 Poster: A snowHead
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Having broken the cable on my mojo today I only did one tun and it was tough, the soft snow just covering/hiding the ruts and bumps. My wife reported however, that it was not easy for the rest of the day with thick cloud rolling in and out. Tomorrow threatens to be better with sunshine but we are off home for a couple weeks. I hope this excellint snow coverage continues until then.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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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?
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At this time of year are there a long queue to take the Aguille Rouge (at 10am)?
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Ah that explains the lack of buses when we were trying to get back from 1800 to BSM after a trip to the spa. We hitchhiked down!
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Well 3-days into trip and pistes are holding up well.
Sunday was superb with a fair covering of new snow, the only issue was poor visibility. Monday and Tuesday were fine, but does start to get slushy and chopped up from about 2pm onwards. I think for rest of week we will aim for a late lunch, skiing through to finish early.
@Ichure, Unlikely, depending on where you are there is usually a but of a trek to get there, that should be early enough to miss most people. Also check what lift pass you have as some will give option to buy a discounted queue skip pass.
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| Ichure wrote: |
| At this time of year are there a long queue to take the Aguille Rouge (at 10am)? |
There is pretty much always a queue of sorts and if you wanted to avoid them I wouldn't say 10am would be the best time - that would probably be lunch or later in the day. Going up there is sort of a thing most people will set out to do of a morning.
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| Ichure wrote: |
| At this time of year are there a long queue to take the Aguille Rouge (at 10am)? |
If it’s any help this Monday (17th ) at aprox 11am it took roughly 20mins which seemed about the same as previous years at this time. Weather was fine so plenty of people heading up for the view etc. piste was a little more hard packed/ice in the upper region than previous years from recollection.
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Another week in Les Arcs done and dusted.
Pistes holding up well, but a freshen up wouldn’t go amiss. If heading out I’d aim to start early and aim to ski through to early afternoon. Getting very slushy and cut up at resort level after that.
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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.
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@Le Grand Renard, that’s awful, I assume that’s the off-piste area off Aguile Rouge?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@Boris, possibly but more likely in the area behind which it accessed via the Grand Col chair then a walk beyond to the Grand Col . This is the big valley between Mt Pourri and the Aguille Rouge . When skiing this you either finish in Villaroger or La Gurra . There is a refuge under Mt Pourri also and the area is popular with ski tourers .
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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.
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Having commented on the presence of mountain bikers on the funicular being the first signs of spring it appears that they have now been banned from using it because of anti social behavior and the funicular will not permit bikes on board.
Does anyone have any one the ground evidence?
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@johnE, Hi John, I am pretty well involved in MTB in BSM so have most of the 'facts'.
A couple of the local younger lads (who are v. talented on a bike) built some 'illegal' steep trails and jumps in the woods. Some near Black 8 and some no where near. This has annoyed land owners and I guess also the mairie.
The mayor took the decision to therefore ban bikes entirely for the rest of the winter season from the funi. The same mayor who wants BSM to be the outdoor sports capital of Europe
Given that on Sunday there were probably about 100 bikers out, who had all driven here from far and wide, bought passes, lunch, coffees etc and contributed positively to the economy it seems like a stupid decision to ban everyone because of the actions of a handful of young lads.
For me the issue is a serious lack of investment in the mountain bike scene here in Les Arcs/BSM. The access the funi provides is probably some of the best in Europe but there is only one bike park trail (and plenty of totally legal walkers paths). But more investment should have been made into the bike park, especially as the resort needs to transition to more year round tourism.
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You know it makes sense.
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@timlongs, Last time we were there in the summer the Funicular wasn't running, just a sign saying winter only.
Certainly agree there is more which could be done to promote summer use, while we were happy enough, taking a tour to Vallandry and then to Les Arcs 1800 it was very ghost town like.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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@Boris, One summer recently the funicular didn't run. It needed a major reparir to the cables IIRC. It normally runs from early July to the end of August and gets a fair bit of traffic.
Les Arcs is usually busy during the school holidays; in fact as busy as the quiet weeks in the winter. The main activities are kids clubs (it's a bit scary to see a stream of kids with identical hats and rucksacs marching along singing) and walking. The footpaths are quite busy. To me it appears that there are a lot of mountain bikes around with what appears package tours from the UK
We do sport climbing, walking, and via ferrata, but we have done a fair bit of rafting down the Isere, canyoning and renting mountain bikes. We have also done a bit of mountaineering and once a parrapoint. We watch the Paris Olympics Openning Ceremony in the Abreuvoir. The bar was packed but they sold very little drink as everyone was glued to the screens.
