J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by snowcrazy2005

Something different again today.

Went over to the Bellecote via the Roches face which still had good snow and over the back down the Petit North Face route. Then back to Les Arcs and a little ski around to the bar in Arc 1800 for a drink before heading home.

An real mix of snow conditions. First, the pistes early on were in quite good condition considering the weather yesterday as we went from Les Arcs to the Roches de Mio and then over to the Bellecote. The entrance to the North Face, despite a few cms of new snow last night was rather rocky, but we found better snow until just before the second section around 2200m.

From then onwards it was breakable crust everywhere all the way to the forest track which was very busy and also icy.

After spending quite a bit of time waiting for an ESF snowbaord group in front of us to finish the track we arrived at the bottom for a late lunch.

Although a challenge, most people agreed it was worth the effort and now we look forward to the fresh snow which has been forecast over the next few days.

Photos of today in the Jan 2013 Album Two on my Les Arcs facebook page (They are in date order).

https://www.facebook.com/LesArcsWinter


Todays start of the Petit North Face of the Bellecote.


Even the easy way has some steep places!


The snow looks good, but it was breakable crust from here.

What a different kind of day we had today.

Went up the top of Aiguille Rouge with the idea of doing one of the steeper couloirs first thing in the morning, but found that the wind was blowing strongly and there was plenty of wind slab about plus the rain last night up to 2000+ metres had made the snow very strange in places.

Went to have a look and we decided not to go any further. It is always better to walk away than take too great a risk.

Instead we headed over to the Grand Col and off the back into the National Park via the easier couloir and then an interesting ride down through very mixed snow conditions including powder, hard pack, breakable crust and crude plus poor visibility at times just to add to the mix. Just as the visibility improved we were able to spot the large avalanche that had come down yesterday afternoon from the ridge on skiers left. Having to cross the avalanche area to get to the path out was not much fun!

Despite the conditions we enjoyed the challenging ride down and headed back to Arc 2000 for lunch. After we finished eating we made another route which was also very mixed before finally going down through the forest back towards Arc 1600 and home.

The change in temperature has actually made the pistes soft and fun to ski although the off piste will become very cruddy if this weather continues very long. Later in the afternoon it was more like late March than the end of January. Tomorrow on the Bellecote should be very interesting.

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

Something for today!


Entering the National Park.


Powder turns again!


Now that was steep!!

Powder days are still with us.

Although today was very mixed visibility, the snow had stayed in great condition and we had fresh untracked powder most of the day.

Started off in flat light heading over to the La Plagne side with a warm up run down towards the Crozats Chair, then up into the Bellecote bowl via the Roches face as usual arriving at the top of the Gondola just as they opened the Traverse chair to get across into the off piste area.

From then on until we returned to the Vanoise Express around 4pm we had fresh tracks almost everywhere although at times the light was very poor. We had planned to go onto the North Face, but with the poor light we kept on the Bowl side before heading for lunch and then into the trees on the way home.

Even in the forest the snow was in excellent condition and mostly untracked where we were. After a long and fun day we arrived back in Les Arcs and headed for home around 4.30pm. I decided to make a little detour going down to the mid station of the Funicular which proved worth the effort as the snow even lower down in the forest was still good. The pistes are holding up well everywhere and even late in the afternoon were firm and grippy, but not to icy although you do need good edges at times.

Tomorrow promises to be another fun day! If you want to see where we have been today, take a look at the photos I took in the Jan 2013 Album Two of my Les Arcs Winter facebook page. Enjoy!


I really like this view, even in poor light.


Untracked Powder from the top to the bottom of the run. WOW!

Now to catch up on today. POWDER again!!

I am sorry for all those back home, but I just had to say that!

Last night as I was leaving Arc 1950 it had just started to snow lightly. By the time I woke this morning we had 5cm lower down and a good 15cm higher up on the mountain.

After a slightly later start due to some lifts not opening on time I met up with the others and we made a few runs under the Arpette Chair in great fresh powder. No need to go anywhere in the morning to have fun. The whole resort had powder 'on and off' piste. We then headed over to the Clocheret Chair and the off piste area beside the pistes on the left and right. More fun!!

Finally we headed down the valley beside the Comborciere piste in more good snow and up to Mellee's snack bar in Arc 1950 for lunch.

Time for something a little longer. By 2pm most of the main areas of the resort were skied out. There are a lot of people going off piste inside the resort boundary so we headed into the back country down the Col de la Chal. Untracked powder most of the way!

Having made our way back into the resort time for one last run, something special maybe. Two of us hiked up the Aiguille Grive and down through the powder onto the Vallandry side. Still plenty of room to make more fresh tracks.

