J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by snowcrazy2005

Today was yet another amazing powder day!! I do not use the word amazing very easily, but today was special. There was about 30cm of fresh snow down in the forests and more higher up on top of what had already fallen in the last few days. We spent the day in the powder hardly touching a piste and when we did go on a piste they were covered in powder as well. :-D

As today was the last day that Arc 1600, some of Arc 1800 and a few important lifts in Arc 1950/2000 will be open I spent most of my time in these areas. First with some French friends that left me gasping for breath trying to keep up with the speed they ski through the deep powder. Then at a slightly more relaxed pace with another friend before meeting up with some others for a few jumps (not me. them, I took the photos :twisted: ).

The powder in the Mont Blanc and Malgovert forests was excellent. Deep, light, fluffy and mostly untracked. Then heading higher as the sun broke through we managed a few routes over on the Arc 2000 side which also had great untracked powder at times. 8-)

Finally heading back to the Comborciere valley where we found the snow was already going off by 3pm and then down through the Malgovert again where the snow had still mostly stayed in good condition. Taking the Arpette chair back up we then found a nice route down a couloir off the ridge before stopping for a well earned beer in Arc 1800 and then home. :)

Overall today was great, perhaps not the best this season, but it was still up there as a good day in the office! If you are planning a last minute break you will not be disappointed. Loads of snow, pistes in excellent condition everywhere and plenty of fresh powder to keep us all happy. :D

Take a look at the photos which will be posted shortly in the April 2012 Album Two of my Les Arcs Winter facebook page and see how many of the routes you can name. Tomorrow they hope to open the higher lifts in the Arc 2000 bowl so it should be another untracked powder day if I can get up there early enough! What a last week of the season this is already turning out to be!!! :skele:


One of Les Arcs land marks! Les Deux Tetes!


Malgovert, a place where everyone can go and play safely!


But there are also places where you can take some big air, so keep to the marked areas and stay safe!

Today, April 21, was one of those days when you think it will not be very good, but turns out to be amazing! POWDER everywhere!!! Pictures of today will be posted shortly in the April 2012 Album Two. Take a look at how much fresh snow has fallen even if the vis was not so great at times. :D

As many of the lifts close tonight for the season, if we were to make one final trip down the Bellecote, today had to be the day. During the last week I have either been visiting other ski resorts or the weather has kept us away. Although yesterday was good, the icing on the cake is to go down the North Face of the Bellecote on a powder day. :D

We made it to the top of the Bellecote by just before 11am and due to the weather already starting to close in we headed straight over onto the North Face. We had fresh powder well above our knees at times until on the final ridge above the forest. Then the snow turned to spring conditions and although more difficult was still fun to ski. Finally we went through the forest and hit the path which was skiable again after the recent snowfalls. :twisted:

By 12.30 we were sitting drinking a beer and having a snack at the bottom waiting for the bus. The weather was closing in, but we had made one final trip down the Bellecote in powder on the day the connecting lift closes. I am :D

In the afternoon we went up high again, but found the Gondola to the Roche de Mio and the Bellecote were now closed due to bad weather so we played around in the untracked powder fields of the Crozats Chair before heading down through the forest one last time towards Les Coches and finally the Vanoise Express. Once back in Les Arcs we stopped at the Altiport for a final drink as it shuts tonight and then down to Arc 1800 for a cup of tea and then home. :twisted:

The season is coming to an end, but today was good and it was snowing again whilst I was on my way home. Tomorrow should be another powder day! :-D

Peisey Vallandry closed at the end of skiing today. Arc 1600 will be closing tomorrow after skiing and only the Chantel (until Wednesday at the moment), the Transarcs and Grand Renard will remain open in Arc 1800 during next week. :cry:

In Arc 1950/2000 for next week the Varet, Grand Col, Aiguille Rouge, Marmotte and Arcabulle are confirmed to be open (weather permitting). I will report again tomorrow morning once I have final confirmation of what is remaining open. :(

However, even with only limited lifts open in Les Arcs, the snow is excellent on and off piste and everywhere that will be open is in very good condition for this time of year. For those coming out you should have a good time as long as the weather is kind to you! :)


Well above his knees at times!! April 21


Telemark skiing off piste and he is only 13 year old!! with powder up to his waist at times!

What an amazing day! The powder is back and we spent the day putting down fresh tracks on every route from first lifts to last all day. Managed a short lunch to catch our breath, but other than that did not stop all day. :twisted:

Started with a run down through the trees to Arc 1800 and then through the forest above Peisey Vallandry while the vis was still bad in deep fresh powder to the Vanoise Express. :D

Crossed over to the other side and did another route through the forest back down towards Les Coches before heading to the bottom of the Bauches Chair by a number of different routes. Then up and over to Champagny for lunch by another off piste route as the vis was slowly getting better. :)

Up to the top of the Roche de Mio and down the hidden valley by a slight variation then over the back of the Roche de Mio through one of the couloirs and all the way back down to the Baunches Chair again. Finally back up to the ridge above Les Coches and down through the meadows and waterfall gully back to the VE and across to Arc 1800 for a well earned drink then home. :lol:

Take a look at the photos in the 'April 2012 Album Two' if you want to see the amazing snow we are having right now. It look's like we will be finishing the season the way we started with great snow everyday. What a shame the VE link closes tomorrow. We hope to get over and do two good routes before it does so an early start again tomorrow. 8-)

For those thinking of coming out, the piste are in great condition right now in the mornings, but they do get a little soft and slushy later in the day. There is about a meter in depth on most lower pistes and much more higher up. The off piste is amazing even in bad vis. Even with more than half of Les Arcs closed next week, there will still be plenty to do!! :-D

Here are the two I like the best from today!

