J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by snowcrazy2005

After all the talk of storm conditions yesterday and rain to 2000+ metres I was not expecting to much today. What a pleasant surprise we had.

Met up at Arc 1600 for a change as very few lifts opened first thing. Spent the first few runs playing in the Mont Blanc and then the Malgovert Forests until the higher lifts opened to avoid the big lift queues elsewhere.

The snow in both these areas was good once you got into the sheltered areas and we found plenty of jumps to keep us all happy.

Then up the Clocherets Chair and back down the face under the chair to find more jumps. Nice soft snow for landing. After two laps of the lift it was time to go higher.

Up the Arpette Chair and down to the Marmotte Chair via another little couloir. Really good snow again and quite stable. By now we were getting hungry so a quick lunch in Arc 2000 before heading onto Par Avalanche and more good snow mixed with wind blown patches. Kept it safe and went the easy way today.

Back up to Droset and found more fresh tracks away from the piste nature area. Well tracked when we rejoined the piste area and down to Comborciere Chair. The queue was to big so got the bus back up to Arc 2000 and went to Bois de l'ours instead.

A nice run down the right side of the Fond Blanc piste in more mixed snow but still room for a few fresh tracks and into the snowpark. A few more jumps and it was time to split. Those of us not in a hurry had a nice drink in the Aliport before heading for home as the lifts closed.

The pistes everywhere we went today were in good condition after the fresh snow over the last few days and the off piste, although mixed with some patches of hard crud caused by the rain, was still fun with plenty of soft fresh untracked snow to enjoy.

With more snow forecast and lower temps in the next few days the conditions are looking OK for anyone out this week or coming out shortly. You do need to be careful off piste, but as you can see from our photos of today, there are plenty of safe places to have fun.

For anyone out right now, we are leaving from the bottom of the Cachette Chair at 9.30am tomorrow or the bottom of the Arpette Chair at 9.40 (approx) if it is running. Send me a message if you would like to join us.

Hope you all have as much fun tomorrow as we had today!

I will post the photos from today in the March 2015 Album on the Les Arcs Winter page shortly. Enjoy!

https://www.facebook.com/LesArcsWinter/photos_stream…

Remember, anyone passing through Bourg or able to get to the bottom of the funi needing ski or snowboard rentals. Check out Polaire Star shop at the bottom of the funi. They have some great skis for these conditions and also do excellent repairs.

http://www.polairestar.com/

More fun in the fresh snow today over in La Plagne although the vis was bad first thing this morning and it was cold. By mid day the light was much better and the sun even came out for a while.

Today we headed over to La Plagne and due to the poor vis went over the back of St Jacques down to La Roche. The snow was good, still light and fluffy with plenty of room to make fresh tracks all the way to the treeline. Once in the trees the snow became thin with many grassy patches and some rocks which made finding a safe route interesting. A good start to the day.

After reaching La Roches, headed up to the top of the Grande Rochette and down over the back through the off piste to the Verdon Sud chair. Back up top and this time down the off piste to the Verdon Nord chair. Up top one last time and around the ridge towards Champagny before heading off piste to the Verdon Sud chair. These routes were very mixed, with room for fresh tracks in places and some good snow. Much better than we expected.

A fast skate to the Borseliers chair and all the way up to the top of Roche de Mio. Then an different route off the top of the ridge down to the Bauches Chair which included some steep areas, powder field coming out of the coulior and another steep section finishing with a fight through the bushes (best avoided) to reach the path to the lift. Another good route with a real mix of difficulty and fresh tracks once more.

A fast ride back to the Vanoise Express and then a few forest tracks back to Arc 1800 and finally home.

A fun day again. The off piste is holding up well higher up with plenty of places to make fresh tracks if you know where to go. Lower down the snow is very mixed with the exit points proving a challenge, but worth the effort.

The pistes across the whole of the Paradiski area which we covered today are holding up well with a firm surface higher up which was easy to turn on, but watch out for the hard packed icy patches or the odd rock which might jump out to bite you. Lower down the pistes are starting to become challenging in places, but the snow canons are doing a good job of keeping them mostly in reasonable condition.

