 Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Excellent photos Rob
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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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Not been looking at the webcams this week 'cause of all the horror stories on the telly, Thanks Rob you've restored my faith in the snow fairy !! Its looking good, can't wait...... 
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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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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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Great photos.
Is it February yet?
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It was too long a walk from here to see over the hill, but I'm sure it looks much nicer now. We've had a little bit more snow on and off all day, although only a few centimetres.
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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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First hand report of the opening weekend at Les Arcs posted in PG's blog at mysnowsports. Sounds like rock skis are the order of the day. Time to dust off my old 1080s...
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Thanks for the link rob@rar, interesting reading, especially as travelling out to Vallandry on Thursday. Have to say not too depressed - while I would of course like more snow, it looks and sounds as if there will be enough to ski on piste for the week.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| Boris wrote: |
| ... it looks and sounds as if there will be enough to ski on piste for the week. |
Yes, and with cold weather for the next four or five days there will be plenty of time to use cannons to help with coverage on the busiest pistes.
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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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Indeed - I'll be skiing mainly with twin 6 year old boys this year, so groomed pistes are all that are required. Maybe few years I'll be looking for Powder again, but then they will be old enough I may consider US again.
Whatever - I can't wait until Thursday and we start our trip their. I love the build up this week, getting car sorted etc and the trip through France with a few stops and decent meals.
Will take laptop, so if find hotspot will report back 
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You know it makes sense.
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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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My mate is over at Arc 1950 right now. He was really miserable at the prospect of going over before he got there. Just had a text from him bursting with enthusiasm, says that the conditions are fabulous, much better than he expected and it's really quiet. So anyone heading out to Les Arcs over Christmas, you'll be fine.
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Poster: A snowHead
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We are staying in Arcs 2000 at Chalet Altitude. Does anyone know the best way for us to prebook ski hire as we get there late on the 30th but kids are booked into ski school 9am on 31st
Ta.
Dave
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| DaveB wrote: |
We are staying in Arcs 2000 at Chalet Altitude. Does anyone know the best way for us to prebook ski hire as we get there late on the 30th but kids are booked into ski school 9am on 31st
Ta.
Dave |
I'm staying there in mid-January  Let me know what its like please! I booked my ski hire as part of the package with the ski company as we kind of tagged on the end of friends group, sorry not much help I know
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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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DaveB, welcome to snowHeads!
You can pre-book skis online with Ski Set who have a few outlets in Arc 2000, including one in Chalet des Neiges which I think is close to Chalet Altitude (but check this before you book). You can find a discount code for online booking with Ski Set here.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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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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looks fantastic
heading to 1950 on saturday so the snow is looking up
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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| Tom Lowe wrote: |
looks fantastic
heading to 1950 on saturday so the snow is looking up |
You can't fool us, your name must really be Tom Baker.
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An update from PG
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A few days of cold temps have allowed the resort to produce a fair quantity of artificial snow, so since the blog on sunday the condition at the bottom of runs at lower altitude has improved.
Slightly warmer today, but still cold enough for snowmaking - although that said, looking up at the mountain and Arc 1600, there's nothing happening right now. Does make you wonder about the extent of the water reserves ....
They finally managed to open a slope back down to Peisey Vallandry today - not sure which one, but it was a red, so with the current hard snow, that won't help the beginners and early intermediates. Still, it's better than nothing...
Plenty of water is going to be need in the French Alps, as well. As things stand long range forecasts suggest we'll barely see a cloud for at least ten days, perhaps not before 2007! |
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| rob@rar wrote: |
DaveB, welcome to snowHeads!
You can pre-book skis online with Ski Set who have a few outlets in Arc 2000, including one in Chalet des Neiges which I think is close to Chalet Altitude (but check this before you book). You can find a discount code for online booking with Ski Set here. |
Thanks
Do any of the shops open early as we get there late on the 30th but the kids are in ski school 9.15am on the 31st.
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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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| DaveB wrote: |
Thanks
Do any of the shops open early as we get there late on the 30th but the kids are in ski school 9.15am on the 31st. |
I'm not 100% certain, but the local Ski Set to me in Arc 1800 seems to be open by 8.30am at the beginning of the week (possibly earlier, but that's the time I visit the next door bakery  ).
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Guys
you can always try contacting sylvian at http://equilibres.free.fr/
He runs a shop in 2000 ( on the parade facing the slopes) that is one of the best ( no, no kickbacks!), and is open late on the Saturday, early Sunday. A little more chaotic than your usual suave Frenchmen, but does the business.
