Les Arcs Season Thread. (Where you can ask questions on Les Arcs , La Plagne or chat)

Yesterday was Powder again!! Will it ever end? I hope not!! Jan 30

Today I was back on skis and headed up early as they forecast bad weather for the afternoon. When we arrived at the top of the Arpette decided to take a couloir to the left of the ridge and down to the Pre Esprit chair. Following yesterdays snow the conditions were very good again and we had good powder all the way down as soon as we were on the shel...tered side of the mountain where the wind had not turned the surface to hard crud.

After a fun run to the chair, up one of the slowest and longest chairs in Les Arcs and then on the Varet Gondola. had hoped to go up the Cable Car, but so many people, it meant a wait of at least 30 min so headed over to the top of the Grand Col and a great route through the National Park to Villaroger.

After a little discussion with a local guide who seemed to think we should wait for his large group of 10 skiers to go first. Not a chance!!! We dropped over the back and down the couloir skiing fresh shallow mostly untracked snow all the way to the forest above Villaroger. Even the path out was in good condition, with very few rocks showing.

Lunch on the chair (it was a powder day after all) on the way back up and then by a very different route back down again to above Villaroger with a bit of rock climbing thrown in. More good snow, but also some rocks.

Then through the 'secret forest' and up to the top of Combociere chair. Time for another route, down the Couloir des Chavonnes. Great snow again and an interesting route.

Finally down through Malgovert forest to Arc 1600 and home after a nice drink at the Beguin Hotel. A really fun day with great snow even if the vis was quite bad at times. As we left it had started to snow. Hopefully tomorrow will be another good day.

Photos from yesterday and today will be posted shortly in the Jan 2012 Album Two. Enjoy!!

anyone have any tips with the webcams on the lesarcs.com website. i have tried several pc's in the hgouse and cant get anyone to work. first time of looking at them and not sure if this is normal or is there a problem with their web site. due there on 18/2 so starting to get in the zone

Hi there! I'm back from a 2-week trip on the French Alps, one in Paradiski and one in Espace Killy. I've been to both before, but here are some fresh observations and pictures about Paradiski (I'll post Espace Killy content in the proper thread).


PARADISKI
I wouldn't rank Paradiski up there with the best resorts, but it's worth a visit: it's large and a bit quieter (in this particular week there were really few people!) and the good slopes are enough to make you happy for a week. I stayed in La Plagne (Belle Plagne village) this time, and though the location is quite convenient skiwise, I wouldn't advise you to do the same. Slopes aren't bad, but lifts are old and excruciatingly slow! I just can't see how the La Plagne skipass can be so expensive, considering the resort conditions. The snow was quite good and we enjoyed great weather for 5 out of 6 days. Great restaurant: Blanche Murée in Vallandry, near the Transarc intermediate (you have to book your tartiflette the day before, though!). Internet connection with wireless provider Cybercafé was crap.

For the full report (with links to the photo gallery), check out my blog tipsology - Paradiski: Cozy


GENERAL OBSERVATIONS ON THE FRENCH ALPS
I go there every year, and every year I tell myself: never again! Everything is outrageously expensive, flats are small and ugly, people are mostly rude and you feel cheated in so many ways... But then again, there must be a reason why I keep going back, and of course it's the slopes Smile I went to Austria last year (Mayrhofen + Ischgl) and I was shocked at the difference: spacious flats decorated with taste, great hospitality, much lower prices... The only problems are that weather in Austria can be challengingly cold in January, as far as I'm aware, and most importantly you have to forget "ski in - ski out", since the resorts are usually at the bottom and you have to take a crowded shuttle from wherever you are, then face a long queue to take the first lift up. For the moment my solution is: France in January, when prices are lower and it's a bit less crowded, then take a deep breath and dive into the Austrian crowd in late February-March. But somehow I suspect I might be spending more and more time in Austria.

More tips about skiing on the French alps - Skiing in France: Unnerving

A FEW PICS FROM PARADISKI

Yesterday was another day when you could not help but find good untracked powder. After a nightmare getting across the VE we made it to La Plagne and over to Champagny for lunch and back to Nancroix then into Les Arcs and home. The off pisted was really fun everywhere we went and the pistes in La Plagne were in excellent condition.

Today was another great powder day. Managed 7 long off piste runs today in the Les Arcs domain and still had time for lunch. The pistes today were just a way of getting from one off piste area to another, but all were still in excellent condition and the vis was much better today. The off piste is holding up really well due to the low temps and should last for a few more days. You can still find plenty of untracked snow if you head to the right place.

I will post pics of yesterday and today later on my Les Arcs Winter facebook page in the new Feb 2012 Album. Enjoy!

Still cant get the web cams to work on lesarc.com anyone else able to see them or can confirm they dont work?

are there any speed gun runs in lesarcs area?

thanks

EDIT
just partly answered my own question on a speed gun run - http://www.snowboardclub.co.uk/news-9044.html

i think i might be wanting a half way down start. looks like there isnt one though..trying to tell myself to go for it but i think my cautious alterego will get the better of me

I do not know why you find the webcams not working. They work fine for me. Try these links.

http://www.location-appartement-les-arcs.com/chalet-hotel-eng/webcam-les-arcs-hotel-beguin-uk.php (Arc 1600)

http://www.edenarc1800.com/images/webcam/
(Arc 1800)

http://www.webcam-ski.com/interfaces/les-arcs-peisey/interface.php?pk_interface=259&m=images&r=panoramique#depart
(Top of Arcabulle)

http://www.webcam-ski.com/interfaces/les-arcs-peisey/interface.php?pk_interface=258&m=images&r=panoramique#depart
(Top of Arpette) etc. Just click on the link they give you for others.

http://www.arc1950.com/en/hiver/le-village/Webcams/menu-id-118.html
(Links to all webcams in Arc 1950)

Also, the Flying K in Les Arcs has been closed for the past few years. It is not likely to open for racing again. However in March/April they do sometimes allow training on the lower section. The SCUK page you posted is very out of date.

Hope that helps!!

Yesterday we went over to play in the Bellecote Bowl of La Plagne all day and then return via the North Face. We managed to stay above the clouds until our return to Nancroix and back to Arc 1600 in the afternoon. Loads of powder and mostly untracked snow all day. Did not take many pics today, it was just to cold to take my gloves off. But will post the best of what I did take shortly in the Feb 2012 Album on my facebook page.

The snow is still in great condition on and off piste due to the very cold temps. It was really cold today. The clouds hung around the valleys all day and a little snow fell lower down. Above 2000m it was sunny most of the day, but the wind chill was up at -20degrees most of the day. I had to wear double liners in my gloves and my fingers just about stayed warm. My feet froze even with my boot covers.

If you are coming out this weekend. It is still snowing lightly right now and the roads are quite difficult. You will need winter gear to get up to resort right now. Hope all those coming out have a good holiday! If anyone wants to meet up send me a PM.

This is what Les Arcs looked like most of the day.


(Les Arcs is in the backround. Looking from left to right. The Aiguille Grive, Top of Transarc, Grand Col area and Aiguille Rouge. Mount Pourri ridge on the right.)

Yep the links work for me as well