You can still reach all stations with care and if the promised snow arrives during the next few days conditions should continue to improve slowly.

If anyone wants to meet up for a bit of off piste and enjoy the spots with us, send me a PM. More to come, keep up the snow dancing everyone!

If anyone needs great ski or snowboard services go to Polaire Star ski and Snowboard rental shop at the bottom of the Funicular in Bourg. They also have a great variety of skis and snowboards for rental. Check out their webpage.

http://www.polairestar.com/

Photos will be posted shortly in the Jan 2015 Album on the Les Arcs Winter page.

https://www.facebook.com/LesArcsWinter/photos_stream?tab=photos_albums

Today was the Red Bull Linecatcher event here in Les Arcs. Due to the conditions they started early and had the whole event finished by lunch time. Great for me as I managed to meet the guys from North America and get some photos of them for the Epicski Blog (North American Forum) plus still have a great days riding in the National Park.

Just two of us headed over to the Linecatcher event first thing as the others went off for a ski. We did one of the side couloirs and crossed to the finish. Got some good photos of the days event. See photo album shortly.

When they had finished we headed up Aiguille Rouge and into the Park. Found some good powder and even managed to make fresh tracks most of the afternoon.

After two laps including all the way down to Villaroger which was interesting, we headed for Malgovert and a play in the forest before going down to Arc 1600. I managed an extra run through the trees above Arc 1600 while I waited for the others to return and meet up for a few beers.

Although we did not use many pistes today. Those we did cross were freshened up nicely by the recent snow. By the end of the day some places were becoming warn and hard packed, but even the lower section of the cachette piste was better than it had been for a few days. Right now you can get down to all stations across the Paradiski area without difficulty and the snow depth is slowly improving.

With cold temps and more snow forecast for the rest of this week there should be better snow conditions (if the forecast is correct!?). Let's hope the vis is ok.

All the photos will be posted shortly over in the Jan 2015 Album on my Les Arcs Winter page.

Yesterday we went across to Montalbert for lunch via the Roche du Mio and Champagny. Managed to get down the Canyon with the kids in ok snow above Plagne Centre and see the animal models and witch on the track down to Montalbert.

Photos now posted.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.777488275660974.1073741844.195692797173861&type=3

Today, had a quick look around and then stayed home to get rid of my sore throat. Seems much better now so despite the tempting new snow pleased I stayed in the warm and fixed my skis again! All ready for a full powder day tomorrow!

Outside we have snow down to the valley today and it is still snowing lightly. My friend who just came back says that up high there is about 10cm of new snow. The vis was in and out all day with a light wind. The sunny spells did not really arrive, but as he stayed in the trees most of the day he said it was still good riding.

Tomorrow the Red Bull Linecatcher event will still take place so I shall be out all day. Hope the weather improves as predicted by tomorrow morning.

For apre in Arc 1600 check out the bars in the square through the walk way.

For free lift check out the chair by the beginners area in Arc 1600. I think it is free on Saturday, otherwise you must go to Arc 1800 by free bus.

We headed over to La plagne for a little explore today and managed to find some powder from last night. Just a little, but it made the trip worth the effort.

Spent the day crusing around and finding little places to ride. Hoped to get on the best area of the Bellecote Bowl, but it did not open in time so headed to Champagny for a late lunch then home via the forest. Not such a good idea.

Best wait for more snow before trying that forest route again.

The pistes across both Les Arcs and La Plagne sides today are mostly hard packed and in places icy. But after the sun had been out a while, some of the higher runs were nice to ride. Be careful coming into lifts as it is boiler plate in places. Best thing was the small sections of powder still around if you know where to look. A good day was had by all!

IN ARC 1600 the pistes are open and you can get down to the station with little trouble, but the main red is hard packed and the blue run is very firm. Coming into the lifts you need to take care as it can be icy in places. However overall the conditions in Arc 1600 area are ok and the blue Mont Blanc piste is still ok. The connections to the other areas of Arc 1800 and Arc 2000 are also open. If it stays like this you should have a good time!