Apart from, as @timlongs says, adding some more VTT trails I cannot see what more they can add.
The resort is almost deserted in June and that is a wonderful time to visit with lots of wild flowers and no kids. However, some of the higher footpaths will still have snow cover. September and October can also be fine - just watch out for hunters.
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Poster: A snowHead
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@johnE, maybe that was the year we were there
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Hi all
We were pretty set on a trip to Avoriaz for the last week of the season however have now had a last minute deal to Arc 2000.
My wife is a non skier and usually spends her time walking through Morzine.
1- anything for non skiers in Arc 2000
2- if she takes funicular into Bourg, can she walk into town safely/easily?
Thanks
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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?
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| Quote: |
1- anything for non skiers in Arc 2000
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There is the bowling alley, the zip wire from the top of the Varet lift and the luge from the col de la chal as well as snow shoe walks. There is also dog sledging but I'm not entirely sure where they are based now. It used to be at Pre st Espirit.
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2- if she takes funicular into Bourg, can she walk into town safely/easily?
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It is easy to get the funicular down and the walks along side the Isere and through the flood plain are very pleasant especially in the spring. It is an easy walk into the main part of town. The footpaths are either paved or gravel so I cannot imagine any dangers with walking. There are pedestrain crossings so crossing the road should also be safe. There are cycle paths if she wishes to rent a bicycle.
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| ianvip wrote: |
Hi all
We were pretty set on a trip to Avoriaz for the last week of the season however have now had a last minute deal to Arc 2000.
My wife is a non skier and usually spends her time walking through Morzine.
1- anything for non skiers in Arc 2000
2- if she takes funicular into Bourg, can she walk into town safely/easily?
Thanks |
Four more things to add to JohnE's list:
1) There is the light show in the gondola cabin at the top of the Varet gondola. It's a lot better than it sounds.
2) It's possible to get to the highest point in the area - the Aiguille Rouge summit - as a pedestrian using Varet and then the big cable car. There is a viewing platform there with incredible views.
3) There is an igloo bar with indoor ice sculptures on the footpath between Arc 2000 and the Arcabulle lift.
4) It's possible to reach the restaurant (La Creche) and picnic area on the Col de la Chal via the Arcabulle lift - this chair allows downloads back to 2000. It's a good way to join up skiers and non-skiers for a lunch with a view.
Finally, not so much an activity but more of another place that can be reached, from Col de la Chal (via Arcabulle) it's possible to descend down to Arc 1800 and to return on the Transarc gondola . All of these places can be reached using only the pedestrian lift pass.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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To add to the above:
The walk between 1600 and 1800 is very pleasant with lots of sign posts and information boards covering the journey from fields to ski resort and the architecture involved. c50 minutes each way, only sensible shoes required.
Snowshoeing offered by many, a great day out IME.
Cheese cooperative museum and shop in BSM worth a few hours, although one will need a reasonable level of French to read the information boards.
BSM has cinema, pool, shops to browse, Saturday market, cafes all a few minutes walk from the funi. Or just people watch at Charly’s at the foot of the funi and enjoy the cakes.
Plus there are free buses linking the Les Arcs villages so you can get to/from by road as well as the lift riding mentioned.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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| Quote: |
Cheese cooperative museum and shop in BSM
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Ah! the cheese museum. We've always reserved that for a day of totally terrible weather and in 3 or 4 visits a year over, perhaps 40 years never been. I think the old building in the centre of Bourg st Maurice is now only a shop. The real factory being on the back road to Landry.
In the old days when we were not as old we'd go for a night out in 1800 and walk back to 1600 under the star light. One of my neices still holds that walk against me (she wore inappropriate shoes) but I thought it was beautiful. Now we just go to the Abreuvoir, watch a live band and go to bed.
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Thanks all.
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hi all, getting the train and arriving in 1800 on Saturday. Does anyone know of any live music in bars over the course of the next week up to 5th April?
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@Macker13, the Abreuvoir in 1600 often has live music, but I don't know if there is any next week. I'll enquire when I get there on Sunday. When they do have live stuff it can be very varied ranging from a ukelalie band to jazz to pop classics and hard rock. No chamber music however, that will have to wait until the summer music festival.
