Les Arcs Season 2014 - 2015, New Thread for this season starts on page 29.

Wednesday 13 March. Another surprise day comes to an end. They had forecast snow again today, but instead we had a little cloud to start and then blue sky for most of the day. But it is snowing a little outside tonight.

After meeting up in Les Arcs we headed over to the Bellecote glacier again as the snow had seemed better in the Bellecote bowl. By the time we arrived after a few queues and quite busy pistes we found the clouds had lifted and the visibility was good.

For a change we took one of the steeper couloirs down the Roche de Mio face into the Bellecote Bowl. Then up to the top of the glacier and a couple of loops by different routes looking for steeper areas to practise those skills needed off piste before finally heading down the Friolin Bowl via the ridge to the Bauches chair. Then over the back of the Dos Rond and down the waterfall gully avoiding a number of air holes that have opened on the steeper face and back to Arc 1600 for a drink at the Altiport before heading for home. No waterslide today for us as it was closed when we arrived.

The snow off piste everywhere today had a nice soft top surface with hard firm snow underneath. As long as you took care, it was fun to ski even in the steeper couloirs. Lower down and in the trees it became heavy at times where it had been effected by the sun and wind, but it was still soft and enjoyable in many places.

The pistes right across the paradiski area where we skied were in good condition with a softer top surface and hard firm snow underneath to help you turn. However, coming into lifts, on the more north facing slopes and in busy areas the snow had become hard and slippy by the afternoon and you had to take care not to loose your edge at times.

The fresh snow falling tonight should make the pistes everywhere much easier tomorrow.

The photos of the last few days are slowly being uploaded. I have now added those from the weekend. Take a look if you are interested in seeing what the conditions are like and the places we have been visiting. Enjoy.

http://www.facebook.com/LesArcsWinter/photos

Hey guys! I'm doing research on the British ski market for my undergraduate dissertation and I need British respondents for my questionnaire. It takes under 5 minutes to fill in so if you have some spare time, please participate. Here is the link: http://tolu.na/XDFiGg

Your input will be highly appreciated!

Snowcrazy I can't access your photos on the Facebook page. Would love to see them. Have you posted the link correctly?

Jadavi, I just checked the link. It works fine. Not sure why you cannot open it.

Just posted photos for 'March 11 and March 12' over on the Les Arcs Winter facebook page in the March 2013 Album Two. Take a look if you are interested in seeing what we have been doing for the last week. I plan to catch up the rest of the weeks photos later today. More to follow after lunch. I am taking the day off as the wind is blowing and the visibility is not that great today.

http://www.facebook.com/LesArcsWinter/photos

Yesterday was a couloir day. Really fun and we finished with the meadows on the North Face of the Bellecote in untracked powder. What a day!

For those coming out or just arrived. It is windy and snowing lightly up top I have just heard. The snow is forecast to continue tomorrow and the wind should drop after a while. More powder days are on there way. Conditions are looking great for the coming Easter break. Most of the pistes yesterday were in great condition after the fresh snow and with another top up, everywhere should be open and you can ski down to all stations. Even going down to the mid station of the Funicular is still ok, just. Not bad for mid March. With all this snow, I think April is going to be good even if it gets warmer. If you have not booked already, hurry up and get out here.

If you want to try the fresh snow with great all round skis, Polaire Star Ski and Snowboard rental shop at the bottom station of the Funicular have a wide selection of 'All Mountain' skis and snowboards which are excellent for riding the ungroomed areas as well as on the pistes. I have slowly been working my way through the different brands and really enjoy the Salomon Rocker 2 skis and the Movement 94's.

http://www.polairestar.com/

The waterslide is great, if you are coming out it is well worth the risk of getting a bit wet. Take a look at the photos on my facebook page and you will see quite a few of the kids, even young ones making it across.


Big Air and Waterslide tricks day at the Altiport Arc 1600.

What a day! Amazing! Awesome! The best ever! These are just some of the things I heard being said on the way down in the funicular at the end of the day.

We went up a little late today at 10am and after one run down under the Cachette Chair in deep powder (well above the knees) they opened the Mont Blanc Chair so we headed up top and into the Malgovert Forest and all the way back off piste to Arc 1600 including parts of the 'hidden piste'.There is something special about being the first down a route, even when it is easy. We enjoyed it so much and with very little else open we made a second lap by a slightly different route. More fresh tracks with powder that was well above your knees, sometimes even your waist.

The Arpette chair was still closed so we did a run down to the Vagere chair with powder even at the bottom to the side of the piste. They then announced that the Arpette Chair was opening so we headed up top and down the easier couloir looking towards Arc 1950 on the right side of the 'Linecatcher Bowl'. More deep untracked powder. This was turning into one of those special days. Once more up to the top of the ridge, this time on the Bois de l'Ours chair and then back down to Marmottes chair off piste again.

The queue at the Arcabulle was starting to grow and they had just opened the Lanchette Chair and the Genepi piste Nature area looked great with only a few tracks. Made one lap of this and back up the chair again. The powder was really nice here as well, but by the time we arrived back at the chair people had heard it was open and a queue was forming.

Time to check out the back country. At the top of the chair by the 'Nature Reserve Gate', the pisteurs were advising against going down the valley over the ridge due to wind slab. There was a 'closed' sign across the entrance. However the left ridge was ok, so we headed that way. What a great choice. Powder from the start of the route off piste all the way to the bottom of the Violettes Chair above Villaroger.

