J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by snowcrazy2005

JonG, next season when you are out, send me a PM if you fancy meeting up. Although it has been a strange season, there has still been plenty to do in Les Arcs and even today I was off piste in spring snow, so not all bad and quite safe if you know where to go. Plus La Ros and La Thuile are now shut and we are still able to get on the snow using the lifts right up to the end of this week. So they have done well to not have to finish the season early as many place have done.

I shall try to add some photos of what we have been doing in the last few weeks shortly in my facebook group page (link below), so pop back from time to time and take a look if you are interested.

Hope you all had the chance to eat plenty of Easter Eggs today. They were even giving some out for free in the stations. After all, they need to do something to keep everyone happy.

The winter is finally coming to an end. Although a little snow/rain has fallen this evening, it is warm and spring has really arrived. Yesterday I had an easy day around the Arc 2000 bowl. Managed a few runs off piste from the top of Aiguille Rouge down the couloirs and Petit North Face. Even the top half of the Grand Col and the middle ridge of the bowl gave some good spring snow in places. However you cannot get down to Arc 1950 anymore without walking the last few metres. You have to walk to reach the Arc 2000 station and you must cut off early from the Robert Blanc area to avoid walking at the end of the Flying Km piste.

I hope all those that drove home yesterday had a good journey. See you all again next season.

Today I decided it was time to get the skins out and go high. Quite a change in the conditions, but still places to find good spring snow. Thought I would have a go at Mont Pourri, but when I got on the mountain above the Grand Col the weather conditions did not look that stable and I did not fancy being caught up there on my own in a storm so changed my mind and came back down. But it was fun looking down on the ski area below even if I did not get that far. I shall give it a go in a few days after the weather settles again.

Instead I went marmot searching. To get up close and take photos (at least with my camera) you have to go off piste. After a faulty start I had success. Found some on the ridge down the middle of the Arc 2000 bowl, in the Grand Col area and even on Aiguille Rouge. Managed to repeat some of the routes I made yesterday, there is still good spring snow about if you make an effort.

The bad news is that as well as having to walk into Arc 1950 and 2000. You must also walk when going down to the Marmotte Chair and approaching the Bulle cafe. However you can still get back to the mid-station of the Transarc without walking which was good.

Altogether, the conditions are deteriorating very quickly and with the rain tonight (maybe snow higher up), I hope they can keep the lifts and pistes open till the end of the week.

Going over to La Plagne tomorrow maybe. Another update soon.

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=134900026541300&v=photos

OldAndy, pleased you have enjoyed reading the posts. Still one more week to go.


The sun shone and there was little wind for most of the day. Today we were in Les Arcs and covered all the areas that are still open. Even though you cannot get down to Arc 1800, 1600, Pre St Esprit or Peisey Vallandry anymore unless you take a bus, there is still plenty of snow in the Arc 2000 bowl and even down to the mid- station of the Transarc.

For anyone coming out this weekend, if you follow the sun and plan where you go, the snow gives you typical spring conditions throughout the day. The morning starts hard, firm, icy and boiler plate in most places, but the re-frozen snow quickly softens on lower pistes and even some off piste areas are now very pleasant. However take care as heavy slush takes over lower down later in the day.

Higher up if you give the sun time to do it's work you will find spring snow 'on and off piste' in the Grand Col and Aiguille Rouge areas as late as 4.30pm. The lift queues in some places are busy, but I have known worse during Easter week. The Boarder Cross and Big Air Bag in Arc 2000 are open and fun.

For anyone coming out this weekend you should still find places worth going as long as you do not expect to have access to the whole domain. The link to La Plagne will be closed shortly, but until then you must now use free buses to reach Peisey from the rest of Les Arcs. Have a good week.

Yesterday we made it to Mont Albert and one last lunch at the Forperet. Did not have to walk once on the way there on the La Plagne side until we reached the road 200m above the restaurant. Great meal as always, they still make the best omelettes in the paradiski in my opinion. They even gave us all a ride back up to the road in there minibus as the tractor was broken this time.

The pistes on the Les Arcs side are still ok in the Arc 2000 bowl with only a few bare patches, hard and frozen in the morning after the night time re-freeze and soft and slushy lower down with nice spring snow higher up in the afternoon once the sun has been at the slopes for a while. Keep following the sun and you can still have a good days skiing.

