J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by snowcrazy2005

Hi bandit and others. Not been on here for some time, but was just told about this thread.

I have just been reading through the legislation mentioned earlier and it seems to me that it all comes down to whether a person taking a group is acting as a professional i.e.. being paid or just out with a group of mates. If with your friends you still have a duty of care towards each other and you should at all times use good judgement, but IMO I do not think you would be breaking any laws.

Whether the SCGB would now be considered working as unqualified professional and therefore breaking this law, only a test case would decide. I know a few leaders that would not want to be the ones in a test case. They are now taking a similar line in France as well, asking for a licensee to be leading even on the piste in the Paradiski and some other areas. Off piste leading would be very difficult now as the SCGB still do not insist on full basic avalanche safety gear for all members of the group and everywhere you go there are signs now telling you what each person in a group should carry as an absolute minimum. Getting stopped and checked off piste could put the leader in a whole lot of bother in many French ski areas now.

At the very least, disregarding local authority advice could nullify ones insurance in case of an accident.

As for the sad accident that took place in Vebier. The details posted earlier seem to fit with what someone I have spoken with who was in the group described. I am pleased to see the details have now been posted. Should they have been in such a place. Not for me to judge, only those there that day can answer that IMO. One point worth mentioning. SCGB leaders are not trained to use ropes and climbing gear so should not be carrying it or going to places where it was needed. Plus it states in the regulations they must follow that the leaders may only go off piste in areas they know well. All common sense really.

As for the Rega Card. I have one for when in switzerland. Very cheap and well worth the money. My advice to anyone is get one. It works in a very similar way to Carte Neige in France. The last thing you want to be doing is worrying about who will be paying the bills if you need a helicoter off the mountain.

Hope to see some of you in Verbier again this season.

My final post for the season unless I hear of anything worth sharing about Les Arcs between now and next winter!! I hope you all have a good summer. It was great to ski and Snowboard with so many friends, new and old and I hope to see many of you again next winter on the slopes.

Last day of the season for Les Arcs (paradiski), what a season it has been. Great snow most of the time and the chance to do routes that have not been possible for a while in both Les Arcs and La Plagne. :D

Today, I met up with friends this morning with the plan that we would go up to Les Arcs for one last ski. However, with only three lifts running first thing and high winds plus the 40min journey to get to the slopes it was decided to call it a day. So it was a goodbye to the slopes of Les Arcs from the Funi car park and out with the bikes. :evil:

Not deterred :twisted: , I went and fetched the car and headed up to Les Coches where most of the lifts were still running and managed to ski right across to Plagne Centre, Plagne 1800 and almost down to Montalbert before heading back via La Roche and Champagny to the Roche de Mio and over the back before going back up to the top of Les Coches and finally back to the car though the forest then home. :)

The extra surprise I heard today was that in fact I could even ski tomorrow in La Plagne if I wish as they are not closing their lifts until the end of Sunday due to the snow this season. Maybe if the weather is good I shall have one last day tomorrow!! :-D


Les Arcs from across the valley. So much snow still on the slopes and the ski area finally closes today. April 28


An excellent season comes to an end. It was great to ski with so many friends, new and old. I hope to see many of you again next season. April 28

Snapzzz, there are a few blue runs (more like green runs around Arc 1800). You can go down the foest piste to Peisey Vallandry or in the beginners area in Arc 1800. You can also use the easy blue from the top of Chantel chair down to Arc 1600. After a few days there are also quite a few easy blues from the middle of the Transarc and the top of the Vagere back down to Arc 1800 so you wife should not have a problem. Hope that helps.

The season has nearly ended, but what a nice way to finish my last day with friends that are leaving. :D

We headed straight up to the Arc 2000 bowl and to the top of the Aiguille Rouge. It was not open at once so we made a few runs down from the top of the Varet and timed it just right to return to the Aiguille Rouge cablecar just after it had opened. :)

From the top we were able to make fresh tracks down the soft (almost powder) snow on the Glacier. Then the next time over to the small North Face and down the whole way into Arc 2000. The snow at the top was once again very good and only became heavy near the bottom. :-D

Back up again, but this time whilst waiting in the cablecar they told us it was closing due to high winds. Down from the Varet instead and a Pizza Lunch at the Bulle. Then over to the Lanchettes only to find this also closing. By now the Grand Col, Aiguille Rouge and Lanchettes lifts were closed. Time for some fun. :twisted:

Up to the top of the Arcabulle and time for sledging. I have to admit it was fun!! The adults won!! Then over to the Bordercross for a rematch. Shame to say the adults one this as well! :skele:

Finally time to say our good byes and then back up and down to Arc 1600 off piste from the top of the Transarc (no way am I going down on the bus). 8-)

The off piste although soft was still ok all the way to the Cachette and Belvedere pistes which were still well covered in snow ( I wonder why they are all closed, it is not because of lack of snow or avalanche risk that is for sure?). :(

Tomorrow is the last day the lifts are open. Might try a trip over to the Bellecote or off the back of the AR.Will just have to wait and see what the weather does.