No time for lunch on a 'Powder Day'. After a sandwich on the chair we decided to do the route again as it had been so much fun. We did notice that the Varet Gondola had now opened, but stuck to our plan as the queue at the bottom was crazy! If anything the second run was even better. The powder was light and fluffy! Up to your waist.

If you have ever had the feeling of floating on air, that is what it was like. The powder was almost lifting you into the air. It really was that deep. BUT watch out, there are rocks as I found out. Hit one at high speed and did a flip! Ouch!! Skis stayed on thankfully and got up and carried on.

It was time to head for home. But first we had to find another untracked route. Went from the top of the Droset Chair down to Comborciere Chair off piste. Really fun and very few tracks. Deep snow again. But watch out for the 'air holes' behind the big rocks. I almost went down one today. Very close!! Two falls in one day, what is happening to me??

Finally, from the top of the Comborciere Chair off piste all the way through the Malgovert Forest back to Arc 1600 for a nice hot chocolate and then home.

What a day!! Ended up skiing from 10am to 5pm only stopping for a rest on the lifts and a few photos.

If you are interested in seeing what we did, take a look in the March 2013 Album Three on my 'Les Arcs Winter' facebook page. I think you will enjoy them.

http://www.facebook.com/LesArcsWinter/photos

Like I said at the beginning. Today was AMAZING. With about 70cm of fresh snow around the mountains (official figure) the pistes are now in great condition again and the off piste is ridiculous! If you do not have any, rent some 'all mountain fat skis'. These are the conditions for them. You will not regret the extra cost. If you are passing through Bourg or near to the bottom station of the Funicular, ask at Polaire Star Shop. They have a great choice of skis and snowboards to rent for these conditions.

http://www.polairestar.com/

Hurry up and get out here whilst this snow stays in condition.

Powder Days are here again!

Thursday, Untracked powder all day!

Went over to the Bellecote and managed to arrive just as they opened the chair into the Bowl. Spent the day making laps of the bowl and then down the North Face and home. What a day, untracked powder almost everywhere! With over 70cm of fresh snow higher up conditions today were amazing again.

With all the fresh snow the pistes are in excellent condition everywhere and anyone coming out is in for an excellent weeks skiing. If you like the powder, get some all mountain skis. Conditions are perfect for them right now.

If you are interested in seeing what it was like today, take a look at the photos I have just posted in the March 2013 Album Three.

http://www.facebook.com/LesArcsWinter/photos

Enjoy!!

Very mixed conditions today. As it was a Saturday and 'changeover' day there were not many people about and know lift queues anywhere.

I started the day meeting up with friends and heading over to Arc 1800 on piste to join a few more before going across to the forest pistes of Peisey Vallandry for a few runs. We then went down through Arc 2000 to Bois de l'Ours chair and up to the Arpette ridge before heading down the pistes to Arc 1600.

After a run through Arolles piste we went back to the Arc 2000 bowl and over towards Villaroger. At the end of an enjoyable mornings skiing around most of Les Arcs ski domain with friends we had lunch and then it was time for something a little harder.

Headed up the Aiguille Rouge and made two laps of the North Face by different routes back down to the Varet Gondola. Even in poor light the snow was good on the sheltered face and gave us a chance to really challenge ourselves before heading home.

Despite the poor light at times, the pistes all over Les Arcs were in very good condition with loads of snow about and a nice firm surface to carve on. Whether on blues, reds or blacks you will enjoy the conditions, but try and follow the sun to give the pistes a chance to soften up. It is spring skiing conditions right now.

The off piste in the sheltered areas was also very good with pockets of untracked powder still to be found. On the more exposed slopes the snow has a hard crusty texture until it has had a chance to soften. Whether 'off piste' or on the 'piste natur's' you need to get the time of day right for the best conditions.

Anyone out this week or next. There is plenty of snow around so you will have good conditions if you plan your day carefully.

If you are interested in seeing what it was like today, take a look at my photos on the Les Arcs Winter facebook page in the March 2013 Album Three. Enjoy!

http://www.facebook.com/LesArcsWinter/photos

Monday was a total 'white out' most of the day.

Despite the weather we managed to ski the whole length of the Paradiski domain. Started from Arc 1600 and headed over to the Vanoise Express (VE). Then across to Plagne Centre and Montalbert. Back up and across to Champagny for lunch.

Then up to the top of Roche de Mio. Still a 'white out' so did not go down the back off piste. Instead through the 'Tunnel of Dreams' to Plagne Bellecote (take a look at the light show and noises) and back to the VE via a nice off piste route through the forest.

Once in Peisey a fast ski to the Transarc mid station then down to Arc 2000 and up the Lanchette chair and all the way to Villaroger. Finally back up the chairs and down through Arc 2000 and a stop at George's Wine bar in Arc 1950 for a nice drink before heading home.

All the pistes everywhere were in good condition after the recent snow. The visibility was very poor for most of the day but we had know problem reaching any of the stations. Only managed one off piste route today on very mixed snow due to poor light. I hope we get some more snow to freshen up the off piste areas again.

Considering the weather conditions today, we still enjoyed our ski across the domain and look forward to better weather tomorrow.

I will post a few photos from today shortly in the March 2013 Album Three on my Les Arcs Winter facebook page.