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| johnE wrote: |
| @Macker13, the Abreuvoir in 1600 often has live music, but I don't know if there is any next week. I'll enquire when I get there on Sunday. When they do have live stuff it can be very varied ranging from a ukelalie band to jazz to pop classics and hard rock. No chamber music however, that will have to wait until the summer music festival. |
ok thank you v much. I've often been to bands in The Mountain Cafe in Charvet and Before 2 in Les Villards but cant see anything advertised on their socials.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Does anyone know of any live music / evening events in 1950 or 2000 between 6/4 and 17/4? Driving down next weekend and looking forward to a great couple of weeks in Les Arcs!
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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.
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Thank you!
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You know it makes sense.
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Heading over next weekend to Arc 1950 for a couple of weeks - how is the snow looking??
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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I usually use the live cams to get a look at the snow, but notice today that the Cachette cam is covered in snow so only get a limited view. There is low cloud obsuring the view of the others. The forecast for the rest of the week is for sunshine so you should get a better view.
I'm getting to Les Arcs tomorrow and really looking forward to it. Now where is that factor 50.
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Poster: A snowHead
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3 hours away from Bourg on the train, can’t wait! My cousin and his family are driving down having decided last night to join us haha.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Quote: |
My cousin and his family are driving down having decided last night to join us haha.
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I like it  Have a look at the snow and decide to go.
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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?
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Over in la plagne conditions are ok, lots of sludge lower down but that's great for improving skill levels, today has been cloudy up top but ok from around 2200 metres down, yesterday was pure sun.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Back in les arcs again. Today the weather was pretty good. Temperatures were below freezing this morning in arc 1600 warming up a bit during the day, no wind and blazing sunshine.
First thing the pistes were rock hard. So hard in fact that the ski poles just skidded over the surface. They were also bashed smooth. About 11:00 they started softening and were still pretty firm at 14:30 when we called it a day. On all the pistes we visited inthe 1600 to vallandry area the pistes were complete with no bare earth or stones. However, all the blacks were closed as was the lower section of Morey.
Piste of the day: Rhodes. The only time I’ve done this in the past it was a slush fest. Today it was a beautiful rolling blues with excellent snow and no peaole.
We stopped at 14:30 ish for a late lunch back at the apartment so no restaurant review today. 2 vin chauds, à beer, a lemonade and two chocolate crepes came to 17.50 euros in the sunshine at rocky mountain
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Same in la plagne today, we went over to Les arcs first time visit for us, did eight or nine runs and had a snack by the vanoise express before going back to la plagne, last days skiing for us for this year
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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Yesterday was much the same as Monday bright and sunny with firm pistes in good condition. The resort is very quiet. As we approached the arpette lift we could see no one there. We even thought it was closed. There was empty chair after empty chair going up but it was open just no one using it. While in the mile8 swimming pool. I was counting the empty vagere chairs going by. Only about one in 5 had anyone on it. As the resort is quiet they are running many of the lifts at 3/4 speed.
Amazingly for April the bottom of traverse into 1600 is open.
Piste of the day : golf. It’s been a long time since I’ve done the bottom bit. It’s usually closed.
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Does any one know if there are any shops hiring towels/bed linen in Arc1950?
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A quick report from me from 1950. We're midway through our third week at the moment, and for me the issue isn't a lack of snow, it's the quality of it.
Now, I'm very much a fair weather skier, happiest on blues and easy reds, and if I can't see Mont Blanc I'm probably not going out for very long thank you very much. This year the weather has been pretty sunny, we've hardly seen any snow since mid March. There's plenty of it on the ground though: while Villaroger is now shut off, there was plenty yesterday down at 1600 and the last time we were at Vallandry things were OK, though parts of Foret were very, very thin. However, it's also been quite chilly, which means the snow is now really hard packed, and not something I find at all pleasant to ski on. It's either like that or occasionally you hit a slushy patch at lower levels. The middle of 1950 is watery by early afternoon.
Having said that we have been doing this trip for years, and I think we have skied more this holiday than ever before. But I think the place badly needs more snow.
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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.
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Heading over to 1950 on Sunday for a couple of weeks end of season skiing / snowboarding. Having had excellent snow in April in previous years it sounds like a decent snow dump is required at the moment.
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It snowed a little yesterday afternoon and it’s lightly snowing now. So the snow was better this morning but on the flip side it’s windy and cloudy. I think just a little more snow would be good. Unfortunately we leave Friday as need to be back in London for the weekend. Hopefully it clears up tomorrow and we get a full day in.
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FAQ
