J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by snowcrazy2005

The conditions since yesterday have not changed much. The temps are very high right now so the snow all over the mountains first thing in the morning is like boiler plate 'on piste' or re-frozen crud 'off piste' if the sun has been at it the day before. If it is in sheltered areas then you will still find some very nice soft/firm snow to ride. After a few hours the snow starts to soften and becomes ok, but you still have to take care not to catch an edge.

By the afternoon it is very soft and wet lower down and quite good higher up. As the sun goes down later in the day it quickly starts to re-freeze in all areas 'on or off' piste so it can become quite difficult again. Overall there is still quite a lot of snow higher up in Les Arcs / La Plagne area and you can still get down to all lower stations, but only on the open runs which are being well maintained. The waterslide at the Altiport in this weather is great fun. I will give another update tomorrow. For those coming out next weekend, you will still have a good time.

I have also been skiing in 'Les 3 Vallees' and 'Espace Killy' areas in the last week and in my opinion the Paradiski conditions are equal to those of Tigne / Val d'Isere plus Val Thorens/Orelle and better than Meribel valley, Courchevel area, Les Menuires area and the other lower stations in the Tarentaise area. Take a look at the web cams of each area to make a comparison.

Anyone coming out to Les Arcs, if you fancy meeting up for a beer and a chat, maybe even to ski or snowboard a little, either send me a PM or stop by the Altiport around 4.45pm or at George's Wine Bar in Arc 1950 from 5.30 - 6.30pm most day and ask at the bar for me. The staff are very friendly and will point me out if I am around. Have a good holiday.

Today we had an easy tour across to Champagny for a nice picnic lunch in the sun and back across Les Arcs for a drink at the Altiport and my first crossing of the waterslide (1 down and still dry).

The pistes are all firm and compact first thing in the morning, in some places it seems very icy (not blue ice). By mid morning with the very warm temperatures we are having, the surface of most pistes has softened and are quite pleasant to cross. On the return after lunch, the pistes lower down were very slushy and the snow was heavy and hard for some to turn on easily. The higher pistes are still holding up well, but the lower pistes into resorts are now very soft in the late afternoon and wet.

The conditions right now are more like the end of April, but they do say the weather will be changing again this weekend. There is still plenty of snow right now and you can still ski down to Villaroger, but it is better to ski down to the lower stations in the mornings. There are pistes open to all stations across the Paradiski area, but do not ski down closed runs or you might find little snow lower down.

Hope the snow does come this weekend/next week as they say it will.

Take a look at the post about this in the season thread for Les Arcs. All details are there.

Just a quick report of conditions tonight. Morning conditions are not to great with boiler plate surfaces on most pistes which have melted and then re-frozen over night. Later in the morning they become softer and by late afternoon, some pistes lower down are slushy and heavy to ski. The higher runs are still in good conditions. The off piste higher up is still soft and fun to ski. Lower down after the off piste has softened it is ok to ski, but very cruddy in places. More details tomorrow evening.

UPDATE: The firts avalanche was near the Aiguille Rouge, two injured but recovering. The second avalanche was not in Peisey Vallandry as reported in the press, it was on the Petit North Face of the Bellecote which might be within the commune of Peisey Vallandry, but is accessed from La plagne ski area. One person was hurt but is recovering.

Great conditions today. Fresh tracks in uncut powder almost the whole time with blue sky and little wind.

Started from Arc 1600 when the chair lift first opened and made it up the Arpette chair to put first fresh tracks back down the ridge and then to the side of the Clair Blanc piste and snowpark most of the way back to the bottom of the Arpette chair.

What a great start to the day and it only got better. Back up high above Bois de l'Ours and down through a couloir and trees to the chairs below. Quite a fun warm up so now it was time to head over the back and long untracked powder fields.

After two long trips and many turns later we stopped at the Solliet for a late lunch and then back up the lifts to the Grand Col past the site of an earlier slide today (they managed to get the two person out) and a nice route back to Arc 1950 for a beer in George's Wine Bar. I hope tomorrow turns out as well as today.

The few pistes that we skied today were in good condition after the fresh snow and although busy in places, the resort has less people than last week. Good weather is expected for the next few days, but the lower pistes will suffer if it stays warm as they are becoming very wet in the late afternoons. Although conditions are great now, we do need more snow for the coming Easter high season period.

There have been a number of small avalanches in the Les Arcs / Peisey Vallandry area today and if people are going off piste, even close to the piste, then they need to take great care and ALL carry the correct avalanche safety equipment (minimum transceiver, shovel and probe) and know how to use it or you should stay on the piste. In both incidents today, a total of three people were injured, but no deaths occurred. The snow pack is becoming very unstable with the warmer temperatures so take care out there.

crispyapplepie, Les Arcs is better for shopping as you can easily get down to Bourg for the shops. There are many SC apartments in both resorts. Loads of stuff to do in all the stations. Might be good for you to take a look at the resort web sites and see what they offer.

