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

What a difference a day makes!! After an overnight freeze due to the clear night, the sun came out early and it was +3 at 2500 by 9.30am. :D

Following the boiler plate riding of yesterday over to the Bellecote to find good snow in the morning. Today with the warm sun out early the slopes were starting to soften up before the morning was over. :-D

With a bit of juggling of my time today I managed to get to go round most of the Robert Blanc Rally orienteering course with some friends. Take a few pics of some of the kids in the family slalom event and visit the waterslide at the Altiport which opened today attracting the usual big crowds. :)

The pistes across Les Arcs are all firm hard packed boiler plate first thing in the morning, but now quickly soften as the sun starts moving around the mountains. By mid afternoon it was more like a day in late April. The off piste within the resort area is more like pistes with moguls everywhere as are the piste natures. But you can still ski almost anywhere as there is loads of snow still, so unless you crave powder like me (skiing chalky snow is fun, but powder is still the best), you are sure to have a great time when you come out. :D

Even with the high temperatures we are having right now, they say it will get colder again by next week and maybe a little more snow.With a base of over 2m in most places right now it will be a while before the snow starts to run out so you do not need to worry. :twisted:

The Robert Blanc Rally was ok, but nothing like the old Derby Race. Deemed to dangerous to run in it's old format anymore due to health and safety risks (and they say this is progress!!). Those I skied round the course with enjoyed the fun of having the kids navigate, but I do miss the old race! :evil:

The slalom was the normal Fleche format plus some slalom poles thrown in and there were free sweets and the Milka cow about to encourage everyone to try their best! :nice:

It was a very different day for me to the usual off piste trips, but still very fun and I enjoyed my first ski over the waterslide this season and staying dry!! There was lots of swimming (falling in the water) and it is still the best free entertainment on the mountain. The Arpette Restaurant had it's usual apree party going from mid afternoon. This spot in good weather is becoming more like La Folie Douce in Val d'Isere every week. Party on until late with a meal and ski down by torch light. Really fun! :-D

Tomorrow they say will be warm again so an early start for us to get some safe off piste before the snow becomes unstable. Then up to the snowpark and waterslide for some pics and a drink at the altiport I think.

I will post some of the pics of todays fun in the Feb 2012 Album Two. Enjoy!!

Here is one pic of the fun at the waterslide today!!

Snowcrazy, its quite a lot of years since I skied the La Plagne area and I can't recall if the lift pass includes skiing over to Champagny en Vanoise or not?

Savodump: If you buy the whole la Plagne area ski pass then it does include Champagny. You can also buy a discovery pass that gives you one day over in Les Arcs. Well worth the effort of going on the Vanoise Express and a day over the other side. Hope that helps.


Today's Report:
Managed to get up the mountain early again today and headed over to the Aiguille Rouge and some nice firm chalky snow on the shady area to skiers right of the Varet Gondola to practise those steep turns in some nice short couloirs. The off piste in this area has held up well and we played around here for a while finishing with a route down the Robert Blanc Couloir off one of the side cornices. Very fun!! Well I thought so!!

After this we headed up to the Grand Col and found some more good chalky snow quite near the piste this time. Then one of the guys felt like a little jump (not so little really!) and then up to the top of the Transarc.

Finally we headed over the back of the Col du Chal and down to Nancroix, just managing to finish the trip before the snow became to soft and unstable. We passed a few avalanches, but nothing to worry about. We were quite lucky with our timing as the snow had lost it's hard crust and was soft enough to enjoy skiing without sinking to deeply. The track out was fun with the banked turns and we even managed to get seats on the bus! :-D

When we got back to Peisey we headed back over to Arc 1800 and a late lunch.Then I headed home via the waterslide of course and another dry day with some more photos of the free entertainment on offer. :twisted:

All the pistes are holding up well and if you follow the sun during the day you will find some good places to ski or snowboard. The off piste and the pistes are much the same within the resort area, but be careful heading off piste further afield. There are quite a few slides so you need to know where to go safely. If in doubt, take a guide! For anyone heading out this weekend, you should have a fun holiday with a little more snow forecast for next week. :D

Pics from today are posted in the March 2012 Album of my Les Arc Winter facebook page. Check out the action from the waterslide plus where we skied. Enjoy!

