 Poster: A snowHead
|
Arctic, sorry to hear your bad news. That is really tough. Hope the young one recovers quickly.
They did reopen the piste later after they had made more controls, but the resort is very worried after the problem last week.
Yesterday Monday we had a POWDER day again. Blue sky and good snow. It was great!
We headed high early and were very lucky to arrive at the Varet gondola just after it had opened. Made a few laps of the area under the lift and beside the Robert Blanc piste nature.
Then were even more lucky and had first tracks down a number of routes around the Grand Col lift when that opened.
Finally we headed into the back valley and arrived in Nancoix after a great run down in more untracked powder to the track out which was very cruddy.
Back in Arc 2000 we had a quick lunch at the Mushroom before a run down from the top of the Varet to Plagnettes chair and then the Border cross and finally over to the snowpark and waterslide before heading for home.
A good day and very mixed conditions. Untracked powder most of the time off piste in the morning and fun in all the play areas in the afternoon.
Photos from yesterday will be posted later today.
DAILY UPDATE: Tuesday 2 April 2013 (Published around 8.30am each day.) All photos for this winter are posted on my 'Les Arcs Winter' facebook page.
https://www.facebook.com/LesArcsWinter/photos_albums
Send me a PM if you would like the contact details of a local English speaking 'Guide/Ski Instructor' so you can also discover some of these great places.
WHAT IT IS LIKE OUTSIDE RIGHT NOW!
Overcast sky again today. But the sun does seem to be trying to break through. It might be better higher up. I can see the mountains in the distance and it is warmer than yesterday morning. The wind of last night has dropped right now lower down. I hope the change in the weather has not messed up the nice powder snow to much although for piste skiers conditions should be very good. Time to go.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
Arctic Roll, Sorry to hear but worse places to spend 2 weeks relaxing? Trying to be positive, not fun though.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
| Arctic Roll wrote: |
and, yes, even in April, the snow continues to behave like a January.
|
I hate to suggest it but as the Russian lady avalanche demonstrates the snow doesn't behave like January when it's warmer and wetter especially late in the day.
I still don't believe the answer is on piste transceivers - you'll probably have the life crushed out of you by a full depth wet slab before you can be located, but a bit of general knowledge about the mountain environment probably doesn't hirt anyone.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
The avalanche took place just beyond where 'Plan Vert' (blue run which leads to the boardercross) forks off of Gd Renard.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
catsmeow, Welcome, so 1/2 way along the flat piece then and not that far from Tranarc in reality?
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
Indeed, not far from Transarc at all... ~250m I would guess. Part of that massive, tempting-looking powder bowl above Grand Renard slipped, covering the piste and continuing down the other side some way.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
catsmeow, Thanks, earlier reports seemed to indicate it was much closer to the fork for Peisey by the top of the Grand Renard lift.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| snowcrazy wrote: |
| For those wondering. the avalanche was before the fork of the piste coming down from the Transarc in the direction of the Grand Renard lift and the blue run on the right. |
This is the picture of the Grand Renard red piste coming down from the Transarc (far end) in the direction of the Grand Renard lift (point the picture is taken) on the 27/03/2013 (the only sunny day of that week), just two days before the avalanche:
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cracking week in Les Arcs, didn't get my steep fix this time but fun to ski in a new area, anyone coming out will have plenty of snow to play in especially when it starts turning to proper spring snow. Have to say my experience of the ESF in 1800 has been superb, my kids are absolutely buzzing and their improvement level has been incredible. 
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
|
grandunion, thanks, great to hear. I am flying out in 8days time.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
YESTERDAY (Saturday) was a mix of everything. For those lucky ones staying another week or leaving in the evening we had very empty pistes which allowed us room for some fast skiing all day.
We all met up at the top of the Vagere chair and then headed to the Varet Gondola. From the top of the Aiguille Rouge we had a play in the soft snow on the glacier before a fast piste ski most of the way down to Villaroger with a little detour onto one off piste area for a challenge. The snow off piste was very mixed, soft in places with a lot of hard cruddy lumps amongst the nicer snow and some areas of firm chalky snow in the more well skied areas. The piste was excellent, really good for carving all the way to the softer spring snow at the bottom coming into the village.
Then back to the top of the Aiguille Rouge again for a run down the Glacier and then the Robert Blanc piste and couloir to skiers left. The snow here was excellent, firm and chalky the whole way down.
