 Poster: A snowHead
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@Owlette, Resort prices in 1600 and 1800 are not bonkers, but we sometimes take the funicular down to Bour st Maurice and shop at the Super U - more for the enhanced choice available rather than cost.
There should be no problem importing dry goods such as pasta, rice etc. Meat, dairy and fresh veg is subject to restrictions but many people smuggle them in. Personnaly I would bring some condiments, herbs, spices and tea and nothing else.
We should be in 1600 the period you are in Les Arcs so if you need someone to ski with or any other advice about the resort then get in touch.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Owlette wrote: |
| Whats the rule on food coming into France. Without a car, we won't be able to do a decent shop and the resort prices are bonkers, so I was wondering about bring a case of essentials (tea, pasta, cereal etc). |
Tea I would take because the French are not big tea drinkers.
Cereal is not traditional and so expensive.
Pasta less of an issue.
Good idea to take the basics for cooking - herbs, spices, cubes aswell.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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@Layne, AH! I misunderstood "cereal" as to mean cereal crops such as flour, rice etc.
As for pasta I buy the pasta in the Supre U (crozets pasta) to take back to the UK
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@johnE, We visited in April, and the prices in the 1800 supermarkets were nuts. I remember spending €50 on 4 burgers, a box of cereal, a punnet of cherry tomatoes, two baguettes and some microwave chips. I always travel with my own teabags as I'm a true Brit and very particular about my tea. Quite happy to buy fresh food in resort and just bring our basic staples. Good shout on the condiments.
We've managed to smuggle fresh stuff in by car before, but I don't fancy my chances of getting away with it as my case goes through the Eurostar scanner.
May well take you up on that. Mr. O is not a morning person, so I'm usually free in the mornings until ski school pick up, I'd love a ski buddy!
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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@Owlette, That is a lot of money. I doubt if I'd paid that amount in 1600, but I'm not sure what the burgers are, steak hachette tends to a bit better quality than burgers in the UK and quite expensive. But I don't know.
Yes, we'll join you for a morning ski. There will be me, my wife, niece and possibly son. We know the resort well and ski anything. pm me nearer the time.
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@Owlette, what age are your kids, might be nice to arrange a meet up if they are similar, we will have a 5, 6 and 8 year old in tow across 2 families. I think we are likely to book the ESF in 1800 for morning lessons as it makes sense for the apartment we are staying in, but some buddies for the kids to get some additional practice in the afternoon or even just to play in the snow would be great.
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@Owlette, We always take a stock of basics, rice, pasta and dried stuff etc. Stop in the valley and do main shop there for fresh stuff.
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@Owlette, is Arc adventures the same as Evo 2? We've got our 2 boys booked with Evo2 at 1950 over New years.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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| Quote: |
is Arc adventures the same as Evo 2? We've got our 2 boys booked with Evo2 at 1950 over New years.
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No. They are different organisations
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@noodlehat, @johnE,
They are the same in 1800 now. You now book Arc Adventures by Evolution2 on the Arc website. I found this after emailing Evolution2 when their lesson availability continued to be un bookable. We've now booked ours in with them.
This was the email reply I had...
Merci pour votre demande auprès d'Evolution2.
Nous sommes désormais présents à Arc 1800 sous l'entité Arc Aventures by Evolution2.
Je vous invite à les contacter directement : Arc Aventures - École de ski et snowboard à Arcs 1800 (arc-aventures.com)
Translation: Thank you for your request to Evolution2.
We are now present at Arc 1800 under the entity Arc Aventures by Evolution2.
I invite you to contact them directly: Arc Aventures - Ski and snowboard school in Arcs 1800 (arc-aventures.com)
Mine are a bit older at 10 and 12. My 12 year old definitely won't want to play, but my 10 year old is pretty sociable.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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deleted - double post.
Last edited by snowHeads are a friendly bunch. on Tue 21-11-23 19:20; edited 1 time in total
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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I've used Arc Adventures a fair bit in the past for parapointing, rafting and canyoning and a couple times for off-piste skiing. I didn't know they'd been merged with Evolution 2. I thought I'd seen both jackets on the slopes last season.
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@johnE,
We used Evolution 2 in 1800 at Easter this year. Which is why I was so confused when I went to book for next Easter only a few months later. It looks like they're still standing alone in 1950 and 2000 though.
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You know it makes sense.
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Has anyone got any tips about how to make the most of 4 days skiing in Les Arcs? Staying in 1800 and want to make sure to explore all the best pistes (except black runs  )
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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@northernrookie, personally, head over to Derby chair and do a few laps of that on the various runs. Then use Carrely to go over to Arc bowl. Derby will go you tree runs, Arc will give you wide pistes.