Today was a POWDER day. As all the lifts in Peisey Vallandry and Arc 1600 plus almost all the lifts in Arc 1800 are currently planned to be closing this weekend and the lifts in Villaroger have already closed it was time to head over to the La Plagne side whilst the Vanoise Express is still open as this will also be closing on Saturday.

Please read this extra note if you are coming out this weekend!! IMPORTANT NOTICE!!
"It is very BAD planning by Les Arcs to be closing so much of the ski area when there is so much snow still around. Next week ONLY the Arc 2000 bowl plus two connecting lifts from Arc 1800 plus one beginner lift are currently planned to remain open right now. If you have pre-booked your full area pass and are coming out this weekend. Make sure you reclaim the difference on the pass as you only need an Arc 2000 area pass."

Now for my report of today. The light was very poor this morning and it was snowing most of the time, but this did not stop us from finding plenty of untracked powder all day.

We went to the top of the Les Coches lifts and found white out conditions so headed into the forest and some off piste routes. The fresh snow was up to our knees and mostly untracked everywhere we went. By 2pm we had completed quite a few routes and needed some food. After a great lunch we met up with other friends and had a run down to the bottom of Baunches chair (with a 100m walk near the bottom) on spring snow and then finished with another route through the forest and back to the Vanoise Express.

Considering the poor vis, the fresh snow made it into a good day and we had a lot of fun in the trees. Tomorrow we hope to enjoy even more fresh tracks as it is still snowing outside.

If you want to see what today was like, take a look at the pictures I will be posting shortly in the new April 2012 Album Two as they say it all. 'Winter is back, at least up the mountain!!'

Despite the lack of lifts currently planned to be open, it is still worth coming out next week as the snow is great and you will have loads of fun!!!

Here are a few pics from today!


First thing this morning, very white everywhere! April 19


January is back! April 19


Now it is getting deeper! April 19

sorry to increase your suffering, but here are the details i have just been sent by the pisteurs. Full update can be read on my les Arcs Winter facebook page! Enjoy :twisted: :-D

8-) WEATHER & FORECASTS OF THE DAY: (Meteo) 8-)
Overcast with snow possible above 800/1000 meters. Likely to be mostly cloudy in the afternoon and the mountains will remain blocked from view. Showers are many accompanied by gusts of wind and thunder is possible. Max temps today could rise to 11 degrees at 1000m, -3 at 2000m and -6 at 3000m. Over the next 24hrs up to 40cm of snow is possible. :sH: :D :-D :lol: :twisted:

If this keeps up I think we will have snow as deep as this again :skele:

Now I really must go out to play!!



Taken on April 11 above the Mont Blanc forest!

OldAndy, just to cause you even more pain!!! It is snowing heavily right now in Arc 1800 I have just been told with at least 5cm settling on the cars. We plan to go up and ski the amazing spring powder in an hour or so when the lifts open.

I will post a report later tonight when I get down.

As I have just got back from Tignes I thought I would catch up on the photos of the last few days in Les Arcs. If you are interested in seeing what the conditions have been like in Les Arcs over the past week, take a look at the latest photos I have justed posted over on my Les Arcs Winter facebook page. 8-)

See how the kids have made out in all this fresh snow we've been having. They are looking good! Plus the Les Arcs waterslide. 'Only fools and English kids do the waterslide in a near white out on a snowy, cold winter day!!' It just had to be done before they could go home!! :twisted:

Tomorrow I will be back in Les Arcs/La Plagne before they start closing all the links this weekend. I will try to do another conditions update tomorrow. :)

Tignes was good yesterday with fresh powder, today was ok, but the light was very poor some of the time. Photos and more details will be posted of my two days in Tignes tomorrow. :D



What a great day to learn powder skiing! April 12



Avalanche safety training. They need to start to learn this whilst they are young. April 12



Our final fresh tracks of the day. Nice lines! April 12

I am very sorry to fuel all your pain, but well, now that I have started to catch up with all the pictures, while I wait for the update of todays weather and snow conditions from the pisteurs to post, here are a few pics from the last few days. :twisted:



(Getting through the Mouse Hole in the Lost valley in Val d'Isere, always popular with the kids and quite fun for everyone if you like an adventure)



(Untracked powder on one of the Glaciers in Val Thorens)



(Indian Gully in La Plagne. another popular kids route on the way to lunch)



(Powder on the Robert Blanc piste nature)



(Deep and Steep on the side of the piste, you do not have to go far to find good snow right now)