 Poster: A snowHead
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Well today started dull (and that was just me  ), but the snow remained excellent after a 2-3cm overnight top-up.
A quick trip down into 1800 on the bus to the Spar mainly to pick up some batteries from my Satnav mileage device, was followed by some beautiful fresh baguette for breakfast.
After yesterday's debacle witn iscream's goggles, Richard E felt that in the interests of marital harmony, the purchase of a sensible, functional pair was in order. Unfortunately, the first pair that she saw were Oakleys and he now has a much lighter pocket 
While the purchase was going on, Mrs Paellahead and I headed off via the Vagere chair, Charmettoger, a bit of Reches and Plan Bois to Derby. We had decided to circle Derby and meet iscream and Richard E there. We had done Renard once and Bellette twice by the time that they arrived, and had come to the conclusion that Bellette was probably within iscream's range now. She did Renard first (as a warm-up) - which was not especially easy due to the vast numbers of bodies - skicshools and novices - and then on to Bellette. I have to report that iscream did her first top-to-bottom red 
Filled with elation, we decided that a celebratory hot chocolate was in order so we Made our way to the Blanche Muree restaurant via the top bit of Bellette and Access Transarc. The sun was starting to come out so we sat on the terrace - we thought that we were only going to have a drink but it was mid-day and the sun was out, the view was delightful - and the Plat du Jour was a superb lasagne - so we stayed a little longer than intended iscream was celebrating another first - skiing to a mountain restaurant and eating out on the terrace
After lunch we decided to head left on the map, skiing down to 1800 the lower bits of Charmettoger and Grands Melezes and thus avoiding the delights of Maitaz 
Up Vagere, across the upper bit of Grand Melezes to the Grand Renard lift. The weather was coontinuing to improve and as the afternoon proceeded the weather progressed gradually to full sunshine
Then down via Dents du Peigne, Edelweiss and Cascades to the Comborciere chair.
The Comborciere chair is a slow old three-seater but proceeds up through some of the most beautiful and spectacular scenery and is and absolute "must" for anybody visiting les Arcs IMHO. In the partial shade of the mountains to the left with the sun behind, today it was at its absolute best
Comborciere leads to the top of Belvedere and the view from here is also spectacular especially as you overlook the top of the Deux Tetes (two rocky outcrops). We went back to the scene of yesterday's successes - up Clocheret and then down via combinations of Clapet (blue) and Clocheret (red) - iscream felt bold enough to ski the top part of Clapet on her own (while the rest of us skied Clocheret) and then we skied Clocheret together for the bottom part. We enjoyed it so much we did it twice
We skied down a bit more of Belvedere to the bottom of the Arpette lift, then up and down combinations of Clair Blanc and Arpette. By this stage iscream was looking slightly cream crackered, so she and Richard E proceeded down a bit more of Belvedere and Chantel to the Tandem bar in les Alpages. The new owners are extremely welcoming and already treating us like old friends
Mrs Paellahead and I meanwhile did not feel completely skied out, so went up Arpette again to ski Col des Frettes - Mrs P surprised me by skiing it top-to-bottom without stopping 
We then joined our fellow skiers at the Tandem
Another great day  - and for the mileage nerds (that includes me) - 21.7 miles for Mrs P and I
Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Sun 7-02-10 22:04; edited 1 time in total
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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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iscream, sounds fantastic. Well done. who's in the apartment next week? I hope we shall hear all about their adventures. 
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| pam w wrote: |
| who's in the apartment next week? |
Nobody. I was hoping to get out for a few days myself, but lots of lessons at The Snow Centre to be taught, so business comes before pleasure.
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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.
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Freddie Paellahead, Could you please check your PM's - I'm pretty sure we've left some gear in the appt. and wonder if you could help please? Cheers
Great day of firsts on todays Blog, well done iscream. I think you might benefit from running through the check list I do for the Minimum's - to whit: underwear (we have gone down without it on), jumpers, fleeces, balaclavas (have been forgotten), buffs, gloves (Ditto), helmets, ski pants (done this one too), socks, ski jackets, snow skirts done up, ski boots, goggles, lift passes (now left permanantly in jackets)!!! 
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Good morning blog-readers.
Sunshine this morning with hazy cloud.
so we're looking forward to getting out.
