J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by snowcrazy2005

Another fun day in the powder comes to an end!!

Although the vis today was good and bad (mostly bad ) we still managed to find some good powder and take a few photos.

The gap in the trees under the new Mont Blanc lift is always a sure bet in bad weather and the snow was not disappointing. Then over to the Bois de l'ours and a break in the clouds for a fun ride down the shoulder, making some turns and measuring the size of the cornice!! At least twice the height of my friend. Not a place to stand to long!! Made him very nervous, haha!!

Then up to the top of the Aiguille Rouge in a 'white out' and all the way down to Villaroger, but not by the normal route.

Had the chance to take some more pics throughout the day. The powder in the trees and even on the more exposed places was still in good condition. The pistes everywhere we skied were good and with the fresh snow from the last few days, are likely to stay good for the remainder of the week.

Tomorrow they say it will be sunny so should be yet another great powder day! What a season we are having so far. The 'weather gods' are making up for last year very quickly! If you have the chance, get out here as soon as you can.

A few photos from today!!


Just as a warm up, a little jump! Jan 25


Ever wondered how they keep the web cams clean. Just so that he can clean the web cam! Jan 25


Now that is a big Cornice!! Jan 25


Into the secret forest! Jan 25

Hope you like them. More on my Les Arcs Winter page.

Here are a few pics from the last couple of days. More from today when I have got them from the camera. Enjoy! :-D

Time for a few jumps!!! :D and some very deep powder!!! :D


Jump Number One! Landed it very well. Warming up!!! Jan 21


Jump Number Two. Taking a bit more air. He landed this one as well!!!


Jump Number Threee! Great air! At least 3m high! Jan 21


Ouch! Now that must hurt. Did not quite get the landing right on this one. But he did walk away, just a little sore! Jan 21


Canadian powder in Les Arcs!!!!! Jan 21


Taking some air! Jan 22


Now for the big one!!!

As you can see from the photos, the conditions have been amazing during the last few days. Even though the snow is now a few days old, we were still able to find plenty of pockets of untracked powder today. However the wind and sun has done there worst. But the pistes are in excellent condition in most places although on the main runs into statons it is quite hard packed today and a little icy in places. Overall the conditions today were still very good on piste and off piste if you worked out the sun/wind angles then you could still have lots of fun. :-D

I will post todays pics later. :-D

Vadmolotov, what has that video got to do with Les Arcs or the Paradiski. NOTHING!!! But I do like the music. However!!!!!! no more spam please!

Powder again!! What a winter this is turning out to be!! :twisted: Jan 20

Today I woke up to rain falling in the valley and snow from about 1000m. All the links to Arc 2000 bowl were closed and although they said the links to La Plagne were open we decided not to take the risk as the forecast was for the weather to worsen as the day progressed.

Having made it up to the Cachette chair (the Mont Blanc was shut due to high winds again) we headed over to Peisey-Vallandry in very poor vis via Arc 1800 and a nice little off piste route down towards the Vagere Chair. :)

Once on the far side of Peisey we played around in the forest for all the morning until we headed to the Mont Blanc Bar for some lunch.

After lunch we played around in Vallandry and Arc 1800 forest areas in powder that made every run fresh tracks until the legs started to get tired. Finally we headed back toward Arc 1600 for a quick drink at the Altiport and a few runs down through the Mont Blanc forest and then home.

Although the vis was bad all day, the powder was great and the snow just kept on falling. By the end of the day the pistes had become off piste and when this storm has passed the conditions should be excellent again everywhere. :lol:

Right now it is snowing down to the valley floor and you will need chains/winter tyres to drive up to resort tomorrow if these conditions continue. But the skiing in the coming days is going to be excellent again. :D

Check out the pictures for today in the photo section of the Les Arcs Winter page. Here are just a few to keep you all happy :D


(It's another POWDER day. Playing in the trees above Peisey! Jan 20)


(The light is really going, but the powder is getting deeper! Jan 20)


(Coming down to Arc 1800! Jan 20)

:-D Now for a report of our day on piste (well mostly) in Les Arcs. :-D

Today the weather had changed. Overcast when I woke up and looked out the window. As my friend only have two days left we headed up anyway, although a little later at 10am to make a 'Grand Tour' of the whole Les Arcs Ski Domain. :D

Starting from Arc 1600 we headed across well groomed pistes to Peisey-Vallandry via the Arpette and Grand Renard chair and took the red Combe piste down which was in great condition and back up the Peisey chair. Then down the Ours Piste cutting off to go up the Grizzly chair in Vallandry. From the top, down the new Bordercross course having had a photo stop to see where we had skied on the Bellecote the day before. Across from the bottom of the course through the trees and up the Derby chair. Then a little off piste all the way down to the bottom of the Transarc in Arc 1800. :nice:

Up to the top of the Transarc and a quick coffee stop before heading to the top of the Grand Col Chair for a little couloir training in the off piste area. After a bit of fun in the short steep gullies, a nice off piste route the whole way to Arc 2000 and then up the Varet Gondola just above Arc 1950 and then to the top of the Aiguille Rouge.

