 Poster: A snowHead
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We'll pop up to the Glacier at some point - how are the runs off the top at the moment?
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Bumps last week.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@Gaz_H, Secret was still ‘bad’ at 1045 when we passed through it.
I think it has a reputation for softening up earlier, so there was an awful lot of traffic on it. Mid week ski lessons progressing to more challenging reds…
My son found the volume of traffic on it worse than the bumps and the gradient and wanted off as soon as possible.
We had a bit of a leisurely day after that and pootled over to Vallandr where we stopped for a picnic lunch at one of the spots near 2300 lift. Pistes off the 2300 at the top were still firm and grippy at 1 ish. We dropped down the Aigle which is still ok - but you can certainly smell the grass and earth at the bottom.
Dropped into the top of the Vallandry lift station to allow 12 year a ‘wee’ break. Where we discovered probably the best vending machines I have ever seen! Cheese and Opinel knives, or cured sauscissons and preserves. I wasn’t quite curious enough to check out the prices though.
Meanwhile… a first for our family trips, the older teens are now self sufficient and are both confident enough (more importantly, so are their parents…) and capable at navigating the resort to have a couple of hours free skiing whilst I escorted Mrs S and the 12 year old back to 1950 for apres beer and crepes.
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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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(This last point makes me start to feel like my job as a parent is done. Just need them to be able to book and pay for their own trips now…)
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Question for any of you others here at the moment. Has anyone dropped on to La Plagne?
Boys want to give it a go, if only to cross over the valley in the Handbag.
How are the pistes returning to the Vanoise express on the La Plagne side?
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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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@Richie_S, Secret and Combourciere both face almost east so catch the morning sun and soften early. For top notch vending machines try Japan. You can get beer or sake from some as well as hot meals and some genuinely weird stuff.
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| johnE wrote: |
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We'll pop up to the Glacier at some point - how are the runs off the top at the moment?
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Bumps last week. |
Thanks @johnE, we'll probably pop up there at some point to take a look as the OH wants to check out the view. We'll just get the cable car back down if it's not looking too good.
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| Handy Turnip wrote: |
We've spent a lot of time in 1800, much of that around the Arpette reds.
We might try and spend the morning tomorrow in the 1950/2000 bowl - any tips about which runs are best at what time?
We'll pop up to the Glacier at some point - how are the runs off the top at the moment? I'm sure that it was a red when I last did it, but it now looks black on the piste map. |
The reds off the top of the Planettes / Transarc lift are good first thing, try and get there before the ski schools as the blue there are busy. Loop them a couple of times using the Planettes lift, not the other one, and then get over to Grand Col, really good yesterday and notabley quieter. We also did Aguille Rouge lift a couple of time and it was great, the black is bashed and is quite an easy one, 3 turns at the top and the worst is over. The conditions yesterday afternoon, at about 3 ish were great
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Thanks @Gaz_H, great tips, we'll give them a go. We'll probably try to head up to Aiguille Rouge about lunchtime ish and hopefully the lift will be a bit quieter and the run starting to soften up a little.
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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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Having a good trip so far, but forecast for next week looks decidedly awful at the moment …….
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| johnE wrote: |
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What's the best time of day to do Clocheret and Arolles in the current conditions? Not sure when the sun hits them.
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Last week they were in good condition until about 11:30 after that the sun started to soften them, particularly the bottom of Arolles. So they stay in good condition a bit longer than those over 2000 and of course the lower runs. I'd do Aroles first then Clocheret as the bottom of arolles is quite low. Two good combinations are clapet straight onto arolles or grand renard followed by grand melezes |
Thanks @johnE and @Handy Turnip. Will aim for about 11am tomorrow for these runs.
Like everyone else it seems, we were on Secret this morning shortly after 10 hoping to get it in good condition but man was it chopped up and super busy. But on the bright side, getting there on the Vallèe de l'Arc 1 blue was a fabulous cruise.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@Richie_S, @EricTheRed and @Handy Turnip. Have any of you been over to the far right of the map above Vallandry..... the runs are Ours, Combe leading down to the Grizzly and Peisey lifts. The lifts start at village level and wondering what the conditions are like.... we were too late for them yesterday so gave them a miss as there doesn't seem to be any mid stations.... cheers and have a good day!
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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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@Gaz_H, we haven't made it over that far. The runs down to 1800 that we did earlier in the week got too soft too early, so we've tried to avoid going any lower.
Yesterday was the exception as it was a bit colder so the runs we did down to arc 1600 were fine.
Hopefully if you go early enough it might be okay.
