Les Arcs Season Thread. (Where you can ask questions on Les Arcs , La Plagne or chat)

I can agree with the weather...It has been absolutely fantastic for the last week...had a great weeks skiing in la Plagne ...only on the piste I'm afraid but it was getting colder yesterday ...skied down to Champagney in the sun down the Mont de la Guerre run and then back to catch Eurostar...managed to get as far as La Planay and back to Aime 2000 on Wednesday but stayed in La Plagne as I was too tight to buy the full pass...there was enough for me for the week...loved the area but cant say that about the accommodation ...and the prices !!

Yesterday we stayed in the Les Arcs ski area and what a great day it was!!

Started off with a fast ski from Arc 1600 down to the Marmottes chair via one of the gullies above Edelweiss piste. Then straight up the top of Aiguille Rouge. Had a close look at the ice that is now coming through on the glacier then headed over into the National Park via one of the couloirs.

The conditions are very mixed off piste now with good soft snow followed by wind blown ridges and then more soft snow. Although only avalanche level 1 today you still had to be careful.

After a long decent including negotiating some very large moguls we reached La Planay and then Villaroger before going up the lifts and then down through the forest to have a very good lunch at the Solliet Restaurant.

Following Lunch, back up to Arc 2000 and through the Whistler Gate and a fast ride down the Vallee de Lanchettes which turned out to be good chalky snow most of the way. Back up again and down the left of Droset off piste where we managed to find 50 meters of untracked sugar snow and then up the Comborciere chair.

Finally going to the Snowpark above Arc 1600 to get some photos before heading back to Arc 1950 and some well deserved drinks at George's Wine Bar.

All the pistes we crossed today were in excellent condition and the off piste is still good fun. The whole domain was open today.

IN THE SNOWPARK the 'FREE' Air Bag for people to perfect their tricks before hitting the jumps, tables and rails is now open most afternoons. There are now a large number of jumps and tables open as well as the bordercross course. The Wall and Black jumps should be finished very shortly. They also have a 'Freestyle TV' system set up so that you can see your own jumps, both on the screen and via the Internet. Very cool!! Check out the Snowpark pics which are posted in there own section on my facebook page.

Some bad news. The Funicular now closes at 8pm on weekdays so I must always leave George's by 7.30pm. NOT GOOD!! They say the reason for the earlier closure time is lack of customers!! I am not impressed.

Pics of yesterday are posted in the photo section of the Les Arcs Winter page. Todays report will follow later.

Here are a few that I like the best.

Monday 16 Jan. Today we got up early as the snow is starting to go off a little and headed up high. After a fast ride over to La Plagne we arrived at the Bellecote Glacier and climbed to the top of the ridge and dropped over into the National Park in the hunt for fresh powder. :-D

We were not disappointed!! Was it worth the effort, YES! A long valley of almost untracked powder!! (Even 10 days since it snowed.) We were able to put our lines down and enjoy a great ride to near the main valley. :twisted:

Then a long ride out past more avalanche debris and waterfalls before arriving at the bottom. :lol:

Not satisfied we went back round for another route. This time along the ridge towards the Frielin Bowl and then down a steeper couloir to the Bauches Chair and a very fast decent to the VE in time to get back over to Arc 1600 and a drink at the Altiport before heading home. Another great day in the backcountry comes to the end. :-D

Pics are now posted on the Les Arcs Winter page in the Photo section for Jan 2012. If you want to have the chance to be in the photos of the places we go to, please send me a PM and I will see what can be arranged. :D

Here are the pics from today that I like the best!


(That was fun! On top of the world!)


(Getting away from everyone!)


(Fresh tracks again!)


(Finally onto the shoulder and still good snow!)

Tuesday 17 Jan.
We started a little later after a hard day yesterday and planned to just go up and have an easier day doing some of the shorter off piste routes and piste natures. That was before we made our first decent down the couloir that looks over Arc 1950 and Arc 2000 from the top of the Bois de l'Ours ridge.

