J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by snowcrazy2005

If you come down to Arc 1950 and pop into George's Wine Bar after skiing we can have a chat. I am around most days.

A pint is about 5 or 6 euros.

Belle Plagne is ok in April as it is quite high on the mountain and easy access to the highest pistes. Weather is normally spring like at that time of year where as in December it can be very cold. Snow is hit or miss in December, but next year one can only guess. Good luck whenever you go.

Hi Tom, I just posted on your other thread. Pleased to hear you have lessons booked. As beginners I think group lessons are best as they keep you going all week and being with others pushes you more. Plus they are cheaper. Private lessons are ok, but cost a lot more.

As for the snow conditions, this winter it is hard to say from week to week what it will be like. Fingers crossed for fresh snow. Hope to see you in George's Wine Bar in Arc 1950 one day after skiing.

Today many lifts were not running at the start of the day. As they opened the wind made the higher links very cold and it was flat light most of the day. Not very nice, but at least a little snow is falling. See what difference it makes tomorrow if it keeps going all night. Hope so.

Tom, if you and your girl friend are beginners and have not skied/boarded before then you really need to have lessons. Just trying to pick it up is a very bad way to start. I skate, surf and blade and it is not the same. But you should have the balance. You could even hurt yourselves quite badly. Ifyou have the chance then taking lessons at a snowdome in the UK before you come out is an even better idea. Followed by some lessons when you get out here.

If you come down to Arc 1950 and pop into George's Wine Bar after skiing we can have a chat. I am around most days.

Check out mu facebook group page for lists of Instructors. All those mentioned speak English and are good. Send me a PM if you want any more help.

Hi Paul, yes there are places to eat for groups. If you look on my facebook group site under the discussions section you will find quite a few links that should help you. I add links to this area from time to time.

You can also read the Les Arcs season thread to see other places that have already been mentioned. Hope that helps.

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

Today we did not go to Tignes in the end so I had a lazy morning for a change and then went up and did a few little routes above Arc 2000 before meeting up with friends for a late lunch at the Mushroom in the Arc 2000 bowl.

After lunch, went up the Lanchettes Chair to avoid the queues and down the ridge by an alternate off piste route for a fun ski towards Villaroger away from all the crowds. Plenty of good snow, even the odd section untracked, to the bottom lifts. Although as the sun went down it did start to become a little crusty in places. (Pics from today coming later on my facebook group photo page, link below.Pics from the last few days already now up. Take a look! See what the conditions are really like.)

Back up to Arc 2000 and over to the waterslide near the snowpark above Arc 1600. Very busy, must have been 200 or 300 people around. Still the best free entertainment on the mountain.

The off piste around the resort is very tracked, but still in good condition if you hit it at the right time of day depending on it's aspect. If you are willing to hike, then there are still places to make fresh tracks. The pistes were very busy again today, but the queues seemed to be less than yesterday. The pistes are hard and compacted in most places, but the warmer temperatures are giving a softer surface later in the day, with slush down at the stations.

Overall the snow in resort is ok and you can get down to all stations without difficulty. The wateslide, snowpark, airbag, luge, boardercross, skicross and nature ride pistes (which are open) all have good snow. For those coming out this weekend you will have a great time.

If you want to keep up-to-date with the daily updates about conditions in Les Arcs, morning and evening plus pictures, visit my facebook group page 'Les Arcs Ski and Snowboard Info group'.

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

Little wind, blue sky, still powder to be skied, good company, nobody about where we skied most of the day, but to many people in the lift queues again. Guess you cannot have everything.

Right from the start, loads of people at the Cachette in Arc 1600. Then more at the Arpette. Even more at the Varet and a 20min line at the cablecar to the top of Aiguille Rouge. Oh well, this time we just had to take our turn.

Finally got over the back and had a great run down to Villaroger in good snow most of the way and even some untracked powder in places. The piste at the bottom is still ok although there are a few hard packed icy patches now.

Straight back up to the top of the Varet and some fun short couloirs and tricky drops to play in on the Robert Blanc face before going back over the top and down to Villaroger by another route. More good snow and even longer stretches of uncut powder to enjoy, but I fear if we do not get more fresh snow soon, it will not be possible to find these secret stashes much longer unless we start to hike.

Another very nice lunch at the Solliet and back through Arc 1950 for a change and down to Pre Esprit and up to Malgovert. Another line through the cliffs and finally off to the Altiport for a drink and a bit of free entertainment then home.

The pistes and lifts were busy everywhere we went today near the stations, but the off piste was quiet and lot's of fun. I do hope it snows again soon, but it does not look like there is much chance right now. Oh well, off to do the Bellecote on the snowboard tomorrow for a change. Guess I cannot really complain!

Pics from today will be posted tomorrow. Early night for once.

Les Arcs day today. Not as busy on the pistes as last week, but still some queues on the lifts. Went up Varet, but found a 15 min wait to go higher so went over to the Grand Col area and spent most of the morning practising off piste skills. Still good snow on piste as the warmer temperatures have softened the surface a little although you will still hit the hard compacted icy snow in places which are skied a great deal. The black run from the top of the Grand Col is full of moguls. The off piste was firm and grippy, but well tracked. Had the chance to practise some steep short couloirs as well which was fun.

Then headed back up to the top and over into the park for some quiet off piste skiing away from all the people. Although tracked on the easier route, still good snow and enjoyed by everyone. Had a nice lunch at the Solliet and then down the Droset off piste area and Malgovert off piste area before passing the snowpark and waterslide for a drink at the Altiport then home. Blue sky and good riding all day. If it is not going to snow, then let it stay sunny. More to come tomorrow.

Pics for today will be posted later in my Facebook group if you want to take a look.