Tomorrow we hope to find more little spots. Meeting top of Arpette at 9.45am for anyone that wants to join us!

Photos for today are posted here:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.777488275660974.1073741844.195692797173861&type=3&uploaded=29

HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone!!

Hope you are all having a great day! Sorry I have not been posting updates for the last few days, but have been at the BARSC races in Tignes with the Kids. Some great results for our local based group including 3 Gold medals and 3 Silver medals. Well done to all those that took part. Photos to come later today!

In Tignes the sun has been shinning and the wind had dropped today making it warmer and a nice way to finish the races. The pistes in Tignes Val Claret were busy and had lift queues most of the week, sometimes quite big. But the pistes have held up well if you stay high. There are rocks lower down and the off piste is limited.

TOMORROW! Back in Les Arcs!
For anyone interested in joining some of us for a social ski (snowboarders also welcome), we are leaving from the Vaonise Express at 10am, then heading over towards Mont Albert on the La Plagne side for lunch. Should be a nice day and a good way to finish your holiday with a tasty lunch! All are welcome! Hope to see many of you! Just turn up by the entrance of the VE ready to leave with a ski pass giving access to La Plagne.

Just got home, thanks to everyone for the Birthday wishes today. Much appreciated. Thanks to those I skied with today, it was a fun day and some nice beers to finish. Pleased I came home now rather than not be able to ski tomorrow. I know, what a wimp!! Guess I am getting old!!

Our day on the snow:
Despite the conditions, a group of us met up and had a good ski using the Arcabille and Marmotte lifts until the higher one closed due to high winds. The slopes were not to busy and we even managed some nice side routes away from the pistes without hitting any rocks.

The piste was very quiet first thing in the morning and quite hard packed. But as it warmed up the surface layer started to change and became very skiable. On piste I did not hit any stones all day which was quite a surprise as I had expected the worst. They had done a very good job of compacting the snow. Overall, although only the main blue piste down from the top of the Arcabulle was open, it did not get that busy and the lift queue back up was never more than a few minutes.

For me the best skiing of the day was when we went down the central ridge of the bowl and dropped into what is the race course area when pisted and further to the left where they build the sledge run. The snow was light and chalky, fun to ski once the harder top layer had softened up. After three runs, the whole area was well tacked so we switched to the central area and found more nice snow considering the conditions.

Finding soft snow and avoiding hitting the rocks was also a real surprise and showed that although not that great, you could still have some fun. Basically the whole of the main central area of the Arc 2000 bowl was skiable from the top of the Transarc down to the bottom of the Marmottes Chair.

It was a pity the higher lift had to close due to high winds, but then maybe for a first day that was enough.

I have now posted the photos for the first day of the season over on my facebook page. take a look what the snow look's like today and follow the December 2014 Album as some fresh snow arrives later in the coming week.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.763987427011059.1073741842.195692797173861&type=3

The snow was not as bad as it sounds when reading the reports.

Tomorrow looks Ok so anyone wanting to join us, we will be leaving from the top of the Transarc/Arcabulle at 10.30 am. We will be standing somewhere in front of the Pisteur Hut, but please do not be late as we will head off at 10.30am. Anyone is welcome as we will not be doing anything very hard.

Hope to see some of you for a ski tomorrow.

Ok folks. Photos for today are now posted. There is one that is a test for all you clever people. Can you answer the question. It does not look great, but at least we can ride somewhere tomorrow. La Rosiere is now staying closed until 20 December. I can see why.

Here is the link to the photos, go to the last photos added for today.
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.750205721722563.1073741841.195692797173861&type=3

Finally, ff you are passing through Bourg or arriving on the train. Polaire Star Ski and Snowboard rental shop will be open from the first day of the season. Check it out as they have some great gear for hire this winter.

http://www.polairestar.com/

Hope that all helps with your planning. Have a fun week and see you at some of the events I hope!