If you would like to see what we were doing today, take a look at the photos of the April 2012 Album Two at the end of the album on my Les Arcs Winter facebook page. Enjoy!


Still good soft snow to turn in! April 27


Looks like the kids will not win this one! April 27


The Cachette piste just for us!!! (closed, why??) April 27

CLT, you might want to look at Belle Plagne as it has a number of English companies that go there and should meet all your needs re skiing etc.

What a difference a day makes!!! :evil:

Today we went over to La Plagne via Les Coches by car to try the powder on the other side of the Paradiski after the fun I had yesterday in Les Arcs. :-D

Unfortunately the wind had picked up and was gusting at 60km/h plus at times so the Bellecote Glacier Gondola and chairs were closed. They also closed the Crozats chair just as we arrived due to avalanche risk so that was another off piste area that we could not access. :cry:

Not deterred we went up to the Roche de Mio and then down Inversens and the hidden valley where we were able to find some soft untracked snow. The gully at the exit proved interesting today as well. :-D

Then over to Champagny by another less tracked route before heading back to Bellecote La Plagne via the Roche de Mio once more and the off piste area into Belle Plagne before having a late lunch. :D

When we set off again the snow had become very soft everywhere and although it is quite fun pushing the slush about, it is hard work and off piste was just to soft and sticky to be worth risking. :(

After a leisurely route back to Les Coches, we headed for home about 5pm. :)

The snow conditions in La Plagne were very different to yesterday in Les Arcs. It was 20 degrees by lunch time and many slopes were starting to slide. The wind was very strong high on the glacier and the light came and went as the clouds passed overhead. The pistes were all in good condition, but became very slushy later in the day. :cry: I have been told by those in Les Arcs today, the conditions were very similar there as well.

Overall it was a good day, but with the change in temperature, the snow is going off fast, creating typical spring conditions. We will have to catch it just right to have more fun over the next couple of days. Tomorrow the weather will become even warmer and I shall be back in Les Arcs for the last couple of days of the season.

I think the spring has really arrived just as the season comes to an end! :)

Photos from today have been posted in the April 2012 Album Two of my Les Arcs Winter facebook page. Enjoy!


The local major peaks looking from the Roche de Mio towards Les Arcs. April 26


Time for a little gully before lunch! April 26


Putting down our own lines! April 26

What a day!! Started off quite badly as all the higher lifts were closed and I was stuck in the Arc 2000 bowl whilst I waited for the top of the Transarc gondola to open for those coming over from Arc 1800. :evil:

When the link did finally open, after one run down the middle of the bowl it was clear that the higher lifts would be delayed for some time so we headed to the 'closed' area above Arc 1800 for some fun in all the fresh powder. At level 4 avalanche warning you need to be careful so we took very safe routes and had a great morning, putting fresh lines down some slopes and even on a few pistes. The snow was from 20 to 40 cm deep depending on where you were and at times up to your waist if you dropped into a hole by mistake. :-D

After a bit of playing on the ridges the light went flat again and we headed into the trees. Really fun as always before going back over to the Arc 2000 bowl and up onto the Grand Col. Made more nice lines and found some very deep powder. I took a pic of one of the Spirit Instructors taking a big jump, very impressive!!!! :twisted:

Then another off piste route down to the Lanchettes chair before finally going off piste to the Chalet Pre St Esprit for a very late lunch.

After lunch the sun was out again, but they very quickly closed the Varet and Grand Col lifts due to avalanche risk. There had been a slide off the Aiguille Rouge onto the piste (nobody caught that I have heard about) whilst we were having lunch. :cry:

After a nice run down the centre of the Arc 2000 bowl ridge putting a few fresh tracks in the meadow at the bottom we headed back to Arc 1800 off piste the whole way from the top of the Arc 2000 ridge to the bottom of the Vagere chair (you do have to cross a few pistes which are now closed). :twisted:

After more fresh tracks and with tired legs we arrived in Arc 1800 and time for a Beer. :D

The pistes and off piste in many places were the same. Powder on a hard base and sometimes very deep. All the open and many of the 'closed' areas are in great condition and despite the lack of lifts open in Les Arcs, anyone coming out for the last three days will have a great time. It is more like January than April! Three more days to go before the lifts close!!! :(

If you want to see what we have been doing, take a look at the new photos in the April 2012 Album Two of my Les Arcs Winter facebook page.