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@Gaz_H, we were as far across as the Grizzly yesterday and took the Aigle down as late as 2.30. I imagine the Aigle would be great before it softens up too much. (It is a run I have done many times before)
Good coverage but well softened up by that time.
Money next to it was open but we didn’t go down it.
I think Myrtilles is already closed.
The day before we took the Barmont and the ‘liaison Grizzly’ which is a path over the bottom of the Barmont piste to connect you to Grizzly lift. It was passable but the Barmont was getting bare.
The Coombe showed as shut on the post maps yesterday.
Eldest son went down into Peisey either on Ours or Ecuriels but as he is late teenager I just got one word answer, “ok”, to the question “how was it”
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You know it makes sense.
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Likewise @Gaz_H, we've only been over that side in the afternoon and stayed up around the 2300 chair as it would have been too soft down lower at that time of day.
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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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@Gaz_H, question back to you and perhaps @johnE will also know the answer.
Off the top of Aiguille Rouge there was always a red ‘path’ that missed out the first steep pitch of the black before the run opens out into the ‘red / black’ wide open section.
Has that been shut off?
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Poster: A snowHead
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| Richie_S wrote: |
@Gaz_H, question back to you and perhaps @johnE will also know the answer.
Off the top of Aiguille Rouge there was always a red ‘path’ that missed out the first steep pitch of the black before the run opens out into the ‘red / black’ wide open section.
Has that been shut off? |
I can't be 100% sure, sorry. We think we saw it but none of us can remember whether it was open..... in fact looking on the piste maps its not on
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Gaz_H wrote: |
| Richie_S wrote: |
@Gaz_H, question back to you and perhaps @johnE will also know the answer.
Off the top of Aiguille Rouge there was always a red ‘path’ that missed out the first steep pitch of the black before the run opens out into the ‘red / black’ wide open section.
Has that been shut off? |
I can't be 100% sure, sorry. We think we saw it but none of us can remember whether it was open..... in fact looking on the piste maps its not on |
It was certainly there last season but I didn't go up the Aiguille Rouge this year when we went in March, I'm sure someone else will confirm either way.
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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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@Gaz_H, question back to you and perhaps @johnE will also know the answer.
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Oddly, I have never done the red run that was marked on the old piste map. It was either always closed or it looked worse than the black. I think they have simply given up on the pretense that it existed.
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The red is no longer there - so it's black only now - at least that's what we were told at the top of Varet last week. Apparently to do with the shrinking glacier, so might be a permanent change.
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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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How are the pistes returning to the Vanoise express on the La Plagne side?
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No current experience, but every time I've done this they have been getting cut up and lumpy as you get close to the lift- regardless of time of year! I'd recommend the Pierres Blanche run rather than Mont Blanc as it always seems to be quieter.
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This last point makes me start to feel like my job as a parent is done. Just need them to be able to book and pay for their own trips now
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Don't hold your breath - mine are all in their 20s and always happy to keep dad company, if dad's paying 
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Todays review. After a cooler day yesterday, it’s heating up again.
Still our lazy start still meant the pistes in the Arcs 2000 bowl at 1030 am were still not exactly snowboard friendly, but the boys on skis found it fine.
We lapped the boarder cross before heading up to the Arpette ridge to meet Mrs S for picnic lunch. (Mad woman is training for a 100k ultra marathon an had spent the morning on the treadmill)
We managed a lap of the Col des Frettes before lunch at 1230 which was just getting soft enough for my liking.
After lunch, our group split. Mrs S and the younger two boys headed over to lap the Mont Blanc whilst eldest and I headed for the Aiguille Rouge.
The sign “Tres bons skiers” making me question my judgement. Although my son had been down this numerous times before both in lessons and with myself.
The configuration up there is as I remember it. Just the ‘path’ is now also labelled black. So that was a first relief. At 2pm the top part of the run(before it splits left and right) was firm and not especially to my liking… I kept right where there was some soft snow helping my turns. Meanwhile son shot off and found it very much to his liking. “Not as hard as I thought” - his confidence on ski’s is impressive. He does, however, tend to ‘flat line’ and I need to put him a few lessons to get him back on track with some decent carving.
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| Richie_S wrote: |
The configuration up there is as I remember it. Just the ‘path’ is now also labelled black. |
it gets steeper each year as the glacier underneath melts
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| Richie_S wrote: |
@Gaz_H, question back to you and perhaps @johnE will also know the answer.
Off the top of Aiguille Rouge there was always a red ‘path’ that missed out the first steep pitch of the black before the run opens out into the ‘red / black’ wide open section.