Tonight we're planning ot eat out in 1800 - does anybody have any recommendations?
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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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| Megamum wrote: |
| ... I think you might benefit from running through the check list I do for the Minimum's - to whit: underwear (we have gone down without it on), jumpers, fleeces, balaclavas (have been forgotten), buffs, gloves (Ditto), helmets, ski pants (done this one too), socks, ski jackets, snow skirts done up, ski boots, goggles, lift passes (now left permanantly in jackets)!!! |
But the Minimums are 7 and 10 yrs respectively. 
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BMF_Skier, the Social Workers are probably on their way already
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Really enjoying all the news from Les Arcs as we will be in Robs apartment for half term! Furiously taking notes of all the best places for hot choc etc. much to my son's dismay. Not sure we will be able to keep up the excellent standard of the last two bloggers but will try and give it a go. Stayed in the apartment last year and it was fantastic hence the return visit. It was also our first visit to Les Arcs and we all really loved it but visibility was bad for the first 5 days with the sun only appearing on the last day. Upside was there was lovely fresh powder.
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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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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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Richard E, Sounds like a great day, can't wait for the rest of the installments.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Poor Mrs P was
at about 5 am this morning - for no good reason - the rest of us had eaten exactly the same food and have been fine. She assures me that no more Little Paellaheads are imminent
Despite this, she decided to take the day a run at a time, and as a result she skied the whole day but is now in bed sleeping.
We started the day in the same way as the last two - up Vagere across to Grand Renard lift and then down Dents de Peigne and Edelweiss, a nice easy warm-up. Since the forecast for the next two days is for lots of snow (and less visibility) we took the decision to make today our Aiguille Rouge day - unfortunately we were not unique with these thought processes
Up Marmotte and Varet was fine but then a half-hour queue for the Aiguille Rouge cable car was "less good" (I have to say that this has been our only queue of the week ). One thing that really p'd me off was the business of Ski School punters being allowed to jump most of the queue. Since a trip up in your lesson is almost exclusively for the purposes of "sight-seeing" and not "learning", I am a bit at a loss as to why they get priority (this is not a view that I hold for "normal" lifts, espeically if I am paying for the lesson )
The views from the top were superb and worth the effort, however. Mrs P and I were last up here in 1999 and (unsurprisingly ) the viewing maintains an intense experience.
For the descent, iscream had decided beforehand (wisely) to not tackle an unknown red, so she came down in the cable car while the rest of us tackled Arondelieres down to the top of the Varet lift where the party was united again, only to divide once more into Mrs P and I skiing the rest of Arondelieres while iscream and Richard E did Vallee de l'Arc. Richard E's description of his collision does him no justice. He was on the piste (admittedly travelling uphill with his momentum) when the French lady set off from off the piste into him
One of the things that has impressed me about les Arcs this week, is how often a lift will serve both at least one red run and one blue.
One of the things that has completely failed to impress me today is the quality of the punters skiing - Mrs P has had a couple of near misses and also somebody ski (at speed) over the front of her skis Those of you that have seen her ski will know that she is a very solid skier with very predictable and even turns so there really is no excuse for this IMHO.
We had decided earlier in the week, after a very adequate lunch at la Pre au Gourmand, that we "had to" try out the next-door much swisher La Fumee Belliou. So we went via 1950 and Cascades and turned up (without a reservation) at 12.15. Good timing , by 12.30 the place was full. We decided to only have a main course each (partly in view of the prices, and partly because of Mrs P's stomach). The service was delightful and the food plentiful and first class, only made better by a gorgeous pretty sunny terrace. Don't order a main if you're not hungry (as Mrs P found to her cost ).
After lunch we had decided to explore the Arcabulle/Plagnettes runs, so went up Pre St Esprit. We have noticed that the liaisons between lifts in 2000 are not the best, and while I experimented by skiing down to the bottom of Marmottes and up again, the other three walked to the bottom of the Arcabulle. My way was slower but, I suspect, more enjoyable .