However going down to the Vanoise Express in Peisey or to Vallandry is now very difficult and you must walk in places or down lift. The links from Les Coches into the main la Plagne section are still open until the end of this weekend, but you must walk the final 200m to the Gondola. You can still reach the VE without walking on the way back just. We were also able to get right down to Plagne 1800 Chair lift on the way to Mont Albert, but on the return you must walk in various places at Plagne 2000 and Plagne Centre. The La Plagne side is now looking as worn lower down as Les Arcs and the best place to go there is now the Bellecote Glacier area.

The piste back down to Arc 1800 is also closed so you must go down on the Transarc from the middle station. From this coming weekend only the Arc 2000 bowl will remain open with just the Transarc from Arc 1800 running plus the free shuttle buses from 1800, Arc 1600 and the funicular from Bourg St Maurice.

Please check my facebook group daily for further updates. Link below.

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=134900026541300&ref=ts#!/group.php?gid=134900026541300&v=wall

Hi everyone. The season here in Les Arcs (Paradiski) is not over yet. Since Saturday we have skied all the way down to Arc 1600 before it closed on Sunday. Also down to Arc 1800 which you can still do on one piste which they are keeping in ok condition until the end of this week at least. Also all the way down to Peisey and the Vanoise Express which is also still open. Both the Blue and Red piste down are ok.

Yesterday we went over to the Bellecote Glacier, had a good ski high up on good spring snow and then made our way down to Bellecote La Plagne and home on very slushy but ok pistes. Managed not to scratch my skis or go over any muddy patches all day. Even found a new waterslide on the way home as the Altiport waterslide is now shut.

For anyone interested, getting over to the VE is not a problem and although conditions in La Plagne are not as good as last week, high up they are fine so there is still plenty of skiing to be had on the La Plagne side this week. Just make sure you get the extension to your Les Arcs pass or make them give you a Paradiski pass as we had to do this morning which works out cheaper for three days in La Plagne. The rumours that the VE is closed are not true, but you do need to check each day due to the warm temps lower down.

In Les Arcs, the 2000 bowl it is still ok, although busy and if you stay high there are plenty of on and off piste places to ski on spring snow if you follow the sun. Hope those out this week have a good holiday. I will be in George's Wine Bar in Arc 1950 most days after skiing if anyone wants to meet up for a beer or arrange to come for a ski with us as I am staying in 1950 all week. Very nice. I do like the pool, sauna and steam room.

Check out my facebook group page (link below) for the most up-to-date info on conditions which I will try and update every morning at about 8.30am.

If anyone out this week is interested in joining a mixed group for a ski on Friday, we are going over to La Plagne. Let me know by PM or through facebook/mobile. I am in Tignes Wednesday, but might be around Thursday or in Val Thorens depending on the weather.

I have just posted the details sent by the resort for all the activities they are now running, plus lift timings, piste condition updates and more. It seems at last they have understood that they need to give out more info. I have done my best to put it all into English. They really do need to get there English page sorted out. For anyone coming out, hope this helps. Go to the 'wall' on my facebook group page to read everything. Link below.

The Arc 2000 bowl is still ok for skiing and boarding with spring snow conditions. Some lifts are now opening at 8.15am to give longer ski time before the snow becomes very soft. You can still have a good holiday. One of the kids said they are having a great time so there is still hope.

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=134900026541300&ref=ts#!/group.php?gid=134900026541300&v=wall

Monday 11 April. Despite the warm temperatures the conditions in the Arc 2000 Bowl are still good and for those coming out you can expect to have plenty of options if you stay in this area and explore the different pistes. Early in the day the off piste is still good higher up, but you are best to be off any steeper slopes by midday. However it is busy and there are queues on most of the main lift before lunch. In the afternoons it is quieter but the slopes even at the highest lifts are slushy.

There is now an Airbag in Arc 2000 and the boardercross is also still in good condition. The Luge and new slide area are good fun, but the free sledge slope is now closed.

As I predicted the resort has announced that Arc 1800 will be closing next weekend and only a link open to the Arc 2000 bowl will remain. The Cachette in Arc 1600 will remain open, but not much else in that area. The link with La Plagne through Peisey will remain open, but you must down lift to return to Vallandry or risk damaging your gear or walking. In reality there are less than half the pistes open in Les Arcs than normal for this time of year. Pity they are not giving a 50% discount on lift passes which would be much fairer. A 25% discount which is now being offered does not seem value for money when in reality you can really only go to the Arc 2000 bowl. Guess it is better than nothing.

For those that have booked to come out there are still places to go and taking advantage of the Vanoise Express link and visiting La Plagne is also a good idea for a few days during the week so all is not lost and you should have a good holiday, but expect to be much more limited than during a good winter.

There is a little snow/rain predicted for later this week. Let us all hope it falls as snow.

