will be skiing until the end of the season 5 weeks after your trip.
Remember the factor 50 sun block |
Thanks for the tips, downloaded the Yuge app
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
The Yuge app is great. If you link your valid pass to your phone, there's photo points around the resort where you can upload photos of you to the app. There's one by the Les Arcs sign, one by the Mont Blanc top station, another at the top the Aiguille Rouge, and one on the Pre St. Esprit lift.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Owlette wrote: |
| There's one by the Les Arcs sign, one by the Mont Blanc top station, another at the top the Aiguille Rouge, and one on the Pre St. Esprit lift. |
There's a great one on the picnic platform at the top of the 2300 chairlift above Vallandry. It features a huge wooden sculpture of an eagle.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
