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

I agree, if you like doing the normal tourist things then being down in the valley is better for Non skiers, but there are snow shoe routes and nature trails if the weather is good in the mountains.

Today turned out very well. After long lines on the lifts at the start of the day, once we were at the top of the transarc and headed into the back country it was very pleasant. (See photos on my facebook group) Sun, good company, mixed but enjoyable snow conditions and in the right place, not many people. Plus great views of other areas that we all are looking forward to skiing when conditions are right.

The pistes have a very hard base in many places, but are still in good condition with very few bare patches or stones coming through although they are becoming icy on some of the more used routes.

The Off piste is more stable with a light powder covering a hard base in some places, but also very mixed conditions with crud, breakable crust and softer snow all within a space of 500m. The steeper areas are becoming moguled but with a good chalky firm surface.

All the resorts off piste areas are well skied, but we still hope to find some good spots to have more fun tomorrow.

Remember you can now get daily weather and snow report updates on my facebook group page every morning at about 8.30am in English direct from the piste report service from Les Arcs. (If I get up in time to do it of course.)

Happy New Year All

Im going to Les Arcs (1800) in March for the first time, ive heard that there is night skiing.

Is this true, do i have to pay extra for it?

Thanks for all the info on Les Arcs so far

Since the New Year we have been hitting the back country and enjoying the sunny days whilst hunting for fresh untracked powder. Quite shallow, but it is powder on a firm base. On the steeper slopes the snow has become firm and chalky in texture. In the more sheltered areas it is light granules as if it were spring time in places. Then you hit the crud and even breakable crust. So you need to be light on your feet and very relaxed to adapt to the every changing conditions. Great fun and a real challenge at times. But what is best is we are away from all the crowds!! Although not that many crowds now.

Having covered most back country valleys in the past week, speaking with the local guides and pisteurs the feeling is the conditions are getting quite stable, but when the new snow arrives it could become very tricky again so take care out there. I have posted pics of some of the places we have been on my facebook group page for those that are interested. Link below.

On the pistes across the whole Paradiski area (Les Arcs and La Plagne) I have found most of the main pistes to be a mix of icy patches, hard base, moguls or firm chalky snow. So you will find a bit of everything when you get here. You can still get down to the second lift on the Villaroger side if you do not mind the stones but it is not good. The new Black piste in La Plagne is skiable but closed and does not look like it will open any time soon, but it is still a great off piste area to ski.

On the Arc 1600 side all runs are passable, but stony in places with the odd bare patch to keep an eye open for. On the Arc 1800 side it is much the same, but the forests in both areas are fun as long as you stay in control and look out for rocks and tree roots.

Going down to Peisey Vallandry on the runs with canons is good. Firm and fun for carving but very icy in places.

In the Arc 2000 bowl the whole area is skiable but even there you will find the odd bare patch and plenty of hard firm or icy pistes. But despite all this, the pistes are holding up well and with new snow on the way later in the week. It should be good next week.

One problem is that most of the nature ride pistes are still closed so unless you are willing to go off piste or ski closed areas your adventure skiing is limited.

Yes there is night skiing every week on either Tuesday or Thursday and you do not have to pay extra for this.

Today started out with blue sky. By 1pm the clouds had arrived and the rest of the day was spent skiing in flat light. Not much sign of the snow that has been promised yet, but the clouds are here so fingers crossed. Although the pistes are busy now and there have been a few bad crashes where skiers have collided. The conditions are still OK for this time of year and the snow cover, although hard packed is good on most pistes.

Spent a couple of hours doing Arvie training with the pisteurs this morning. Very interesting and well worth the effort. Then over to the snowpark. Plenty for everyone there with the green and red jumps complete and some black jumps as well. Also a whole new rail section and other sliding things that I shall stay away from. They hurt!!!

The boarder cross will be built soon on the other side of the piste this year down to the altiport. They will also have a new webcam soon so you can look at the jumps from your armchairs at home.

The new T bar tow is entertaining as many younger people have never seen one before. They have a new game called catch me if you can, dropping down to the T bar below and catching hold. Think the pisteurs are not very happy about it.

The Boarder cross over in the Arc 2000 bowl is also open and fun but quite easy.

Most of the Nature Ride pistes are still closed as they are in need of more snow cover (what the pisteurs say).

Despite the need for more snow, the resort is holding up well and has plenty of places to ski or board, but the ground is very hard if you fall down.

It is now the month of University students so loads of parties in Arc 1800 and plenty of costumes or lack of any clothing at all on the pistes, even in the cold. Must be British, nobody else is that silly when it is -5 or so.

The weekly Arpette evening party and ski down is runnning on a number of evenings over the next few weeks and 'Bar King Mad' have resident DJ plus guest DJ at least twice a week normally on Tuesday and Thursday in Arc 1800, Villard end.

George's Wine Bar in Arc 1950 is also the place to hang out if you are over that side of the mountains. The Bowling in Arc 2000 is a good place for late drinks after the Gondala between Arc 1950 and 2000 has closed.

If you are out, I hope to see you in one of these place during the week. Party on!!

Just home after another night out, I really must start going to bed earlier.

Today despite the rain lower down yesterday evening we found some good 5 - 10 cm of powder up on the Grand Col where it had not rained in the off piste areas. Good fun and were able to make some fresh tracks on a very hard base. Then over to AR area and good snow high up again with more fresh tracks in shallow powder going down Par Avalanche ridge area back towards the piste. Both runs were quite short but with nice powder on a hard base above the rain / snow line.

Then as we went lower off piste, anywhere below about 2200m had been rained on and was a real mixed bag of breakable crust, rough crud or just plain ice and very hard snow all thrown in together. These conditions are a real challenge and very good for tuning those skills, but it does hurt if you fall down.

The pistes around the resort are hard, firm and icy, but many places today had a thin layer of fresh snow on top and the lower slopes are still ok because of snow canons everywhere. Although the resort does need more snow, you can still ski everywhere if you stay where there are canons and take care not to ski to fast and then hit an icy patch. Even all the way down to Villaroger.

For those coming out, you will still find plenty of firm hard snow, but not deep powder unless it snows again. But it is still better than being stuck in an office.