Has that been shut off? |
At the very top, there's the short, steep pitch and then a winding option that's less steep. Both are marked as black on the map and both are open.
The run is in really good condition, well pisted. Firm but not hard pack.
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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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Yes agreed @doorman_tom - the old red run is just a path around the 'steep' black bit and then they just merge into one anyway.
We stuck mainly to the 2000 bowl for a change today, I think we picked off the runs in the right order with the rising temps. We did a few runs off the plagnettes lift, then did the Vallee de l'arc blue and then the Grand Col section.
Then up to the top of the Aiguille Rogue - the kids were a bit nervous seeing the 'Expert skiiers only' sign at the bottom of the cable. It's hard to explain that it's actually quite an easy run. We did it at the perfect time at about 12.30pm. It was empty and slightly softened off.
After a late lunch we popped over the 1800 side due a few runs before heading back.
Really nice day - be interested how tomorrow is with temps getting ready high!!
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After a stop at Le Savoy in 2000 for some refreshment it was 3pm and we decided to head back over the Arpette ridge to see if the reds were still ok. We lapped the Arpette doing the Froid Fontaine and then the Carreley… which was great. Ok, like boarding on soft butter but it was smooth piste and even had some piste basher marks still showing. We did that a second time before making our way back to 1950 for an apres beer and crepes.
Lovely in the warm sunshine. Great day.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Today started slow again, with a 10am departure to avoid worst of the hard stuff. However, proceedings were called short after middle son pitched over the front of his skis on Pre-St Esprit in innocuous circumstances on our first warm up run of the day. He’d landed hard on his shoulder, nothing broken but it was enough to put an end to his day. He spent the rest of the day taking ibuprofen and paracetamol and it remains to be seen if he will feel comfortable enough to put in some turns tomorrow before we head home.
Meanwhile, the other two boys and I carried on and tried out the speed gun next to the Plagnettes. 12 yr old clocked 73kph and decided that was enough. 19 yr old went back for more and made 83kph.
Sandwich lunch at the picnic spot at the top of the Arcabulle (these really are great amenities!) and we were joined by Mrs S fresh off the treadmill again.
After lunch a few nice runs on the reds beneath the Arpette before Mrs S called it a day to go check on middle son back at the Apartment. This left eldest, youngest and I to get in a few more runs. Went through the snow park and down to the Clocheret. Clapet was pretty heavy and we went on to the Arolles. This was/is a lovely run. Not too mogulled despite now being quite soft.
We took the Mont Blanc back up and took the run of the same name back down again. I expect they will need to shut this in the next day or so… above the Club Med it is now bare across 2/3 of the slope.
Bare and thin patches are now appearing in heavy traffic spots across resort, but at least for this week we are pleased how the snow has held up.
Today’s shout out to the Monkey Coffee bar in 1950. Completely missed the fact they have a ‘happy hour’ 5 til 7 and I have been paying €9.50 for a grand biere in Perce Niege when I could have been paying €6 in the Monkey Coffee bar. They also serve crepes for the kids.
Plan a few more runs tomorrow before leaving mid afternoon and journeying home.
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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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Just lying here catching up on the posts, waiting to load the car. Lost my phone, or rather it found way inside the folding mechanisms on the sofa bed.
It's been great reading the tips for runs this week, especially over on the 1800 side. I've followed most of the sound advice. We must have crossed skis at some point.
Quite few runs into 1800 are in danger of closing but still plenty to be had for the remaining couple of weeks
My first time in Les Arcs and I'm really impressed with 1950 and the ski terrain. Defo up there in my top 5 and I've been around..... might even get me to like the French resorts again
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Saturday dawned a bit over cast and chillier. Packed car, and eldest, youngest and I headed out on the slopes. Firmer under foot today, so we lapped the Pre-St Esprit where it was softer and dropped into the Igloo Bar to mooch around and then Energie 2000 hut for coffee and hot chocolates.
Mrs S and middle son (not up for skiing post the day before tumble) went souvenir shopping.
We met for lunch at Meli Snacks and I was ready to call it a day and begin the journey home. Then the sun came out and decision was made to head out again for a few last runs. Glad we did.
Up the Bois de L’Ours and lapped the Arpette for an hour on quiet but still grippy slopes before heading back to 1950.
Quick change and we left around 3pm.
Journey home was via overnight stop in Dijon. (We happened across a nice fast food noodle bar type place for dinner in Dijon which was a nice alternative to the foods available in resort)
Today (Sunday) drive home was straight forward. Left Dijon at 8am. Quiet French auto routes, arrived early for Chunnel at 1250 for our booked departure at 1524. Reminded ourselves better to get food BEFORE getting to the Tunnel as choice is limited and just over priced for what it is.
