J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by snowcrazy2005

Another day of Blue sky and temperatures more like March comes to an end. The crowds have started to arrive, although not yet as bad as to come I fear. Very little queuing on any lifts today, even to get up the Aiguille Rouge which was a very pleasant surprise.

The piste conditions across Les Arcs have not changed much today. Still hard compacted snow in most areas which are well skied, but on higher pistes the snow was softer and good to carve your turns although it was really important to control your speed coming into lifts and at junctions with more people about. later in the afternoon some lower pistes were also better, but getting busy.

To get away from the busy pistes, the off piste where you can still find grippy chalky snow was the place to be. We spent most of the day in the National park. Some good runs and only a few people around. Very good fun, but you must take care not to loss your edge on the steeper areas or you will slide a long way. If you fancy trying any some of the off piste places you see in my pictures, take a guide whilst you are out on holiday or stop by George's Wine Bar after 5pm most days or at the Altiport from about 4.30pm for a chat.

After some nice routes today, it was time to head to the snowpark, the new skicross course and the waterslide all above Arc 1600 near the Altiport. The snowpark is fun, the air bag busy, the new skicross very easy and the waterslide is still the best free entertainment on the mountain. Check out the pictures in my facebook group which is now up-to-date.

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

Have a good holiday!

I do not think it will be a big dump, more like 5cm, but lots more would be very welcome.

Conditions today, much the same still as the last few days with little change to most pistes although going down into Arc 1600 seemed less icy with the warmer temps in the afternoon. Now we will have to wait and see if the snow and change in weather comes at the end of the weekend as predicted?? Hope so. We did a few nice off piste runs again today in the national park and down the Robert Blanc Couloir, fun with firm chalky snow, but even I would like a bit of powder now. Another update tomorrow.

Brooksy, sorry to disagree, but what you say in my experience is not correct.

The Insurance company did ask if the person had any pre existing conditions on the form when he took out the insurance. The person said NO he did not, then when a claim was made he was asked to prove what he said on the form was true before they would meet the claim which caused a great deal of unnecessary stress for the family concerned.

If you must give a medical certificate to prove what you say is true on the form where they asked the question, they should ask for this up front as Carte Neige do for racing insurance. Then it is clear.

Being asked to prove what you have already stated is true after an accident and refusing payments to hospitals etc when someone is seriously ill until that proof has been provided, in my view, is unreasonable behaviour by an Insurance company.

I would be interested to know what others think about this and has this happened to other people?

Stan, I have a question.

If you have stated that you have NO pre-conditions, then where in the policy wording does it say you must provide proof later that this is true if you need to make a claim?

Second question, if it does not say you MUST provide proof with your application for insurance, then why should you be asked to do so later after you have already been accepted for the policy cover? If proof of NO PC's is required should you not be asked in advance before the Insurer takes you onboard?

Well folks, the pics for January are now uploaded on my facebook group page. Take a look. It was not really as bad as we all think. We certainly had fun in all kinds of snow conditions!!

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

Right now the sun has been shinning all day, the wind is very light, there are no clouds in the sky and it is warm, more like an early April day. But, hey there is still snow to be skied or boarded, most pistes are open and even yesterday we still found soft snow in the National Park so there are plenty of places to ride off piste away from all the crowds as they start to arrive. Right now it is still not that busy although there are more people around this week than last week.

The piste are now quite hard and compacted with patches of ice in the well used areas coming into lifts and on the runs into the main stations, but where there are snow canons on the lower slopes the snow is holding up well. On the higher slopes, the snow is a firm chalky surface which is quite grippy and fun to ski, but you do need to be careful not to fall over and slide a long way where it is steeper. If you follow the sun in the morning and head high you should find good snow, then later in the day go lower once the other areas have softened up a little.

The snow park is in good condition. The boarder cross is fun. The kids toboggan areas are good for a laugh, the luge is open; although I still do not like where they built it; and the inflatable jump zone in the snowpark is attracting quite a few people. Not for me! Ouch!!

Overall, it could be better, but as my pics show, there are plenty of places to go with 85% of pistes open including all the way down to Villaroger on one end and right over too Champigny or Mont Albert on the other side of the Paradiski. So all those heading out, you should have plenty of skiing or boarding. Enjoy.