Emails accepted in English: tell him you are looking for a deal ("advised by fellow snowheads " etc.), you'll get one...
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Skied a bit around Arc 2000 and above Pesiey/Vallandry today. Lovely blue skies all day, although a bitingly cold wind in the morning. Lower slopes are mostly closed, although key pistes for getting around the domain are open. Upper slopes are OK, but are mostly hard-packed or icy. Surprisingly there are relatively few stones around given how thin the snow cover is. I took my rock skis our today assuming I'd be crunching into stones all over the place, but tomorrow will be back on my slalom skis because they have much sharper edges. I didn't ski below 1800m so not sure what the pistes are like down to Peisey. Anything which is close to south facing is struggling with snow cover, so it's a good plan to avoid those slopes if you can. Some areas (eg Aiguille Rouge, Grand Col) seem to be held back for Christmas.
Unsurprisingly it's very quiet around the domain, even with piste and lift closures. I think that when more people arrive for the Christmas week, starting tomorrow, the piste conditions are going to deteriorate rapidly as any loose snow is scrapped off the piste. More snow is needed.
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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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Praying to the snow Gods as I type. 4 weeks and counting...
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Much warmer today, especially once the wind had eased by lunchtime. Made for a great afternoon's skiing on piste, as the hardpack of yesterday softened a bit (although probably not so good for maintaining the snow this week  )
Today was very quiet around the resort, and much more of the domain was open including the A. Rouge and the Grand Col. Tomorrow sees the Christmas crowds hit the slopes for the first time - hope the snow holds up, although I think things are going to get pretty scraped on piste.
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You know it makes sense.
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rob@rar, ..... Happy Christmas ...... moderation at all times.....! 
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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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Poster: A snowHead
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Much busier today, with the advent of the Christmas crowds, although almost no lift queues (except for Plan Bois - grrr, replacing it with a six-pack can't happen soon enough). Another warm day (+4 degrees at 1800m at lunchtime) and lovely blue skies. Some wind at altitude, so Grand Col and A. Rouge were a bit blustery first thing, and the snow was quite windswept. Most of the Les Arcs domain seemed to be open, with the exception of some of the lower pistes. The increased number of skiers has already begun to take their toll on snow quality, with busy intersections swept clear of loose snow and a few stones coming through, but lots of enjoyable skiing to be had especially when the warm temps soften the hardpack a little. South facing terrain is loosing snow quickly - felt quite spring like at times this afternoon.
More snow is needed. I'm off to see Santa this evening, so I'll ask him...
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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HAPPY CHRISTMAS to all Snowheads, from The Flying Squirrel Bar.
Not really a snow report as I haven't even got my skis out of the cellar yet, but I hear the pistes are surprisingly OK. All the holiday makers seem reasonably happy with things from what I gather in the pub.
Put it this way, I'd rather be out here for Christmas, even if the snow is a bit sketchy.
Locals talking about snow towards the end of the week... fingers crossed!
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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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flying_squirrel, I've not skied down to Peisey yet, any idea what's open and skiable so we can pop in to say hello?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Not so busy today, perhaps everyone was at home unwrapping presents. Another glorious day from a weather point of view - mild temps and blue skies, and this time no wind. Very icy in parts, and a few more stones coming through. Most of the domain remains open, which I think is a credit to the pisteurs given how little snow we've had. Best of the skiing seems to be above Peisey, where the warm temps and sunny aspect softens the hardpack.
Lots of skiing Santas around the place, but every time I tried to take a photo they would ski away. So you'll have to make do with a photo of jane near the TransArc mid station.
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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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Thanks a lot for all your updates, Rob. My family and I are due out on Saturday, (30th), for a week, and I've been following this thread after stumbling on it a couple of days ago. The picture you took by the TransArc has made my day after seeing that there is actually some snow around!
Keep snapping away, I'll be logging in to check conditions. Thanks again - Andy.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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andyt83, welcome to snowHeads! Glad the snow reports have been useful - although conditions aren't brilliant there's plenty of skiing to be had, and with a bit of luck you should get a little bit of fresh snow at some point during your stay. We leave on the 30th, so I'll post a report or two before then.
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Thanks again for the report, Rob. Great photo's as well.
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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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| rob@rar wrote: |
| Some nice snow from the top of the Clocheret lift above 1600, mainly because not many people go up there for some reason. |
Maybe becazuse it's the slowest lift in the resort? I only rode it once and yes the snow was good, but not good enough to merit a second ride
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Nice sunnies, rob@rar, but was it the worry about snow conditions that turned your hair completely white? 
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FAQ
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