J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by snowcrazy2005

Here is my brief report of our day in Tignes to give you an idea of conditions right now. Hope it helps to stop you worrying.

A group of us from Les Arcs came up to spend the day in Tignes today (Wednesday 6th April). Found some good snow on the Grande Motte and also on the Tour de Pramecou, Chardonnet bowl and even on La Familiale on our way over to the FD bar party. Even made a quick detour for photos at the 'Eye' at the Aiguille Percee as well. A good a day and although very soft later, plenty of spring snow to be found although the general view of the group was that the snow on the Bellecote in La Plagne the day before was just as good. Tomorrow we shall be in the Three valleys, should be another fun day.

Today we were in 'Les 3 Vallees' and found more good spring snow early in the day on La Masse and a little later in the Val Thorens area and on Mont Vallon before heading over to Courchevel 1650 and back to Les Menuires on a tour of the whole domain. Did quite a few kilometres today both on and off piste. The early start made sure we had some good spring snow off piste, then as the day progressed we returned to the pistes to stay safe and everywhere we went seemed to have become very soft and slushy.

Overall we thought the 'Les 3 Vallees' domain was in good condition in the higher areas of Val Thorens, Mont Vallon, parts of La Masse and at the top of Les Menuires and even some areas of Courchevel earlier in the day. But lower down into all the stations we visited except Val Thorens there were many bare areas. We also came across a number of closed pistes in all areas. Courchevel 1650 was very difficult to reach on skis. Going into Courchevel 1850 and Meribel were also not that great. The same for Mottaret and Les Menuires.

Best advice for anyone coming out, stay high! We will be back again soon as there are still plenty of places to go for some fun!

Been busy going to other areas over the last few days but will have a full update tomorrow for Les Arcs. There has been some talk of avalanches in Les Arcs this week, but in fact none have been across open pistes as they have been closing the exposed ones early then blowing the possible slides to keep the place safe. More details of the whole Paradiski area tomorrow.

Here is the big one. Hope you find todays snow report of the paradiski worth the read. Enjoy. Remember you can always check out the photo section in my facebook group page to see what we have been doing. If you join as a friend then there are even more pics to see. Link below.

Blue sky, very warm temperatures! You could almost be at the beach today rather than on a mountain.

With the current conditions I thought it was time to take a tour of the whole Paradiski area. For those coming out in the next week. Take a read of what we found visiting all the resort stations that were open in the whole domain plus the mountain tops. For those that just want a summary. Skip to the end.

Started from Arc 1600, up the Cachette Chair and across to the Arpette Chair. 'Cachette' piste on the way up under the chair was firm and compacted with a re-freeze from last night. As we approached the Arpette Chair, there was a frozen pond of melted snow that was blue ice (later in the day this had turned back to slush) on the Belvedere piste. The pistes between the top of the Arpette Chair and the Vanoise Express (VE) were firm and compact going past the Derby Chair and down to the VE on the red 'Ours' piste into Peisey at this time in the morning. There is only one red run 'Ours' and one blue run 'Plan Bois' open plus the link down 'Poney' to the new chair (Parchey). All other lower pistes in Peisey are now closed due to lack of snow.

On the La Plagne side we went to Montchavin down a rather patchy red 'Montchavin' piste and then up and back down to Les Coches on the red piste again and then through the beginner area to the Plan Bois Chair. Going into Les Coches and Montchavin there are now only the red 'Montchavin' or the blue 'Mont Blanc' pistes open lower down.

From the top of the Salla Chair we went all the way down into Bellecote La Plagne through Belle Plagne. All the main pistes in these areas are still open, but thin in places. Then up the Colosses Chair and then down through Plagne Village, Plagne Soleil, Plagne Centre and Plagne 1800. Once again all the main pistes appeared to be open, but some were quite patchy in places with warnings of mud and stones.

From Plagne 1800 we went up the 1800 Chair and then down to Plagne Montalbert via the blue 'Cornegidouille' piste, blue 'Montalbert' piste and then the red 'Fornelet' piste. These pistes were all in surprisingly good condition and gave us a good run all the way down into the bottom station.