Once at the bottom it was time for lunch and then over to Malgovert for one final play before going to the snowpark and then the Waterslide. Nobody got wet today. Well done!
Then the 'Big Drop' over above Vallandry where almost everyone had a go. A certain person did a lot of screaming but made it down without falling, excellent !!
After a fun day, time to go and pack. I look forward to skiing with you all again next season and a few of you staying for another week or just arrived. If anyone wants to meet up for a beer and maybe a ski please send me a PM or see me in George's Wine Bar around 5pm in Arc 1950. Hope all those leaving last night made it home safely.
I will try and post the rest of the lasts weeks photos today. Take a look in the April 2013 Album on my Les Arcs Winter page later today.
https://www.facebook.com/LesArcsWinter/photos_albums
grandunion, nice report. Good to read another persons view. I agree the snow is great right now.
Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Sun 7-04-13 9:24; edited 1 time in total
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
grandunion, Nice report 
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
snowcrazy, what is the big drop?
Great reports. Wish I was back out there. The pull of doing a season get getting stronger. Just get the kids off our hands in a few years. ...
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
Grandunion & Snowcrazy, Thanks for the reports.... I have just got back from dropping my wife & daughter at Gatwick airport for their holiday flight to Club Med Arc Extreme...am glad the snow conditions are great as my daughter is beginner & hopefully she will become a fully fledged snowhead.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
Yesterday (Sunday), the mist and clouds stayed all the morning and it did not really clear much until after 2pm. I ended up taking the day off. However my friend that did go up reported that the snow was quite heavy and wet during the morning with very poor visibility. After 2pm the sun did start to break through and it turned into a very nice late afternoon just as the lifts were closing.
The photos for the last week are now posted in the April 2013 Album on my Les Arcs Winter page. Take a look. Enjoy.
https://www.facebook.com/LesArcsWinter/photos_albums
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
snowcrazy, wouldn't call it mist.. it was full on fog. Barely see a chair in front of you on the lifts. we abandoned after a run down pre st esprit and Mont blanc, back via Arpette chair . Mini roll said she was so confused about where she was, she was brake turning on the flat bit of pre st Esprit on the way to Combouciere instead of straight lining it . But yes, the afternoon cleared, we went out again about 3, and Grand Col was lovely. Albeit , Piste Patrol were at the top warning everyone to stick to the pistes, it is getting a tad wet up there.
Today has been considerably better, although has been snowing all morning ( and continues) . Been over at Peisey, and while the clouds are coming in over the ridge, making the home run a little tricky, it has been a good 3 hours ski. Ecureils ( ?sp) a black I hold to be the easiest in the alps) was showing its teeth a bit, with every ridge and powder scrape ( proto-mogul?) rock hard and teeth chattering. Unpleasant on the knees.
Proper snow at Vallandry and Peisey, 1800 seems a little wetter, not sure why.
Afternoon off I think. Things to do, people to see.might as well do it when things aren't at their best.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I've written about the fatal on-piste avalanche at Arc 1800 on 30th March in my blog, entitled:
Avalanche tragedy: could your lift pass save your life?
http://grangedalice.blogspot.fr/
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
araird, Interesting, you say Arc1800 but all indications say it was inside the bowl so Arc 2000 surely, or was it on the 1800 side the slide?
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
araird, interesting idea about adding Recco reflectors to liftpasses. I guess the cost of doing that would be marginal given the typical weekly cost of a liftpass, and could be covered by charging a few Euros as a deposit for each liftpass issued. Les Arcs has Recco receivers for pisteurs to use - wonder if they were used for this search?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Quote: |
Interesting, you say Arc1800 but all indications say it was inside the bowl so Arc 2000 surely, or was it on the 1800 side the slide?
|
I had believed it was 1800 side, near where the pistes divide. Please accept my apologies if wrong, can anyone confirm exact location?
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
| Quote: |
interesting idea about adding Recco reflectors to liftpasses. I guess the cost of doing that would be marginal given the typical weekly cost of a liftpass, and could be covered by charging a few Euros as a deposit for each liftpass issued. Les Arcs has Recco receivers for pisteurs to use - wonder if they were used for this search?
|
I wonder if existing hands-free liftpass technology could be modified so the pass can be detected from a distance? Must be the same reflector tuned to certain frequency type set up? According to the Recco french website Les Arcs is one of the resorts where Recco detectors are used routinely in avalanche searches.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
araird, catsmeow posted above on this thread, a bit lost in all the posts.
http://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?t=91244&start=760#2272423
| Quote: |
| The avalanche took place just beyond where 'Plan Vert' (blue run which leads to the boardercross) forks off of Gd Renard. |
That would be the 2000 side, 1800 is past where the run splits to Peisey and 1800?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
araird, rob@rar, Good point, if we can tag library books surely we can tag humans via the lift pass. Though maybe not a selling point for resorts?