The Arcabulle lift seemed to be having a bad day and stopped three times on the way up so we only used it once, using Plagnettes to circle. Mrs P and her sister went down Plan des Eaux while Richard E and I scooted down Teppes. We decided to cheekily head back up Plagnettes again while the ladies were tootling down the blue, but were embarassed to be able to see that they had reached the bottom of Plagnettes just as we reached the top
So, full throttle down Plagnettes, but we were still in the dog house
Up Plagnettes again for the ladies to do Plan des Eaux again while the gents did Tuffes - we decided that discretion was the better part of valour on this occasion and waited for them at the bottom
Mrs P was starting to wilt after her exertions of the early hours so we decided to start heading home via the rest of Plan des Eaux and up Bois de l'Ours. We followed Arpette to the top of Vagere and then split again, the the ladies taking Grands Melezes and the gents taking Vagere.
We stopped in 1800 to do a little shopping (in a minute I've got to write seven postcards ) then up Chantel to cut our way back to the customary welcome from Olivier and Sandrine at the Tandem bar. By this time the sun had largely disappeared behind some high haze and snow is expected imminently.
Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Sun 7-02-10 22:08; edited 2 times in total
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I have learnt today that towards the end of the week some skiers feel the need to hurtle down the slopes without any consideration for anyone else, this lesson i learnt quite early on when i was taken out by a Frenchman who clipped my skis. Fortunately i don't let a little thing like that put me off and i was soon back on my skis. We have also seen more people being carried off the slopes today which fits in with my first comment. 
I have been consoldating my skiing today and i am getting faster and even the steeper slopes are becomming less of a problem. We missed out on coffee today but the lunch and the view from the top of the Aiguille Rouge made up for it and for the records my sisters lack of form today was not due to over indulgence last night :roll:despite what you might hear from anyone else. I'm not sure i am looking forward to skiing while it's snowing tomorrow but i have to put the new goggles to use and we cannot really complain about the glorious weather we have had so far this week.
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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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Living vicariously through your great blogs is a good way to fill the time between visits - Keep them coming!
I see from your posts you keep going down Cascades, it really is a lovely little run but with the Pre St Esprit "Express lift" ( where's the irony emoticon?) as your only way back to the 2000 bowl, it is a bit of a shame. (if busy we usually get the bus from the back of Belliou - it is statistically quicker than a 15 min. wait if the q is large)
You said one day you were intending to stop in at La Bolle in 1950, but skied past :- you should try and pop in - the crepes are very, very good, and besides, Jose would be disappointed if I didn't say that!
Yes we all complain about the walk / flat from Pre St Esprit to Arcabuille - they were supposed ly doing somethign about hit this summer, but I ahven't seen any evidence - as you say, MArmottes is a more pleasnt bet.
But enjoy your last days and we're loving you let us share. Thank-you.
J
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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It sounds like you had a busy day today - a lot of distance covered. That was something we didn't have so much time for - having to come back to 1800 to pick up from ski school each lunchtime limited the distance that could be covered.
Aiguille Rouge was packed the day we went up - we found that queue as well. There was also a lot of people at that middle station watching the ski/kite jumping as well. It was that even that had closed the Vallee de l'arc - We saw several skiers that had skied the first 100yds before realising it was closed that didn't like the look of that first pitch of arandelieres from the that midstation location that walked back to the gondola for the return trip.
I was very pleased to be able to say that I did have a crack at the entire length of Aiguille Rouge from the top - some of it wasn't awfully stylish, but at least I can say I got down it which did oodles for my confidence..
Are your group planning to go over on the VE at some point? Its a good trip, and there is some really good skiing for intermediates in La plagne.
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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.
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JimW, we now only have two days left to try La Bolle but hopefully we will be able to call in and say hello to Jose.
Megamum, very well done for skiing the entire length of the Aiguille Rouge, did it take long?
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Richard E, How are the legs doing when you have to use Chantel? I thought ruefully of my unemployed brother who is a welder back home and how he could make everyone's life much easier on there just by welding on some foot rests when I was on there. Mind you I didn't really mind the slow lifts - I found watching other people skiing very useful - spotting what good people were doing different to less experienced folks was quite educational - getting in my mind what a good skier should look like etc.
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Mmmm, I head out to Les Arcs in two weeks and hearing about you all taking on the runs I know well, and look forward to riding, is really helping building up the excitement!
