 Poster: A snowHead
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Well for a once a week skier, have to say it's not been too bad this week. Ok all our fave little cut throughs and tree routes are not possible but pistes are holding up well, although limited number open lower down.
La Plagne we found to be a lot busier and runs back to Vanoise Express were icy - for our level of ability!
Personally, and again based on my experience level, I'd say boarding is hard work and you need to make sure you have sharp edges. I switched to skis yesterday as spent too much time on arrse
If you're here next week there's enough to ski 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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@Boris, Out on 7th, sadly looks like my board will stay covered in dust. No interest in taking it out on ice, value my spine too much.
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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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@thefatcontroller, I had a lot of heavy sit downs yesterday! Boy had board serviced overnight and is loving it again now, but he's younger, fitter and a hell of a lot better!
We've had great time though 
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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@Boris, Glad to hear you made most of it. I'm weaker on my heel edge so my spine gets it every time!
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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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Snow cannons running this morning below the vanoise express. Surely a good sign
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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What are the conditions like currently high up and lower down the Montaigne? Cheers all
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@Ricklovesthepowder, looks like they are trying to open another run into 1800 when we went past earlier.
No sign of snow here at moment I'm afraid, is a most gorgeous blue sky and have to say enjoying a beer on balcony.
Runs are holding up well though - couple of bottlenecks in Arc 2000 bowl to get out but queues move quickly. Last pootle around soon then the joy of packing and apartment cleaning.
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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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@Boris, we only skied about 4 hours today. Late up, had lunch and a little ski afterwards, now back at the chalet for a brew and cake. Was too icy for the Mrs she as it knocks her confidence, so she bussed back from Arc 2000 to the top of the Funicalar. I skied it and beat her back 
May head over to La Rosiere/La Thuile tomorrow as the snow is aparently much better on the Italian side.
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Been tracking this thread all through the month and its been really useful. I'm out on the Eurostar tonight with my 3 teenage lads for a week in 2000 so this time tomorrow afternoon I'll be ready for a sharpener after the first session in a few years. Warnings noted for the less than forgiving icy pistes and out-of-control skiers. Tuesday next week promises more snow so will see if I can post an update or 2 through the week.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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The worst bit of piste fornicenisbthe last 200m of the blue between Arc 2000 and 1950 just before the Marmotte chairlift. It's awful
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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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| Quote: |
Was too icy for the Mrs she as it knocks her confidence, so she bussed back from Arc 2000 to the top of the Funicalar. I skied it and beat her back Very Happy
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I assume that you didn't use Comborciere.
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@johnE, it's closed, I believe.
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You know it makes sense.
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| rob@rar wrote: |
| @johnE, it's closed, I believe. |
Yep the run down to it is closed and green in more than one 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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I have just looked at the Les Arcs web site and it appears about half the resort is shut including most of the best runs. It eases the pain a little bit from not being there.
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Poster: A snowHead
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But it's been sunny and warm, so not all bad 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@rob@rar, ha, ha, not sure if you weren't laid up you would be saying that!
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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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Finally got back on skis two days ago
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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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@rob@rar, Nice to hear. Good.
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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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@thefatcontroller, thanks.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@rob@rar, Good to hear. How does it feel is your confidence back?
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| rob@rar wrote: |
| @johnE, it's closed, I believe. |
Yes the lowest point you can ski is down to the bottom of Marmotte Chair. But it's horrible the last bit down to the lift.
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| johnE wrote: |
| I have just looked at the Les Arcs web site and it appears about half the resort is shut including most of the best runs. It eases the pain a little bit from not being there. |
There is only two lifts poo-poo, but a lot of the best runs are clos do I agree last time I was here there was some fantastic blue runs which down even have any snow on let alone poor cover. But still enough to keep me going for the 4 days I'm here
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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, glad to hear you're back in the game! FWIW, my leg is beginning to come back to me: the knee is good enough, and the ankle, well, a bit of a way to go, but then again, when it's in a boot... Still, not skiing again until end Feb, so hope to get back to some fitness / exercise before then.
@Ricklovesthepowder, we hate that bit - it's right outside our apartment too, so we have to ski the top 50m to our boot room most days. It gets that way as it is the direct route from 2000 to the lifts. You can go through the 1950 village, but most people, and ski schools, just head on down. Narrow, busy, bumpy and icy - not a good combination by end of day.
+1 for going over to Rosiere and Tuille - the latter being the better of the two, 10 days ago.