I shall start adding the Feb pics slowly as I have time. Take a look and see how the conditions are holding up if you like. My facebook group is public access so no need to join. Daily weather and snow conditions are posted every morning about 8.30am direct from the piste giving suggestions of the best places to go recommended by the pisteurs to help you plan your day.

For those looking for other things to do while you are out!!! From my facebook group;

The Paradiski area offers each of you something to do even if you do not wish to always Alpine Ski or Snowboard.

Pedestrians:
1. Enjoy the top of the Aiguille Rouge by foot on a beautiful sunny day and the views of the surrounding mountains and valleys. 'Le panorama 360° à 3226m d'altitude.'

2. From the bottom of the Transarc or Arcabulle go for a ride to the Col de la Chal and explore the ice cave, slide on the toboggan Park or take a hike on snow shoes or with hiking boots to the area over looking the Col de la Chal valley.

3. Hiking routes around Arc 1600, 1800 & 2000 and Peisey-Nancroix are also possible,

4. Sledge dog rides to the Soilet above Villaroger.

For those that wish to try another way of skiing:
Classic Nordic skiing and skating course of 29 km in Peisey-Nancroix. It is also possible to try this around the lake in Arc 2000 bowl and in other locations.

More ideas to follow later. Have a good holiday.

Hi, both are ski in/ski out. But Arc 1950 has more space I think inside the apartments and slightly more direct access to the piste, right by your door. I think Arc 1950 is a little more in cost, but not sure. Facilities at both are good, but the Arc 1950 village is right by your door where as you must walk down the hill and back up from the main Arc 1800 village or catch a bus when it runs! Hope that helps. If you come to Arc 1950, see you at George's Wine Bar for a beer and a chat. Cheers.

The week is over so time to catch up on the conditions and what we have been doing.

After some great routes earlier in the week, Thursday saw us on the Bellecote Petit North Face. On the way from Les Arcs we skied across the pistes quickly in Les Arcs and then La Plagne. All were in good condition. When we arrived at Roche de Mio we went down a coulior through the cliffs on firm chalky snow and then across to the North Face. The route onto the face was rather rocky but it became a smooth chalky surface again very quickly until we reached the traverse out under the main face. The final section down the river was more like a skicross course made from a recent avalanche which proved quite a challenge.

After a quick lunch it was up to the Grand Col for some short couliors off to the right before a long off piste run back to Arc 1950. Another great day with blue skies and good snow.

Friday, I had a day away from skiing. But early Saturday morning I said goodbye to my friends going on the Eurostar, then a quick change into ski gear and up to Aiguille Rouge for some fast descents of the KL and other areas on the nature ride pistes with those not leaving until Saturday evening. Over to the Grand Col for more fun before the long off piste route down to the top of the Marmottes Chair then up the top of Aiguille Rouge and down the left side of the glacier off piste and then the Robert Blanc Coulior. Both in great conditions. Finally, lunch at the Savoy in Arc 2000. Quite a morning.

After a late lunch a cruise around the Arc 2000 bowl with the 'milka cows' and finally off to George's to watch the Rugby. Hard luck Scotland!!!

As for today. After meeting up with a friend for a quick ski and chat, some of us headed off to the Omelette restaurant in Mont Albert for lunch. 48min from the VE to Mont Albert, not bad but I think we can do it in under 40min next time. A nice lunch as always and then a leisurely ski home the long way taking in Champagny as well. To much food to ski fast.

The pistes we skied today across the Paradiski area were all in a firm hard and compact condition with some icy patches, especially coming into lifts and on the steeper slopes. Overall the conditions are still holding up well across the whole area despite the lack of real snow since 13th Jan and there are plenty of places to ski where you can have fun. The boardercross in La Plagne was good and even the route back to the VE was ok on the north facing slopes above Les Coches.

Over the next few days, my advice is follow the sun and keep to the snow canon routes lower down as the warmer temps will make all these areas quite skiable.

For the off piste, people need to take great care in choosing where they ski as the warmer temps will start to make some SE to SW facing slopes very unstable and also the NE to NW slopes may be effected by the warmer temps if the wind picks up. But even with these changing conditions there are good places to ski off piste where the snow is still in good condition. Take a guide if you are not sure. All those that have arrived this weekend or coming out next week will have a good time. Have a great holiday!