Whilst the Pre St Esprit lift is slow - I personally have never minded. From an Arc 1600 morning start via Cachette, Belevedere to Arpette lift to lac to eidelwiess to cascades to Pre-St Esprit lift (this now being know as the 'Morning Run') - the Pre-St Esprit lift allows plenty of time to alleviate the first foot and leg pains of the day (and chew on a Snickers for post breakfast snack!)
As I 'normally' eat in the 'Pie Huts' dotted round Les Arcs - in 10 years of going on a lads trip, I've rarely stopped for a proper lunch on the hill. In two weeks time thou, I head out with my family and a good friends family. It should be a more leisurely affair, and hoping to stop for a few nice lunches (particularly as this year I get back on ski's after many years of boarding) Can you post your top recommendations at the end of the week?
I know a recognise where most of them are, just never eaten in them to know which ones serve up a decent lunch!
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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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| Megamum wrote: |
| Richard E, How are the legs doing when you have to use Chantel? |
We just use Chantel once at the end of the day to get us back to the bar/apartment so this has not been a problem for us, but I can see your point if you were using it a lot each day.
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Richard E, We tended to use it twice each day - once after picking up the kids from the top of Arc Adventures ski garden - then scoot across via villards and then up Chantel and back to the appt. for lunch (I am a budget holiday skier at the moment), then again at the end of the day to get back for evening meal. That was enough on the legs!! Transarc was our regular first lift due to dropping the kids off there for ski school. When I win the lottery I have promised myself lunch on the slopes everyday
Parts of Aiguille rouge took long - there was one really narrow rat run close to the top that was mogulled up in the afternoon and packed with people , that was more or less a side slip/side step - theres the first zigzag path, that ends on the black section, then another little bit and then this rat run area (not an easy ski), apart from that I skied most of it at a reasonable pace - didn't straight line it, but skied it as quick as a S turns skier might - odd pauses for breath, but it didn't take too long considering the slope.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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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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Hey!
Im after an apartment this xmas for 2 weeks if any of you guys have one? Please get in touch!
Sorry for the shameless hijack of the thread
Chris
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Megamum, what lovely videos and such great memories of your week in Les Arcs. 
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You know it makes sense.
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Richard E, have you been snowed upon today?
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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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Well today lived up to the weather forecast, visability was poor and it snowed for most of the day, we even had to have an early coffee stop to get out of the blizzard conditions at the L'arpette restaurant where no alcohol was consumed only hot chocolate due to conditions (first time all week) Note to Freddie Paellahead Mrs P badly in need of new goggles due to extreme misting and she would like the same ones as mine of course. Despite my fears of skiing in extreme conditions i have to say i quite enjoyed it and it actually improved my skiing, i went down a red run parrell turning quite confidently for me. The snow was almost off piste at times with lots of interesting bumps but to have survived the day w.as a great sence of achievement and as Mrs F said to may at various times during the day you have to be able to ski in the bad conditions as well as the good
This will probable be my last post of the holiday as we are off home tomorrow so in true Oscar Style i would like to thank my very patient instructors and everyone who has contributed to our thread this week with words of encouragement.
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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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iscream, It's probably too late to help Mrs P, but in case it helps others I had huge success last week trying what I have often suggested (something I've not ever had to in anger before) - that is, I polished the outside and inside of the lenses with the nearest dishwashing liquid - rubbed it over them and then polished them up with clean cloths. I was pleased to find it lived up to expectations. I had a bad first day when I didn't use it, but then I tried it and was really pleased with the results. It lasted at least a day and would do most of a second day, but I found it was better to renew it every day. Hope this helps someone - NB. Freddie paellahead - its cheaper than a set of Oakleys
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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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Last night we went to bed having spent the evening looking out through the curtains wondering why the promised snow had not started, and when we woke this morning to find all of 1cm of fresh we were a little disappointed 
Our plan for the day was to end up at la Bolle in 1950 for a crepe lunch. We thought that we would start by taking a photo of the apartment from the slopes, so up Chantel and down Gollet towards 1600. Initially there were a few flakes of snow but as we meandered down Gollet the snow became a bit heavier. We spotted a large group of houses with pointy roofs on the 1800 side of 1600 and thought that they looked very snug and cosey, with log fires and timber frames.