Just a little jump!

What a day today turned out to be!! Went up late with the idea of testing some skis and then meeting up with friends for lunch and having a nice ski before heading over to the waterslide and going home. :evil: :cry:

Well, I did go up as planned and then things started to go wrong. First the Mont Blanc chair lift stopped for about 5 min (should have gone home then). Second, when I got over to the Arc 2000 area the lift queues were quite large (should have gone home then). Third, when I started to ski the harder bumps under the Varet lift my ski kept popping off (should have gone home then). Fourth, having thought the ski tech had sorted out my ski problem, I went down to the Chalet Pre St Esprit and met up with
Shimmy Alcott, good to see you all. We waited for nearly 25 min to get served in the restaurant section (waste of time), gave up and had the self service which is the same food anyway, just cheaper. Finally had some lunch after at least a 40min wait, far to busy. My advice, either picnic in high season when it is sunny or do not bother with the restaurant section at the Chalet de Pre St Esprit unless you want to wait a long time and pay more for the same food. :(

Then after lunch I found out that the Comborciere Chair was closed due to technical problems so had to go up the very slow Pre St Esprit chair (should have gone home on the bus instead with the others). Found a big queue at Bois De L'ours and Arcabulle chairs so went up the Varet with the plan of going up the Plagnettes Chair and across off piste to the waterslide. :)

DISASTER!! Never made it to the chair. Going down the RED Arandelieres piste my ski popped off again on the small bumps and I went flying!! Who says pistes are safer than off piste. Some kind French lads brought my skis back, a pisteur came to see that I was ok (how embarrassing), some other friends came to check on me, and finally I managed to limp down to Arc 1950 and the bus home. :cry: :x :oops: :skele:

I am now typing this with one hand and a very sore neck/shoulder. No pics today or for the next few days while I take a rest and see how long it will take to recover from this. The doctor at the hospital says I might need an Op! Please not again! I shall just have to wait and see. :~/

From now on I shall stick to the skis/snowboard I like and stay off piste! Oh well! Some days you are just better off staying in bed! :~/

I will continue with the morning updates on my Les Arcs Winter facebook page, but anyone else out this coming week, please post what it is like up the hill until I can get back out there!! And they say we are going to get some more snow by Monday!!!!! :evil:

Snowcrazy, that's terrible news :( I do hope you will be okay for the last bit of the season. I would be having 'words' with the ski tech that fixed your binding :evil:

Maybe it's time to retire that binding? Worn out?

I have come to the conclusion that off piste is the safest place to be, but probably for different reasons to you. I don't like crowded pistes, bumps or hardpack!

Did you strain the ligaments in your neck and shoulder?

Sending positive thoughts your way :D

Fingers crossed SC
I do enjoy your posts

Oh no, how awful :shock:

I hope you get better soon and continue to post your beautiful photos :D

Ally

Thank's to everyone for the messages. My shoulder is slowly starting to hurt less and I will see the specialist tomorrow. Hope it will be good news and I can get back out on the snow again soon. :-D

Anyone arriving in the next few days are in for a good time if the 10 - 20 cms predicted tomorrow does arrive. Hope to be up with you on the slopes again soon. :twisted:

Taken from my morning update on Les Arcs Winter facebook page. The conditions today are still very nice:

The good weather will continue this morning. It will be a generally sunny day, even though high clouds may be present at times. In the afternoon the clouds may slowly increase locally. Maximum temperatures significantly down 12 ° at 1000 meters, 5 ° at 2000 meters -3 ° at 3000 meters. :)

However the forecast for tomorrow is another story. The winter is back. Some snow flurries. Mostly cloudy and cold with low precipitation and scattered snow showers to a level of around 700m. Between 10 and 20 cms is expected (will have to wait and see if this really happens, hope so!!)!! The wind dominates from the NORTH, moderate to strong. :D

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