Now it was time for the long decent. None stop to Villaroger from the top of the Aiguille Rouge. On piste most of the way for once. Well, we did stop a few times to make a couple of detours off piste, but it was mostly on piste as the light was very flat. The piste the whole way down was in good condition. :D

Up the chairs from Villaroger and down the Rhonaz forest piste to Pre St Esprit and a very good late lunch at the Chalet which is now under new ownership, but it still has the log fire and great food. :D

Still not finished, up the Comborciere chair and down through Malgovert piste nature and a little variation I like on a steeper section to the Mont Blanc piste.

Finally arriving at the Beguin Hotel back just above Arc 1600 for a well earned drink before heading home.

This was a great circular trip covering all the highest and lowest points of the Les Arcs Ski domain and can be completed staying on piste the whole way if you prefer. All the pistes today were in great condition and with more snow expected, they should stay this way for quite some time. The only problem today was the light which came and went at various times during the day. However overall it was another fun day and as the photos show, full of variety.

Take a look at the pics in the photo section. 'Jan 2012 Album Two' on the Les Arcs Winter page :-D

Here are three I liked from today!


(We skied down that yesterday! Jan 19)


(Time for a challenge! But I cannot see! Jan 19)


(Malgovert looks good today! Jan 19)

Wednesday 18 Jan. Yesterday, had a great ski on the Bellecote and the snow in places was still very good. Here are a few pics. It is well worth the trip across. You end up back on the Les Arcs side at the end of the trip. :D Plus you get to play in a few fun areas on the way over as well. :-D

Tuesday 17 Jan.
We started a little later after a hard day yesterday and planned to just go up and have an easier day doing some of the shorter off piste routes and piste natures. That was before we made our first decent down the couloir that looks over Arc 1950 and Arc 2000 from the top of the Bois de l'Ours ridge.

Having found the snow to have turned into a firm chalky surface we quickly went up to the top of the Aiguille Rouge and down the main face behind the fence from the top onto the glacier area below. Now that was steep!! If you are tempted to give this route a try, take care, a fall here could seriously damage your health!!

Then it was time to go over the back into the National Park via one of my favourite couloirs. The snow was once again firm and chalky in places turning into light soft snow lower down and even 'real' powder in places that were still sheltered as we neared the valley and La Planay village. What a great run down.

Back up again and a quick lunch at the Mushroom before heading to 'Par Avalanche' through the Whistler gate. My first time in a while on this route. Where had all the snow gone?? We had to walk along the ridge until we came to enough snow to ride down the route which turned into good snow again all the way down to the piste far below. The wind has certainly done it's damage here.

Finally we headed up the Varet and then Grand Col chair and played in the little couloirs on the way back to Arc 1950. A really fun route as long as you did not fall. Sorry mate, but at least I have know picture to post. My hands were to cold to get the camera out in time.

Just for a change we finished the day by going down the steep face beside the waterfall into Arc 1950. Lot's of fun!! and so another day comes to an end. The pictures from yesterday are posted in the photo section of the Les Arcs Winter page. Here is a taster!


(Below the Waterfall!! in Arc 1950. If you like off piste and have not tried this yet, give it a go, really fun!)

Monday 16 Jan. Today we got up early as the snow is starting to go off a little and headed up high. After a fast ride over to La Plagne we arrived at the Bellecote Glacier and climbed to the top of the ridge and dropped over into the National Park in the hunt for fresh powder. :-D

We were not disappointed!! Was it worth the effort, YES! A long valley of almost untracked powder!! (Even 10 days since it snowed.) We were able to put our lines down and enjoy a great ride to near the main valley. :twisted:

Then a long ride out past more avalanche debris and waterfalls before arriving at the bottom. :lol:

Not satisfied we went back round for another route. This time along the ridge towards the Frielin Bowl and then down a steeper couloir to the Bauches Chair and a very fast decent to the VE in time to get back over to Arc 1600 and a drink at the Altiport before heading home. Another great day in the backcountry comes to the end. :-D

Pics are now posted on the Les Arcs Winter page in the Photo section for Jan 2012. If you want to have the chance to be in the photos of the places we go to, please send me a PM and I will see what can be arranged. :D

Here are the pics from today that I like the best!


(That was fun! On top of the world!)


(Getting away from everyone!)


(Fresh tracks again!)


(Finally onto the shoulder and still good snow!)