Having found the snow to have turned into a firm chalky surface we quickly went up to the top of the Aiguille Rouge and down the main face behind the fence from the top onto the glacier area below. Now that was steep!! If you are tempted to give this route a try, take care, a fall here could seriously damage your health!!

Then it was time to go over the back into the National Park via one of my favourite couloirs. The snow was once again firm and chalky in places turning into light soft snow lower down and even 'real' powder in places that were still sheltered as we neared the valley and La Planay village. What a great run down.

Back up again and a quick lunch at the Mushroom before heading to 'Par Avalanche' through the Whistler gate. My first time in a while on this route. Where had all the snow gone?? We had to walk along the ridge until we came to enough snow to ride down the route which turned into good snow again all the way down to the piste far below. The wind has certainly done it's damage here.

Finally we headed up the Varet and then Grand Col chair and played in the little couloirs on the way back to Arc 1950. A really fun route as long as you did not fall. Sorry mate, but at least I have know picture to post. My hands were to cold to get the camera out in time.

Just for a change we finished the day by going down the steep face beside the waterfall into Arc 1950. Lot's of fun!! and so another day comes to an end. The pictures from yesterday are posted in the photo section of the Les Arcs Winter page. Here is a taster!


(Below the Waterfall!! in Arc 1950. If you like off piste and have not tried this yet, give it a go, really fun!)

Wednesday 18 Jan. Yesterday, had a great ski on the Bellecote and the snow in places was still very good. Here are a few pics. It is well worth the trip across. You end up back on the Les Arcs side at the end of the trip. :D Plus you get to play in a few fun areas on the way over as well. :-D

:-D Now for a report of our day on piste (well mostly) in Les Arcs. :-D

Today the weather had changed. Overcast when I woke up and looked out the window. As my friend only have two days left we headed up anyway, although a little later at 10am to make a 'Grand Tour' of the whole Les Arcs Ski Domain. :D

Starting from Arc 1600 we headed across well groomed pistes to Peisey-Vallandry via the Arpette and Grand Renard chair and took the red Combe piste down which was in great condition and back up the Peisey chair. Then down the Ours Piste cutting off to go up the Grizzly chair in Vallandry. From the top, down the new Bordercross course having had a photo stop to see where we had skied on the Bellecote the day before. Across from the bottom of the course through the trees and up the Derby chair. Then a little off piste all the way down to the bottom of the Transarc in Arc 1800. :nice:

Up to the top of the Transarc and a quick coffee stop before heading to the top of the Grand Col Chair for a little couloir training in the off piste area. After a bit of fun in the short steep gullies, a nice off piste route the whole way to Arc 2000 and then up the Varet Gondola just above Arc 1950 and then to the top of the Aiguille Rouge.

Now it was time for the long decent. None stop to Villaroger from the top of the Aiguille Rouge. On piste most of the way for once. Well, we did stop a few times to make a couple of detours off piste, but it was mostly on piste as the light was very flat. The piste the whole way down was in good condition. :D

Up the chairs from Villaroger and down the Rhonaz forest piste to Pre St Esprit and a very good late lunch at the Chalet which is now under new ownership, but it still has the log fire and great food. :D

Still not finished, up the Comborciere chair and down through Malgovert piste nature and a little variation I like on a steeper section to the Mont Blanc piste.

Finally arriving at the Beguin Hotel back just above Arc 1600 for a well earned drink before heading home.

This was a great circular trip covering all the highest and lowest points of the Les Arcs Ski domain and can be completed staying on piste the whole way if you prefer. All the pistes today were in great condition and with more snow expected, they should stay this way for quite some time. The only problem today was the light which came and went at various times during the day. However overall it was another fun day and as the photos show, full of variety.

Take a look at the pics in the photo section. 'Jan 2012 Album Two' on the Les Arcs Winter page :-D

Here are three I liked from today!


(We skied down that yesterday! Jan 19)


(Time for a challenge! But I cannot see! Jan 19)


(Malgovert looks good today! Jan 19)

) :D

vadmolotov wrote: ) :D

Enough already