In 1600 we picked up the Combettes chair to enable us to drop down into the main part of the village and then up Cachettes. On Cachettes, the weather started to deteriorate with heavier fine snow and a strong wind from the left. At the top, we had planned to ski Belvedere to pick up the Arpette lift, but at that point it was blowing a bit of a hooley, so we withdrew into the Arpette self-service for a hot chocolate and a warm up.
We decided that the Plan Peisey side was the place to be in these conditions to get some shelter from the wind and some trees for orientation, so went all the way down Belvedere to pick up the Charmettoger lift. By this stage it was snowing heavily.
The forecasts (metchek and meteo France) had led us to believe that it would snow mainly before mid-day, and metchek had predicted the magnificent total of 2.5cm - it was "incorrect" - it is still snowing heavily now and at least 25cm have fallen
The change of plan meant a change of lunch plan. We had been trying to find la Vache in Peisey earlier in the week, and following texts with genepi now knew exactly where to look - but it would involve the red Combe and we weren't sure if this was "suitable" for iscream so off the top of the Charmettoger lift, Mrs P and I set out to find out while iscream and Richard E went and circled Derby using Belette. We also went up Derby and then cut across via Renard to the top of Combe.
We found Combe delightful - a fairly constant moderately steep pitch, not especially wide, and with several centimetres of fresh snow just to make it interesting - but not suitable for iscream we eventually decided . We came back into Peisey via Retour Combe - which initially was a well-marked blue piste - which then disappeared - apparently there is a land dispute going on - but it was delightful to do some "old fashioned" skiing following other skiers' tracks through people's back gardens
We went up via Peissey and then cut across to the bottom of Derby using Foret. There we used our talky-walkies (why are some people so anti them? - they are so useful at times) to ascertain that Richard E and iscream were near the top of Belette, so Mrs P and I went up Derby and planned to join them at some point low down on Belette - but the time that we had scooted down, they were at the bottom
iscream was feeling very confident about reds with soft snow on them, so after a short tootle along a bit of Foret and a bit of Retour Plan Peisey, we decided to tackle a (previously untried by us) Ourson and then Ours into Plan Peisey. The snow on these runs was absolutely superb, a firm base with oodles of soft gentle lumps to play with .
Le Solan restaurant beckoned, and as we were parking our skis, a red jacket passed that I thought I recognised - it was stiff drink and genepi was behind me. They had been going back to their apartment, but were easily persuaded to lunch with us (even though they had a reservation there for this evening as well ) - a thoroughly delicious Onion Soup au Gratin was had by most of us - and after lunch we went to have a look at the apartment that they co-own with genepi's brother - it made us really think what an excellent investment a shared apartment in the Alps might be 
It was continuing to snow heavily and we felt that, discretion being the better part of valour, we should start to head "home" - so up Peissey, cut across to the 2300 lift, then cut across again to Renard and then down Maitaz from the bottom of Derby. Mrs P was whinging about the poor visibility before she realised that it was that the inside of her goggles steaming up - she clearly was angling for a new pair like her sister, but I thought it would be cheaper to just wipe them with some Kleenex - and buy some proper goggles from the Oakely outlet shop at Gunwharf when we are home rather than payin full-price . It turns out that the last bit of Maitaz is both genepi's and iscream's least favourite bit of les Arcs - a real "bomb alley" with too many skiers of too varied ability levels converging on a little narrowish steep bit - not ideal
We finished by going up Chantel (for the second time today ) and then back to the Tandem for two vin chaud each, following which Olivier decided that we needed further fortifying with a "Springbok" each (a layer of Creme de Menthe with a layer of Baileys on top) before the last off-piste adventure to the apartment. There was enough snow that I skied along the road and a BMW had to avoid me 
It's still snowing heavily
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Megamum, we'll give the washing up liquid a go
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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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Freddie Paellahead, what a great day. Can't think why the forecasts were so conservative when the GFS was so adamant we were going to have a good fall - which is still going on. I've been apartment clearing/cleaning/organising today but it's my birthday tomorrow so have promised myself a few hours out in the morning, before we escape the coming half term hordes.
You seem to have had a most successful week. thanks for the blog.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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Glad you all had a great time today - I find its fun to play with the fresh snow - you've landed just as we did, getting your reasonably decent dump of the white fluffy stuff so close to leaving time - its not fair is it?
