 Poster: A snowHead
|
I was looking at the Les Arcs piste map earlier on, and noticed that some black pistes have a yellow diamond on them. Is that an indication that it's more difficult than your average black, or something completely different? I've never came across it on any other (French) piste map I've seen 
And on a vaguely related note, what is the black section of the Aiguille Rouge like?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
It sounds like Les Arcs have followed a practice initiated (a long time ago, now) by resorts like St Anton: to regrade some black runs as 'ski routes' or 'itineraires', which means the run is unpatrolled and ungroomed (though it will normally be avalanche checked and made safe).
It's one way resorts can absolve themselves of liability for conditions and accidents, so long as the skier is clearly informed. It's more a case of 'you ski at your own risk'.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
mark_s, On there piste map I was using there is a list of those pistes which are not groomed - I suspect it will be those, check the legend on the map.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
mark_s, Just got back from Les Arcs and they are ungroomed runs. Not necassarily the most difficult runs but they won't be bashed, so expect moguls. 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
There is a similar run at Baqueira, you wonder where you are heading off to but its worth it especially in great powder. If it makes the heart skip a beat then you know its doing you some good.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
Ther a re several famous ones in Verbier - great fun for the uninitiated 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The black section on the AG seems very short (the very first bit is prob the steepest). The ungroomed runs heading off it are great fun, have less people on them and if you stop and check out the terrain ahead before committing to it nice and safe. The easy way I found to do the Robert Blanc run is to go slighty past the steeper start and then cut in on a leftward slant.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sounds like they are something I should definitely avoid then! Thanks everyone 
|
|
|
|
|
|
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 majority of the more demanding skiing at Les Arcs is on the Aiguille Rouge - blacks on the near side, off piste off the back, and the famous Villaroger run down the spine (not-too-hard black with most vertical anywhere (2,100m !!!)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| David Goldsmith wrote: |
| It sounds like Les Arcs have followed a practice initiated (a long time ago, now) by resorts like St Anton: to regrade some black runs as 'ski routes' or 'itineraires', which means the run is unpatrolled and ungroomed (though it will normally be avalanche checked and made safe). |
That is not always the case at St Anton... routes like 33 (Madloch-Zug), 13 at Stuben (Albonagrat), and 15 (Schindlerkar Steilhang) are groomed just about every night. Not much difference between them and any other piste.
The StA trail map does however show Extreme Ski Routes and High-Alpine Touring runs, neither of which are ever groomed - to the best of my knowledge.
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
snowball, Don't forget for the not so confident skier you can always go up the Lanchettes chairlift in Arc 2000 and do some of the Agille Rouge, also this route has some blues that allow you to by pass the red in parts. 
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
thefatcontroller, I agree... do the first part in Red, then switch to Black(ish). Fantastic ski down. Nothing anyone feeling confident on reds should worry about. Saying that there is a full black out on the right edge of the resort (not far from L P) that must be one of the easiest blacks in the Alps.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
|
thefatcontroller, I saw a mate (approx 2-3 week skier) slide down the first steep part then do the rest in style. Great safe fun. Plus it's a long'un.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
|
thefatcontroller, Scarpa, that's good info - a black to get the confidence up .... on the other hand, i have less than fond memories of being brought down an icy cretes and even icier fond blanc as a 3rd weeker - confidence took a fair bashing - how is ecrueils compared with bosses ?(another easy black iirc)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
|
doogo, Bosses has a sign at the top warning that it is very steep but we did it twice last week and it was groomed and fine.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
There is some fantastic off piste but most of it needs a guide as some of it is very steep, and most is not near any piste
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
We skied the 2a run in Engelberg earlier this month thinking it was an itineray as it was a dotted red run. On further examination of the piste map we found out it wasn't a run at all  and it was to be the route of a future downhill run
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
mark_s, from memory comborciere is a really good black but mogully is certainly what it is and for the last half of it you have the ski lift directly above you so you have a crowd watching you come down with .... great style and elegance of course! Bosses is straightforward in decent snow and it sounds as if ecrueils is even more akin to a red than a black ... aiguille rouge - tricky at the top but after that, a fantastic run and sooo long - feels like an achievement when you get to the bottom in villaroger - go for it
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
After the glacier, is the Aiguille Rouge black pretty straight forward?
Tux
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
tuxpoo, Yes....it is downhill all the way 
You can also bail out half way down and follow a blue trail through the trees to come out at the same point in Villaroger....in time for a well earned Mutzig at Le Ferme before taking the lifts back up into 2000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Think I'll be avoiding comborciere then! I remember taking the 'la casse...' chair in Serre Che and watching some French dude have a spectacular accident on the piste below, so it's not something I want to experience myself
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
mark_s, Did comborciere last week and it was great. Would recommend you have a crack at it. In Les Arcs it was highlight of week,
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
That doesn't look too bad. I had visions of it being very steep, very icy and very bumpy
Have you any idea what Droset is like?
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
mark_s, it's not particularly steep for a black, but it's narrow in sections and therefore can get icy and bumpy.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
Hmmm. Makes me feel rather better about my skiing seeing that they've reclassified L'Ours as a yellow diamond - I made the mistake of hitting that on the morning of day one once. It really hurt. Mark - Unless this is the third trip of the year I'd respectfully suggest you have a warm up day before diamond mining.
Bosses is really nice in good snow, the bottom section is kind of halfpipey and there's only one really steep pitch - I took a friend down it on snowblades by mistake a few years back. He looked a bit surprised to reach the bottom intact as it turned out to be his first stab at a black run, but if he could do it on those things...
Scanning back, I realize now that this post does not say a great deal for my navigational expertise  Incidentally, he was on the snowblades, not me. I do have some standards.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
|
Cunners, these are more targets to have completed by the end of the week. I had a quick look (2 hours of staring) at the piste map and was just wondering what the 'interesting'-looking things are like. I'm definitely not trying to diamond-mine - I despise moguls with a passion (something to do with not being able to ski them with any elegance whatsoever). Just looking for some non-bumpy challenges to break up what could be a week spent mostly in the park and cruising around following other people
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
|
mark_s, the black from Grand Col (Refuge) is a terrific run when it has been pisted, a good, steep pitch most of the way down, no nasty chambers and very wide. Keep an eye out to see if the bumps have been flattened (normally they are big) and head for it as soon as you see it has been prepared.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
thefatcontroller, I suppose 'steep' is a relative term The road tunnel is to protect the road from avalanches. The golf driving range is just above Arc 1800.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
thefatcontroller, Y'all from Alabama? 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Scarpa, Norfolk or Bala 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
Craghopper, that's one of my favourite parts of the domain. Spent a happy afternoon there last week getting fresh tracks time after time down both the gullies. Wonderful!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
If you can be bothered...what order, by difficulty, would you put the black pistes in Les arcs into? - maybe you'd need to assume all in similar snow condition and list separately groomed or mogulled....I'm out there with the family at Easter and would be really interested to get an idea of the relative difficulty
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
)? And what are droset/muguet/comborciere like, and can you get to the comborciere chair from the bottom of droset (the piste map isn't totally clear about that)?