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@Arctic Roll, are you out here now? Skiing solo tomorrow and thinking of heading over to Italy?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| johnE wrote: |
| @rob@rar, Good to hear. How does it feel is your confidence back? |
Thanks. I only had a couple of gentle days skiing with my girlfriend before heading back to the UK, but I don't think I'll have confidence issues. I've skied quite a lot over the years and this was my first proper collision, so not unduly concerned that it's a major risk every time I get on the slopes. In conditions like we have now (less grip on piste, people squeezed in to fewer runs) I'm usually a bit more aware of skiers around me, not least because I'm constantly amazed by the number of skiers and boarders who are prepared to travel around at high speed with such little control!
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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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| Quote: |
There is only two lifts poo-poo, but a lot of the best runs are clos do I agree last time I was here there was some fantastic blue runs which down even have any snow on let alone poor cover. But still enough to keep me going for the 4 days I'm here
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I don't understand.
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| Arctic Roll wrote: |
| @rob@rar, glad to hear you're back in the game! FWIW, my leg is beginning to come back to me: the knee is good enough, and the ankle, well, a bit of a way to go, but then again, when it's in a boot... Still, not skiing again until end Feb, so hope to get back to some fitness / exercise before then. |
Sorry to hear you're still not 100%. You certainly looked very sore when we met in Bourg! Hopefully all will be well for the next trip.
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You know it makes sense.
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Seem's I have returned to green pastures lower down and less snow higher on the mountain than when I left for Christmas. Hope everyone enjoyed themselves over the festive days.
Will be up on the hill tomorrow and hopefully ski all the Paradiski areas that are open. Might be busy, not sure as it is change over day for some people.
For anyone that wants to join us on Saturday, all are welcome. We can always split into faster and more leisurely groups.
We plan to be on the 10am Funi for those coming up from the Valley. For anyone else, 10.45 - 10.55am at the Vanoise Express.
We will do the La Plagne side first and Les Arcs side on the way back. Hope to see some of you tomorrow.
I will post update of conditions with some photos over on my Les Arcs Winter page tomorrow when I get back.
@Ricklovesthepowder, Come join us tomorrow if you are interested in a tour of the whole Paradiski area.
@domed, Once you have sorted yourselves out, if you fancy meeting up let me know here or over on my Les Arcs Winter facebook page. There are other youngsters around so could be fun for your lads as well.
@rob@rar, Pleased to hear you are back on skis and no lasting damage done. What happened to you is why I prefer the 'off piste'.
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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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@Ricklovesthepowder, unfortunately not, was there with my daughter just before Christmas.
But if you get the chance to go out with Snowcrazy you should do so, he knows a lot of good places! (And despite his name and "fearsome reputation", lol, he will be kind to your other half...
Don't know what pass you've got, but if you're going for the day at a time, then the samedijeskie.com website is the place to go for a €30 ticket in Arcs on a Saturday - it won't get you to La Plagne with Snowcrazy, but is considerably better than the €50 otherwise. If you've got your 2 cartes from today, they can be recharged on line in the morning at the chalet, and will work as soon as you get to the Funicular.
The cartes for Ros / Tuille are different, and will be an extra €2, but well worth it - and similar to above, can be used again if you go back. I think it was about €40 for the day, plus insurance and cards.
@rob@rar, thanks. To quote the old 70's BR advert, we're getting there.
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Poster: A snowHead
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A fast tour of most of the Paradiski area today. Managed to get over to the La Plagne side in the morning and down to the bottom of the Borseliers Chair above the Champagny village. Then up top of Roche de Mio and back home. Not the normal quiet changeover day and queues at most lifts, but the snow was OK and not many rocks. Even managed a little off piste between the lifts to avoid the busy pistes.
The Verdon Sud chair and pistes was also open so made a little detour and found a few bumps.
On the way back the tunnel run down to Bellecote La Plagne was OK, but also hard packed.
Finally a ski back to the Vanoise Express on busy, but OK snow with some very polished areas on the Montchavin Le Coches side.
Back in Les Arcs similar to the morning with quieter pistes and better snow. Managed to find a little chalky snow off piste in the Arc 2000 bowl before heading for home.
Overall the conditions across the Paradiski area were not much different to when I left 10 days ago. Plenty of pistes to ski all day. Hard packed and polished in places, but also some OK snow on some pistes. The off piste is well skied with many rocks, but you can still have fun if you take care.
Hope the next few days stand up to what looks like many people just arriving.
More later! Time to go! Happy New Year everyone! I will post the photos of today later.