If you can afford the cost. Arc 1950 is very good. Ski in/ski out and snow sure.

The powder is back!! Although the visibility was in and out all day, the snow has kept falling most of the time and plus the 5cm last night there must have been near to 9cm or 10cm of fresh snow higher up the mountain by the time we came down at 5.30pm (nothing like being up from first to last lifts on a powder day) and perhaps 5cm lower down towards Arc 1800/1600.

As it was a Saturday, we were able to put fresh tracks down in almost every area we went and even the trees above Les Coches were fun when the light was difficult higher up. It has started to get a little colder and the snowline is down to around 1500m which is great for the lower stations. The pistes higher up are now in great condition and those lower down, although still in need of more snow, are much better than they were. Hard, firm and well groomed in the mornings and soft and slushy in the afternoons. The snowpark etc. are all great fun and most of the piste natures are now open. Tomorrow should be another good powder day!!

For those driving out the roads are clear right now and the resort seems quieter than the last few weeks. Hope you all have a good holiday! Sorry, to late for pics tonight, off to bed as first lifts again tomorrow with all this powder waiting. Will try to get them online tomorrow. If you take a look at my facebook group page, link below, you will find a daily update each morning of snow and weather conditions direct from the piste at about 8.30am to help you plan your day on the mountain, plus pics of the last few days as I upload them.

http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/group.php?gid=134900026541300

Hi TJ90, not sure if I have meet your instructor, but pleased to hear he is good.

Today was an even better day than yesterday. Started with thick clouds and did not look like the forecast was correct, but then the sun came out . By the time we arrived at the top of the Roche du Mio in La Plagne the sun was shinning and we new we were on for a very good day.

Went over the back in fresh snow and on up to the top of the Bellecote Bowl. Fresh tracks all the way back down to the Chalet de Bellecote chair so back up again to find more untracked powder. After a another little route it was time to head over the Petit North Face and more fresh powder all the way to the route out down through the remains of an avalanche. Took quite some time to get out with one small walk, but well worth the effort.

Finally back into Les Arcs and over to the waterslide for more fun and a drink before home. Another great day in the fresh powder comes to an end.

I will try to get the pics posted of the last few days tomorrow on my facebook group page.


For those coming out this weekend, the conditions are very variable.

The snow high up is in very good condition on and off piste. We have had about 10cm in total over the last few days above 2000m. Below this height the snow has become very soft and slushy with some areas becoming very worn. The pistes into Arc 2000 are the best, but even into Arc 1950, Arc 1800 and Arc 1600 they are still ok although becoming quite soft and wet in the afternoons. More like late April then March. The snow park, bordercross, waterslide and those piste natures that remain open are all fun.

Going down into Peisey Vallandry, the pistes that had snow cannons running during the cold spell are holding up the best in the warm temperatures we now have and you can still reach the Vanoise Express to cross over to La Plagne without difficulty. Going down to Villaroger is becoming much harder with very slushy snow towards the bottom and many wet patches.

Overall, although the conditions are very mixed, you will all have a good weeks skiing and lots of fun on or off piste. Have a great holiday, the meteo does say it will get colder again now with more snow on the way. I hope so!!

If you are coming out and fancy meeting up for a beer or even a ski or snowboard to find those quiet places. Send me a PM or come over to the waterslide most days before 5.15pm or in George's Wine Bar in Arc 1950 from 5.15 - 6.30pm most days. Just ask at the bar and they will point me out if I am around. They are all very friendly.

Another great day comes to an end. After making our way from 1600 over to the Varet just after the lifts opened, we were able to put first tracks down the off piste area near the Robert Blanc in quite flat light at times, but with a nice covering of fresh snow. We wondered, was this going to be just another day when the weather did not turn out to be good enough. I am pleased to say we were wrong.

By the time we reached the top again, the clouds had cleared, the sun came out and so it was time to go into the National Park for another days fun far away from all the crowds.

After descending a couloir with fresh snow and only very few tracks. We came out onto the plateau below and fresh snow and no tracks as far as the eye could see where we intended to go. Making our way carefully down and across below the glacier high above we put turn after turn together with a few stops for pictures for more than an hour.

If you know where to go in Les Arcs, there are some amazing routes to be found.

When we reached the forest far below we were still able to ski until we arrived at the exit of the park and from there is was a hike back to the Chair lift at Villaroger and lunch at La Ferme.

Back up through the lifts and crossing by the new 'Whistler gate' we made another good shorter route in more fresh snow before coming back up the lifts and down the off piste area of Droset to the Comborciere Chair before coming back down the Comborciere off piste valley and finally up to Arc 1950 and a well earned drink at George's Wine Bar.

I have just posted todays pics on my facebook group page of the fresh snow and our trip into the back country in Les Arcs. Not a great deal of fresh, but enough to give us a complete descent on untracked light spring powder. Well worth the walk out at the end. Take a look if you are interested. Enjoy!

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