Tell the ladies I agree with them that Maitaz is not the faint hearted - its looks so incuous but as you say is prime example of how other skiers can be more of a danger than the slope itself. If you then decide to drop down to Transarc from where it joins that last section at the wrong time of day its worst than the M25 - that steeper last section catching out many beginners and them being swamped by the couldn't care less and lets bomb through it all without looking mob. Crossing to Villards/Chantel across and through that melee is like taking your life in your hands .
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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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Skiing is over
Today we woke to blue skies but this rapidly turned to cloud and light snow. We had decided that since this was our last day, we had better make sure that we made it over to la Bolee at 1950.
Over the last 24hrs there had been about 20cm of snow, and the pisteurs had clearly struggled to get everything prepared for the morning. We had decided to alter our usual morning route, so afer going up Vagere, we headed left planning to pick up Arpette, Mrs P and I on Fontaine Froide and Richard E and iscream on Clair Blanc. Unfortunately, when we got to the bottom of the Arpette, although it was running, they weren't letting anybody on (we wondered if it was anything to do with the snow blasting that we could here in the distance) though they expected it to open within the next hour. SO we skied back down to the bottom of Vagere via Belvedere.
The second time off the top of Vagere we all took Clair Blanc down and were fianlly able to go up Arpette. We took Edelweiss initially, and as soon as we entered the 2000 bowl we started to hear avalanche blasting. We decided to divert down the gulley bit of Lac and iscream excelled herself by calmly skiing down. The gulley reminded Mrs P and I of a half-length Santons (in VDI) and we could imagine that it must be quite unpleasant if busy or slushy (as Santons has been invariably at Easter when we have stayed in TIgnes)
We picked up Marmottes at the bottom planning to go up Arcabulle, but with Varet out of action (due to the avalanche risk we surmised) we were not alone in this plan A rapid re-think resulted in us heading down to 1950 early to go to la Bolee The galettes and crepes were superb - yet another excellent recommendation. During lunch the snow started to fall, initially small flakes and then increasing amounts of very picturesque large flakes.
After our early lunch we found our way down to the bottom of Marmottes and then across to Arcabulle (no queue by now as it was lunch-time ). While going up the lift, the weather started to close in more, and we decided that it was time to cross the ridge back into the 1800 area. The visibility at this stage was poor with snow falling and completely flat light, and iscream was therefore not impressed by being taken down an unkown (to us) red (Grand Renard) nad having to rapidly learn to ski with feet alone. The only lifts that seemed to be open at this point were the liaison lifts - Villards and Transarc, with Grand Renard and Vagere closed.
Eventually we were able to find Grand Melezes and wend our way back down into 1800 and could see that Chantel was also functional and Vagere coming back on-stream.
There was some discussion at this point as to who would do what next, and eventually it was decided that Mrs P and iscream would circle Chantel while Richard E and I circled Vagere.
We decided to try out the reds off the top sequentially - Golf had clearly not been pisted overnight and by now had oodles of soft powder making for fairly hard work - Vagere had been pisted in the morning and was a hoot, and Carreley was suprisingly mogully at the bottom. The visbility remained extremely variable. We met up again with the ladies, and iscream had decided that she had had enough so retired to the Tandem bar and the kind ministrations of Olivier and Sandrine, while the three of us went up Vagere for one last time and came down via Fontaine Froide, Belvedere and Chantel to the Tandem, where we joined iscream for a celebratory vin chaud (we'll be back there later to watch the rugby, and despite staying in a Welsh person's apartment will be supporting the home team )
View from the apartment this evening:
We have greatly enjoyed our stay in les Arcs.
My impressions:
I liked the amount of tree skiing.
The pistes were generally well linked (exception being Arc 2000 low down)
Several excellent restaurants:
Au Pre Gourmand and la Fumee Belliou at the bottom of Cascades, la Bolee in 1950, le Solan in Peisey and la Blanche Muree near the top of the Vllandry lift.
A very friendly couple as proprietors of the Tandem Bar in Chantel (with good fresh home-made pizzas)
May the next s in les Arcs enjoy it as much as we did
Last edited by You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net. on Sun 7-02-10 22:10; edited 1 time in total
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FAQ
I suppose the best example of this is 
of your skiing skills and she is overcome with the emotions regarding her companions TLC and cooking skills
,