The snow is going fast!! Sorry to bring you the following news but here is my report for today

With the very warm temperatures we have been having in the last few days and with more very warm days to come things do not look very good for Les Arcs!

Today I was very disappointed to find that it seems Les Arcs have given up trying to keep the Arc 1600 and Arc 1800 areas open. Having skied across the whole domain from Arc 1600 to Mont Albert and back to Arc 1950 this is what I found.

In Les Arcs 1600 area: The bottom of the Cachette Chair is in a very bad condition and has no snow, only a carpet to get on the lifts. Most pistes are boiler plate first thing in the morning and slush with many bare patches and nasty rocks coming through later in the day. The following pistes around Arc 1600 are now closed. Deux Tetes (black), Malgovert (red), Rouelles (black), Arolles (red), Gollet (blue), top of Belvedere (blue), Muguet (black), Comborciere (black). All areas below Funi to Les Grange. The beginner area in Arc 1600 is also in very bad condition. The Belvedere piste between the Arpette restaurant and the Arpette lift is now covered with straw and has many rocks coming through as I found to my cost early this morning (there were not even any warning signs first thing today to let you know).

I believe it is very likely that they will close this area during the next few days and send all those coming up the Funi or staying in Arc 1600 round by bus to either Arc 2000 or Arc 1800. This has not yet been confirmed, but if you are coming out to this station or staying down in the valley, be warned, this may happen very soon.

In Arc 1800 area: The bottom part of the Belvedere piste is passable, but only just coming into the lifts at the station where there is only a carpet rather than snow. Gollet (blue) link with Arc 1600 is closed. The beginners area in Arc 1800 is usable, but in poor condition. The majority of pistes are now closed or not worth trying to use including Fond Blanc (black), Clair Blanc (red), Col des Frettes (red), Golf (red), Carreley (red) etc. The snowpark is now in a very poor condition and the waterslide was closed due to lack of snow around the safety area when we arrived there this afternoon.

I also believe that it is very likely they will close this area during the next few days and send all those coming to stay in Arc 1800/1850 over to Arc 2000 bowl by the Trans Arc gondola or a long bus ride. To return to this station they may well say you must go down by the Transarc gondola only or by bus.

In Peisey Vallandry area: The bottom of Vallandry has little snow and the lift was closed today. I understand you must use the Grizzly chair to get up onto the mountain. In Peisey, the main chair out is still running, but there is now a carpet at the bottom rather than snow. Most pistes are now closed in this area and there are only the Ours (red) or Plan Peisey (blue) open to reach the Vanoise Express. To reach Vallandry you are advised to down lift or take the Aigle (red) which is still passable, just.

I also believe that it is very likely they will close this area during the next few days and send all those coming to stay in Peisey Vallandry area over to Arc 2000 bowl by the bottom lifts mentioned and then the Derby Chair and Trans Arc gondola mid station or a long bus ride. To return from Arc 2000, they must keep at least the Grand Renard (blue) top of the Reches (red) and Renard (blue) usable if this area is to remain open.

In the Arc 2000 area: The main lifts in the bowl are all still running, but the Pre Saint Esprit area is now closed. Also the Villaroger area. The snow in the Arc 2000 area is much better, but still becomes very slushy later in the day.

Having also skied across the La Plagne area today it is sad to say that it appears in the Les Arcs area they have now given up the fight to keep Arc 1600, 1800 and most of Peisey Vallandry areas open even though there is still snow around that I would have thought they could move onto the pistes as they were doing in most areas of La Plagne that we visited today.

My advice now is that if your tour operator gives you the choose of changing your dates to another period next (season) year you might be advised to take this choice or come to Les Arcs expecting very poor conditions with very few pistes open and very limited off piste unless you go to La Plagne most days so that you are not disappointed.

Sorry to be bring you such bad news, but I have always said, when I consider the conditions are poor I would be honest and say they are. It is now becoming very hard to be positive, although one young visitor tonight did tell me he has still had a good holiday this week and had great fun. So all is not lost and if you are still coming out, think positive, it is still better than being in the office, JUST!!

I do think the Les Arcs piste authority could be trying harder to keep areas open longer as we have seen they are doing in La Plagne, Val d'Isere, Tignes, and most areas of Les 3 Vallees. Poor show Les Arcs, you really need to be doing more. I hope to see an improvement in your efforts during the next few days. Unmarked dangers on the pistes and little effort to keep the main links open really is not good enough!

Tomorrow we are over in La Plagne again so I will provide a more detailed outline for that half of the Paradiski area after our day over that side. For those that are coming out, get the full pass so that you have the chance to find better snow conditions.