From Plagne Montalbert we then headed back up the lifts into Aime La Plagne. From there down to Plagne Centre was rather thin although the pistes were open, but with warning signs everywhere against stones and mud. Straight up the Z tow and then the Verdons Nord Chair and over the top and down towards Champagny. The pistes in the Plagne centre area were mostly open, but with a number of bare patches. Take care when using any of these reds or blues. The blacks are closed either due to avalanche risk or bare patches. Going down the red to the bottom of the Borseliers Chair showed that this area is only just staying open with many bare patches on this and the blue piste nearby.

The red piste down to Champagny Village is now closed so you must down lift with the Gondola.

From the top of the Borseliers Chair we headed up to the Bellecote Glacier using the Rosea and Carella Chairs. Then finally the Bellecote Gondola for a change. All the pistes on the way up looked to be ok, although again the blacks were closed mainly due to avalanche risk and a few bare patches.

From the Bellecote Glacier we headed off piste for a while to make our way down to the Bauches Chair at the bottom of the closed (all season) 'Derochoir' piste. Then up the two chairs to the top of Dosrond. If you try this off piste area, you need to take great care as we passed many avalanches. If you are trying any off piste areas, you are well advised to do so in the mornings before the snow becomes to warm and starts to slide or becomes to soft and allows you to break through the crust.

From the top of Dosrond we headed back on piste down to the VE via the only route now open, 'Mont Blanc' blue piste, plus the little red short cut which is still ok. By now it was after 1.30pm and the pistes were all getting quite soft, but still ok. The Bellecote Glacier area offers the best conditions for 'on or off' piste in the La Plagne area, but the higher sections of the Roche de Mio, the Grand Rochette (north side) and even coming down under the Rosea Chair were quite good.

Back on the Les Arcs side and still quite a lot of area to cover. First back up the Peisey Chair and then down to the Grizzly in Vallandry. Then up the chair and right across the pistes to the bottom of the Transarc Gondola in Arc 1800. The pistes higher up in Peisey Vallandry were all ok, but if you are going into the stations, you are advised to ONLY use those pistes that are open as all others do not have enough snow and even those that are open have bare patches. Going down into Arc 1800 showed many bare patches and a number of closed pistes including the Race Stade due to lack of snow.

From the top of the Transarc we headed across to the Grand Col for another quick off piste blast and then back up the Plagnettes Chair and down the Bordercross for a bit of fun. Down the 'Edelweiss' piste and back up the Marmottes Chair, Varet and Aiguilles Rouge. Then down towards Villaroger. When we arrived at the bottom of the Drosett Chair, the whole Villaroger section was blocked off and closed. This area will not re-open again this season. Very sad news!!

Finally we headed down through Arc 2000 and Arc 1950 to arrive at the Bois de l'ours Chair. Up the chair and down to the waterslide at the Altiport (did it again and still dry) via the off piste to the side of the 'Clair Blanc' red piste. Over to the Clocheret Chair. From the top all the way down to Arc 1600 via the 'Clocheret' red and the 'Cachette' red pistes. Then home!

The snow in the Arc 2000 bowl is still very good and the 'on or off' piste at the Grand Col and Robert Blanc area are in ok condition for most of the day. However, the top of the Grizzly Chair on the Peisey Vallandry plateau, the area near the Arpette ridge going down towards the snow park and wateslide plus the area near the Clocheret Chair on the Blue and Red runs or off piste are also ok.

The Comborciere valley and piste is now nearly impossible due to lack of snow as is the Droset area. The Malgovert forest piste is closed, but passable with care (many rocks).

I hope you enjoyed reading the description of todays 'Grand Tour'. Took 7 hours with only a short break for lunch, but really fun and had everything from soft snow to hard packed pistes, spring snow off piste and slush. Plus a few bushes, tree roots, rocks and a bit of mud. More to follow tomorrow. !!

Overall, in summary: For those coming out in the next week or if you have arrived already. You can expect the pistes to be hard compact snow with icy patches in the mornings and soft slushy snow in the afternoons with many wet places. When going into stations stick to pistes which are marked as open or you may well run out of snow. Remember that Champagny Station (you can down lift here) and Villaroger station (you CANNOT down lift here) are now closed.