Loaded on to an earlier train (1504?)
Caught up behind a ‘car fire’ on the M20 but arrived home in St Albans around 5pm.
Dog was happier to see us home than I was to be home…. 9 months before I see the mountains again.
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You know it makes sense.
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9 months before I see the mountains again. rolling eyes
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Far, far too long. Do you not have any summer holidays @Richie_S? Actually, I don't have much time in the mountains until next winter - a couple of weeks in Les Arcs probably in June suitably described as an apartment decorating trip and the Dolomites at the end of July/early August for some climbing/via ferrata.
It looks as if you had an enjoyable time in Les Arcs. A quick look at easyjet shows the flights to Geneva are at the £270 eachway mark this week so no last minute ski trips for me this year
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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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Interested in what condition the slopes are in now. We left resort early on Sunday morning and it rained throughout most of the morning's drive. It didn't feel cold enough in 1800 for the rain to have fallen as snow...
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Poster: A snowHead
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@doorman_tom, The live cams show the pistes really suffering below about 1800m but seem complete still higher up. The piste into 1600 looks in worse condtion than that into 1800 even though there is only 100m difference in altitude between them. I think the next 2 weeks will require the bus back to 1600 from 2000
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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The lanchettes in 2000 has been closed at least since we got here so all those runs are out. In the center of 2000 a large area of grass has appeared with slush. The pistes themselves seem to be holding up, certainly around and above 2000 and down to marmottes base today. Yeah it's slushy in the afternoon but the cruisy blues we fab.
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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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@Lowrom, Since the end of March Lanchettes has only served one piste, back to 2000. The runs to Villaroger were closed to enable the new telecabine to be constructed. When we got on it 2 weeks ago we were the only people on it.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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@johnE, this years summer holiday is likely to be camping in the UK Wales probably… so we will get some hill walking in. (to enable funds to be diverted to a ‘big family holiday’ over the Christmas period, where we plan to head far east  )
Next ski trip for me will be a 25 year reunion / last hurrah of our annual lads trip in January. Followed by a later season trip with 2 of my boys, whilst one of them stays home with Mrs S to revise for his A-levels.
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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 enable funds to be diverted to a ‘big family holiday’ over the Christmas period, where we plan to head far east Very Happy )
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I can heartily reccomend skiing in Japan. In fact I can heartily reccomend Japan.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| Gaz_H wrote: |
| @Richie_S, @EricTheRed and @Handy Turnip. Have any of you been over to the far right of the map above Vallandry..... the runs are Ours, Combe leading down to the Grizzly and Peisey lifts. The lifts start at village level and wondering what the conditions are like.... we were too late for them yesterday so gave them a miss as there doesn't seem to be any mid stations.... cheers and have a good day! |
Catching up on posts so I guess this is too late to be useful @Gaz_H, but I'll post in case others want to try this: despite being closed for the bottom two thirds of its length, the top third of Ecureils was open last week and the snow was brilliant. Not too many people seem to make it to this run and the fact that "part closed" looks like "totally closed" on the interactive map means that even in the late afternoon it was deserted and not cut up in the slightest. Even on the steep section immediately after the Grizzly lft the snow was even and grippy. There were the first signs of one or two bits of plants appearing through the snow, but very few and easy to avoid. I immediately got my daughter who had never ventured onto a black run before, and after scraping down some of steep and scratchy reds into 1800 each morning she found this run a total joy and was so happy that we lapped it three times.
It's closed below the top of the Peisey lift, but it's easy enough to drop down the full vertical by switching across to Ours.
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Greetings! My first post here, having read many, many opinions, all appreciated. I was here last week with Mrs and 3 late teens / early twenties "kids". Absolutely fantastic, thoroughly joyful time all round, best skiing ever for me (a very late starter). Late morning Friday I had the privilege of sharing how not to tackle the first drop of the Aiguille Rouge, but then took on the remainder no problem . Gotta love Les Arcs, it's a fantastic, beautiful place, along with La Plagne, which I also know and love. I hope conditions are good right now and watch the weather with interest! I'm back to work but considering returning for the weekend 
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Welcome @Arpette. Very apt username!
Aiguille Rouge was in great condition last week - glad you enjoyed it.
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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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Belting down with snow in 2000 at the moment. Hope some of it sticks as arriving in 1950 on Friday.
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And more, colder snow tomorow apparently.
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FAQ