Finally as the lifts were closing we headed directly back to Arc 1600 without using the lifts and then home.

The pistes everywhere today were in great condition after the fresh snow last night and the off piste was excellent. If the wind does not spoil the snow and it stays cold we are in for a few more very good days. Putting fresh tracks everywhere again! WOW!!

If you want to take a look at todays photos go to the Jan 2013 Album Two on my Les Arcs Winter facebook page. Enjoy!


Nice!


Time for some air!


Col de la Chal!

Time to catch up on the last two days.

Yesterday we went riding in some of the tougher off piste areas. It was a long day, but loads of fun. I even hiked a few ridges to reach the couloirs. We managed half a dozen different routes, some long others short. I shall not post loads of details as it was yesterday. Instead I have posted the photos I like the best. If you are interested in seeing where we went, take a look in the Jan 2013 Album Two under the 'Jan 27' for yesterdays pics. I think you will enjoy them!

Here are the ones from yesterday that I like the best.


Nice couloir!


!!!!!


Arc 2000


The waterfall! Where?

Only just got home so no photos tonight. It is snowing outside very lightly and it is cold again. Should be interesting in the morning.

Today turned out to be really fun. Thought we might be going over to the Bellecote, but ended up doing a number of couloirs in Les Arcs instead. Full details and photos tomorrow. Time for bed!

Changeover days are always nice. Not so many people around so few queues and quiet pistes.

Today we toured around Les Arcs mainly 'on piste' in the Arc 2000 bowl and over in Arc 1600, 1800 and a little in Peisey Vallandry. The pistes were not busy in the morning and in good condition. The recent fresh snow has made them firm, but with a soft layer on top after the sun had a chance to take off the overnight frost. As it has remained cold today the off piste although well skied was still light and soft in places with firm chalky snow in other areas.

By mid-day some of the group had to go back to help with new arrivals while others continued for a little longer. By mid-afternoon the remainder headed for home and I went back up the Arpette chair.

As I had not taken any photos earlier during the day I went to the top of the Combe des Fond Blanc and had some nice views across to Arc 1950 and Arc 2000. Having taken a few photos I then headed down one of the couloirs where they had held the Red Bull Linecatcher competition and across the Arc 2000 bowl onto the Varet gondola. After one last ski down through the off piste area I arrived in Arc 1950 and a drink at George's Wine Bar in Arc 1950.

Tomorrow they have forecast worsening weather as the day progresses with snow later in the afternoon through into Monday. For those coming out or just arrived after the poor weather has passed, if the predicted snow does arrive you are in for some excellent snow on or off piste.

A few photos from today are in the Jan 2013 Album Two on my Les Arcs Winter page. Enjoy!

The photos I like best from today!


Looking down on Arc 2000 and Arc 1950 from the top of the ridge.


The entry to the couloir.

After all the fun of the last week, it was decided to have an easier day and head over to the 'Omelette' restaurant above Mont Albert for lunch.

With the sun shinning and not much wind although still very cold (at least -15 most of the day), I set off to meet the others at the Vanoise Express (VE).

Having met up we headed over 'on piste' towards Plagne Bellecote, but just had to do one of the little gullies on the way down to the Blanches Chair. Then over the ridge and down towards the Verdon Sud chair off piste through the meadows in soft powder rejoining the piste near the lift.

From the top of the Verdon Sud chair, off piste once more down to Plagne Centre and up the Biolley Chair, then through the 'Etroits' piste nature area and finally over to the lunch stop for another excellent omelette.

The pistes we skied in the morning were soft lower down with a 2cm covering of fresh snow which made them quite pleasant. We even found fresh untracked powder near to the pistes at times. The piste nature area was also fun although the traverse under the cliff was a little narrow in places.

On the way home using mainly pistes we found you had to work hard to hold an edge and going down towards the VE at the end of the day was not much fun as it was mostly very hard packed or boiler plate and very slippy. Our detour up to the top of the Roche de Mio and down through the Tunnel to see the new light show inside was worth the effort (the kids will like this). If there is not some fresh snow soon, most pistes will become very hard packed during the coming days and the off piste is likely to transform into hard chalky snow on the steeper faces and cruddy in other areas. Please let it snow again soon!!

After another good week of skiing in varying conditions it was time to have a few final beers and head for home. Great skiing this week guys and for those that know him, 'P' is back skiing the off piste again after his recuperation following the little mishap last season and looking good. Nice to have you back!

If you are interested in looking at where we went today, go to the Jan 2013 Album Two on my Les Arcs Winter facebook page. Enjoy!

Here are the photos I like the best from today.


Powder still up to your knees in places.


Mr P. showing he can still do it. Good to have you back!!


A very nice mornings skiing!