Off piste is better done in the morning when the snow is firm and follow the sun to avoid re-frozen boiler plate, but move away before it becomes too soft to avoid any danger of avalanches, falling into hidden holes or rock slides.

If the promised rain/snow does arrive in the next few days, this could add an icy layer to the snow surface in the mornings when it re-freezes, but it may also speed up the destruction of the snow conditions. We will all have to hope it snows rather than rains!

Hope you all have a good week. More up-dates to follow as the week progresses.

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

Webbo, take a look at my Les Arcs ski and Snowboard Info group on facebook for links about Les Arcs and other local areas. If you send me an email with the exact details of what you are looking for I know of a few places that might suit both in Les Arcs or down in the valley.

My contact email is on my facebook group page.

Tony H, I do not know if you are aware, but you now need a French operation certificate to offer transfers in France/Switzerland. Not so easy as it use to be. Working on the black can cause you or your passangers/chalet owners real problems if you are stopped by the authorities.

Today was a very nice day in Les Arcs with about 5 - 10cm of fresh snow and it was much better even down to Arc 1800 and 1600 than a few days ago. The snowline was at about 1600 today. Much better. The bigest problem was the vis that was in and out all day. But there was good snow around, very spring like and with more... promised in the next week, those coming out this weekend should still be ok for plenty of skiing so do not worry.

What a changeable day we have had. Started off with very poor light so I went up a little late, but as I heard there was powder about took the board out again. Managed to get up into the areas off the top of the Arpette Chair and put fresh tracks down which was fun. Then over to the Arc 2000 bowl and although the light came and went was still able to find plenty of fresh snow, but as the day progressed the snow started to change.

There is now only a blue piste just about open down to Villaroger. Very soft and wet at the bottom. They are trying hard to keep it open, but??

The same down to Arc 1800 where the fresh snow has improved things a little, but as the day went on, the snow became very worn again. Likewise over in Arc 1600 down to the Funi. Did not go over to Peisey Vallandry, but my friend says it is similar there although they are keeping the main blue and red down to the VE well maintained. Down to Vallandry, the main snow canon red is ok, but Foret and other lower pistes are very thin or now closed.

The best place to head is the Arc 2000 bowl, but if the crowds come back next week it could be difficult. My advice to anyone coming out, get the full 'Paradiski Pass' if you are Intermediate standard or above so that you can enjoy the whole ski area (Les Arcs and La Plagne). That way you will be able to get to all the higher areas and still managed to find some good skiing. I hope we get more snow tonight/tomorrow as promised??

Had an easy cruise around Les Arcs and La Plagne today. Poor vis most of the day with flat light. By the time we stopped for lunch in Champagny the clouds had closed in and when we came outside light snow was falling. This continued all the way back to Les Arcs, just about snowing in Peisey Vallandry, but very wet. Higher up in the Arc 2000 bowl it turned to real snow flakes and was still snowing at 5.30pm when we arrived back at Arc 1600 just. It is still snowing lightly up on the mountain tonight. I hope the freezing level gets a bit lower and the snow stays tomorrow.

The pistes today were in a very mixed condition. From the top of Arc 1600 Cachette Chair down to the Arc 1800 station, the snow was 'boiler plate' early on and there were many 'icy' (real ice) patches on the piste on the final section down to the Vagere Chair where the snow had melted and turned to water the day before and then re-frozen. The pistes going over to the VE in Peisey were better with hard compacted snow which was ok to hold an edge. On the La Plagne side, the pistes were generally ok, but with some bare patches on the way into stations both in Belle Plagne, Plagne Bellecote and down towards the top of the Champangy Gondola.

On the return journey the Roche de Mio had good snow but it became very soft going down into Bellecote La Plagne and then toward Les Coches and the VE. Over in Peisey vallandry the pistes had become very wet and even at the top of the transarc it was still quite soft even though the snow was falling. All the way down into Arc 1600 the snow continued to be wet and ok to ski if you have the energy to push the slush around. You can still get down to most stations across the Paradiski area, but all the lower areas are in serious need of snow now. Fingers crossed for tomorrow!