Meeting point for New Year's Day for anyone interested. Either 10.10am at bottom of the Mont Blanc Chair in Arc 1600, Top of Carreley Chair at 10.50am above Arc 1800 or the Bulle Cafe (Mushroom) in the Arc 2000 Bowl at 12 noon for a drink!
Hope to see some of you tomorrow!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@snowcrazy, that sounds like a full day!
Happy New Year to you.
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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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We've just finished a week skiing Les Arcs. They're doing a really good job with what little snow they've got. Some of the routes down into 1800 are pretty icy, but the runs down from Col de la Chal are very pleasant indeed.
Overall - there's still plenty of fun to be had if you're heading out soon and happy to stay on the pistes, but a good dump of snow would be very welcome.
Two months until heading out to Val Thorens - surely some powder by then!!
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Just had first day on the pistes around Arc 2000. Agree with the post above. Whilst far from perfect there are plenty of decent runs to be had on fairly decent snow. Not the disaster I was expecting by any means.
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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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Having done a few hours recce yesterday afternoon, we ventured over to La Plagne today and back again. What snow there is has been reworked many times but I'm certainly not disappointed. Some pistes in full sun are some of the crispiest I've skied in a while and watched a helivac from La Plagne which made the news so just to repeat earlier warnings to be extra careful.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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New Year's Day comes to an end with another nice dinner, thanks mate! If the rest of 2017 is as fun as today then it should be a good year! Hope you all enjoyed yourselves during the last 24hrs as well.
After not much sleep hit the slopes at 10am again and managed to keep going right until the lifts closed with a few hot chocolate stops and a little lunch.
Quite a few people, but not all, made it out today after a late night. Managed some easy piste runs to get started then headed up the Aiguille Rouge and found some nice chalky snow 'off piste' and a few other short off piste runs between the rocks in the Arc 2000 bowl. Better than being taken out by people skiing or snowboarding too fast on the pistes although they were not as busy today as in other years.
Finally back to the Arc 1800 side and one of my 'interesting' routes to the Altiport, then after a drink in Arc 1800 headed home.
To see the conditions right now take a look at the new Jan 2017 album on my Les Arcs Winter page. Enjoy!
https://www.facebook.com/pg/LesArcsWinter/photos/?ref=page_internal
The plan for Monday. For those interested in meeting up. 10am funi or 10.10am at bottom of Mont Blanc chair in Arc 1600. Then 10.40am top of Carreley Chair above Arc 1800. After that you will be too late as not sure where we will be heading. Anyone welcome so bring some lunch for one last picnic before the weather starts to change, maybe! Send me a PM or text if you are likely to be late before 9.30am. Hope to see some of you again tomorrow.
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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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Enjoyed Christmas in 2000 and would just like to add my 2p that the teams managing the pistes are doing a great job. The reservoir is looking low as they are making lots of snow. The pistes around 2000 are all well looked after and only the runs heading into lower resorts are patchy in places. Yes, some runs are closed and not managed, but there is loads of skiing to be done. All the runs down from the Arcabulle are good, most runs from the Bois De L'Ours are OK, the blue and red runs from the Varet are OK too and the Aguille Rouge is great until you head past Lanchettes Lift (there are small stones in places after this).
If heading out in the coming days, rest assured there is plenty of fun to be had on the pistes.
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A bit of a cold start today, I'm in Arc 2000 with my daughter so have easy access to the lifts, we arrived on Saturday so have been exploring since then.
On Sunday we stayed in Les Arc mainly around the main bowl at 2000 but did venture over the top.
On Monday we ventured across to La Plagne eating down in bellcote before doing the tunnel run and returning.
Imho the pistes travelling through Les Arc were in better shape than La Plagne although they had done a lot of work with the snow cannons to ensure the link was open, higher up i where there are less cannons my bases took a hammering.
Today after a cold start (sore head when you put your foot down cold) up to the top of Les Arc we headed over the top and played around 1800. We had loads of fun on the open runs with less stones due the cannons, we had a few runs through the snow park and the boarder cross.
After dropping the daughter off after lunch due to a bit of a bug I got to try some of the bumps and then back over to 1800.
Overall I think the runs are in better shape in 1800 than in 2000 if you hit the slopes before lunch, there are less cannons around 2000 making the snow very scraped very quickly whereas over in 1800 the shine didn't come through until 2pm.
I'm still having a great time but my ski's seem to be taking a hammering from the stones😡
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FAQ