Above Arc 1800 in deep powder! April 25


It's a POWDER day!! April 25


Spirit Instructor taking some air! Did he land it? April 25

CLT, Arc 1950 is good if you do not mind higher prices. Also Arc 2000 has bigger places and the pistes are the same. Both should meet your needs. Peisey Vallandry is ok, but complete beginners have to go up and down on a lift. Arc 1800 is good if you like to party and is a little cheaper. Hope that helps.

Today I went over to the La Plagne side. Below is what we did. But we did have to drive as most of Les Arcs is closed whilst almost all of the La Plagne ski area is open. In Les Arcs today I was told there were only 6 lifts open. None in Peisey Vallandry (area closed), none in Arc 1600 (area closed), none in Villaroger (area closed), only two lift in Arc 1800 area and 4 in Arc 2000 area today. The Vanoise Express is also closed. I do not know what Les Arcs think they are doing, but there are many unhappy people here and I have heard quite a few saying they will never come back if this is what they can expect.

As the lift pass for the final week still costs 162.50 euros. People are saying this is very poor value for money and I agree. My advice if you are thinking of coming out for a last minute ski, go to La Plagne, Espace Killy or Val Thorens. You will get much better value for money. Or come to Les Arcs knowing you can only ski a very limited area officially at least. It is possible to ski back to Arc 1600 off piste from the top of the Transarc and you can also ski most of the higher forest areas of Peisey Vallandry as long as you can get back to the Transarc and even down to Pre Esprit though the top of the Villaroger area. But you will be going into closed areas which are not patrolled so you are doing so at your own risk.

Now for what we did today!! Enjoy! Tomorrow we will try Les Arcs again.

What a day!! After the hassle of getting over to the Arc 2000 bowl yesterday we went to the La Plagne ski area today. What a great move!! Arrived at Les Coches after only a 20min drive and we were up and skiing within 30 min.

After getting to the top of the Les Coches side of La Plagne, due to the weather and poor vis we decided to head off piste into the forest areas. Starting from high on the ridge we carefully made our way through the meadow and down the steeper face into the forest areas in very deep snow. Due to the higher avalanche risk with so much fresh snow about we went very carefully down the steeper slopes taking a very conservative line.

After nearly an hour of untracked deep powder we arrived at La Roche and then had a run down through the forest on that side in more fresh snow finally reaching the Omelette Restaurant almost exclusively off piste from leaving Les Coches to arriving in Montalbert. This is a route I have tried a number of times, but today was the first time I have managed to do all sections off piste almost the whole way.

After a good lunch we headed back to Les Coches by mostly off piste routes again with snow falling around us, the wind blowing quite strongly at times and great powder well up to our knees.

By the time we reached the car it was 5pm and we had only stopped once for a short lunch. Quite a day and although the vis was bad at times, the snow conditions made up for it.

Tomorrow promises to be more of the same as it is snowing higher up again tonight. If you are interested in seeing what it looked like today, check out the latest photos in the April 2012 Album Two. Enjoy!


Entering into the backcountry! April 24


The peace and quiet of the wilderness! April 24


Powder again!

Powder!! :-D By the time I arrived at Arc 1950 (it took 40min :( from the valley with the Funi and Bus as expected) the sun was shinning and the clouds had cleared. :twisted:

After a warm up run down to Pre Esprit we headed up the Varet and onto the KL piste nature for a ride down in the powder. We were not disappointed. Although well tracked, it was a great place for the youngsters to tune there skills on skis and board and everyone improved from the two runs we did down this long piste.

We then went over to the Grand Col and put more lines down the centre and right side of the piste in more deep powder. Again although well tracked, we were able to find some nice untracked sections further away from the pistes and a few challenging little gullies. :-D

With tired legs we headed for lunch. After lunch it was back up the Varet and then the central area of the Arc 2000 bowl to find a few more untracked areas and a chance to take a couple of steeper routes. :D

Photos of today will be posted shortly in the April 2012 Album Two. Enjoy!!


Now that is what you call dropping in on a power turn! April 23