'Our pistes are not safe so we will tag you via the lift pass'? Also they may be nervous of this as it then puts liability to them and not to an individual to carry the appropriate safety gear?
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
| Quote: |
That would be the 2000 side, 1800 is past where the run splits to Peisey and 1800?
|
Many thanks, I've amended blog. Also PMd to ask if I can use the picture.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
After a nice rest yesterday, it was first lift up this morning and met up with friends for a fast ski over to the top of the Roche de Mio in La Plagne. The Glacier was closed today due to the weather so we headed to the Bauches Chiar instead. Very mixed snow all the way down. Not many people about anywhere.
Then with poor light we decided to stick to the trees and found a challenging route from the top of the Salla Chair down to the Mont Blanc piste. Then another route through the forest back to above Montchavin and time for lunch.
After a nice long lunch (it was raining/snowing outside), headed back to Les Arcs and finally a drink at George's Wine Bar in Arc 1950 before going home.
The fresh snow today made the pistes quite pleasant and we even found some good spring snow off piste. Unfortunately the poor light for most of the day, did make it rather hard to see where we were going at times and I only managed a few photos. Those I took today will be posted shortly on my Les Arcs Winter facebook page in the new April 2013 Album Two.
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.461168820626256.1073741832.195692797173861&type=3
The forecast for tomorrow is not great, might mean a tree skiing day. It was snowing up top when I left so there may even be some powder about! Hope so!!!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
Dear weather Gods,
I'm not sure if anyone has told you, but your calendar may be a bit out. Powder in April? Days on end of snowfall? OK, so the visibility ain't great, some of the lifts are closed (in fact, probably as many as they can get away with without having to give refunds) but oooh joy.
No-one about ( I'm told all the charter airlines are now heading for Spain, so no Package holiday TO peeps around?) . pistes with 3 - 4 inches of freshies on them; proper, not wet, snow down to Peisey and across the domain.
Sitting on the even relatively short lifts ( Vagere, Derby, Marmottes, Vallandry, Grizzly) today we ended up as snowmen at the top: it is just coming down by the bucket load. we even ( and get this for unusual) had the ski school postpone our lessons this afternoon. We came in about 1pm: soaked, exhausted, grinning like loonies.
As Simply Red (nearly) put it, " get a caravan, get a freight train...[]... but get here if you can"
It's bizarre.
It's insane.
It's magnificent.
big BIG laughing smiley.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
Arctic Roll, yes we're in Montchavin and its crazy!!!!
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
We're heading out on Sunday, thought we were taking a risk going so late in the season but seems like its paid off! Literally cannot wait!
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
6pm. last few flakes coming down here in 1950... but has been a full-on storm most of the afternoon. About 4 inches accumulated on the bar tables outside Belle Pintes since being cleared at lunchtime.
Wind has been quite breezy (!) , so piling it up around the place. In the 2000 valley when we returned at lunchtime only Pre St Esprit, Marmotte and St Jaques open. Bois de l'Ours also for getting anyone mad enough to be over here, back over there. Don't know about Combourcieire, can't see it from here!
Weather tomorrow supposedly better, so early start I think...
KnightRider, you've timed it just about perfectly!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Arctic Roll, Care to tell us your thoughts on global warming?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Quarter to 7: reports of the imminent cessation of snowfall were precipitous... it's coming down hard again. Ho hum, what a bore.
thefatcontroller, warming, schmarming. Climate change, now that's a different matter!
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wednesday was awesome, Sun for most of the day and mega powder from the snow dump yesterday. instructor from Peisey took us over to Les Arcs 2000, slopes were very busy for one good reason , they were simply great. Instructor had afternoon off and was off for a 30 min walk about Grive.....according to him to get the last of this years powder. I under the top in Les Arcs was closed due to the avalanche risk, they were blasting for the helicopter for quite a bit of the day. It's one place I'm not going, so ski safe if you intend doing them. 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