Worth taking Varet to Aguille Rouge lift base and then come down the road. Personally going to very top is over rated as can be challenging initial descent
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Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@northernrookie, May I suggest you make your way over to Arc1600 via the Vagere lift and, if you wish, the various blue pistes. You may wish to do Gollet as you probably will not do it again (turn left after the Arpette restaurant then first right). From there head to the Mont Blanc lift and do the piste of the same name. Then take Cachette and do Arolles. Back up and down Cachette and onto the two pistes from Clocheret. If you like fast carving these are excellent pistes. Though marked as a black Rouelles was and probably should be a red and Clair Blanc really should be a black. It's actually a fairly testing, steep mogul field. By this way gradually make your way back to Arc 1800. The top parts of all the reds in this area are all rather good and relatively quiet as many skiers dive inbetween them on the off-piste. Below Belvedere they are not so good. This series of pistes will keep most skiers happy for most of the day. Well, they keep me very happy.
Day 2 move onto the Vallandry area. Marmont and Belette are particular favourites of mine, but the whole top area is worth exploring. Some of the reds actually down to the station are a bit samey, but Combe is definately worth doing, though sadly now you have to turn off 3/4 of the way down as they have removed the lift back up.
Arc 2000 is really at it's best for the blacks, but a trip up the Aiguille Rouge and the long descent to Villaroger is almost obilgitory, though marked as a black it's not that tough (after the first 50m that is). The Lanchette chairlift offer a good route down to Villaroger without the long queue for the telepherique. Personnaly I like the black pistes in the 2000 bowl but to me the rest is much of a muchness and busy.
As to pistes to avoid: I'd avoid the pistes down to Les Gange, the bottom pistes into Villaroger (unless the snow is very good at which point they are excellent) and possibly Secret and the Grand Col (though the black pistes often offers some really excellent skiing,) Tuffes and Clair Blanc are also challenging for someone who is only used to smooth pistes. They are tougher than many blacks in other resorts.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Lovely!
Rode the Vanoise Express a couple of days after it first opened. As we pulled out of the Vallandry station the newbie driver must have hit the emergency stop button just as we got up to speed, and the car swung through what felt like 45 degrees of arc. I was with PG and he said my eyes were as big as saucers! Every journey across the valley since then has had rather less drama 
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| johnE wrote: |
| ... Clair Blanc are also challenging for someone who is only used to smooth pistes. They are tougher than many blacks in other resorts. |
It's often tougher than many of the black pistes in Les Arcs! Simply don't understand how they grade that as red
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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| northernrookie wrote: |
| Has anyone got any tips about how to make the most of 4 days skiing in Les Arcs? Staying in 1800 and want to make sure to explore all the best pistes (except black runs ) |
I've been doing 4 day trips to Les Arcs for the past 5 years. We also stay in 1800. And we stay clear of the blacks 
Not too different from JohnE, but:
Day 1: Warm up on the blues. Depending on where you start in 1800, we try to head down to Vallandry to catch the Grizzly lift and then hit the top part of Foret and then Renard. Renard is great. Could easily loop the Derby lift / Renard piste a couple of times.
We then take traversee from the top of the Derby, underneath the TransArc mid-station to get to the Carreley. There's a big cross-roads where it crosses Golf and Vagere reds - just make sure to stick skier's right so you don't miss the lift. From the Carreley, head over to 2000 and take Plan, then Edelweis. Edelweis is a bit Marmite; some love it, some hate it. I'm in the love it camp. Could easily loop Bois-de-l'Ours lift and Plan / Edelweis a couple times. On the last go, just take Plan all the way to the Varet Gondola and do Vallee de l'arc from top to bottom. Its not a great run at the top, but its looooong and the lower sections are better. From the bottom of vallee de l'arc, get the Comborcier chair and do Mont Blanc. Mont Blanc is also great. Could loop Mont Blanc lift and piste a couple times.
Day 2: Longer runs and Reds. There is a great run from the top of the TransArc station, all the way to Vallandry across a number of different graded pistes. Start off on Grand Renard(red), but where it hits the Derby lift go LEFT onto the top section of Renard(blue). Where it joins Foret(blue) take that and keep LEFT. Cross over all the red pistes under the Grizzly, until you hit the middle of Ecureils(black). The middle section of Ecureils is not too bad for a black, its the top section that gets all Mogully. You can ski that all the way to the bottom pretty much and then head straight back across Parchey and Poney to the Grizzly lift again. All the reds through the trees from the top of Grizzly are great. Myrtlles is prob my favourite. Other reds of note are Clocheret above 1600. Love that one. Its a shame the chair by the same name is soooo slow. Arrandelliere over in 2000 is also great. Could easily loop Varet Gondola and Arrandelliere a number of times. Grand Col also worth a go.
Day 3. We make sure we get the Essential pass, so we get priority lift queues, but also half price pre-booking for the Aiguille Rouge cable car. The top black section of the Aiguille isn't really black. But the whole run to the bottom in Villaroger is great. We usually stop when we get to the foot of the Plan des Viollettes lift and head back up and take Reservoir blue back into 2000.
Day 4: In recent years, we have tried to get a day in over at La Plagne (which we get with our Essential pass). Whilst there is MORE than enough to keep you busy in just Les Arcs in 4 days, there are some great runs over in La Plagne, Sources being a particular favourite of ours. Just make sure you set off early; it takes about an hour and 20 mins to get to any proper piste in La Plagne from 1800.
In terms of pistes to avoid; Col-de-la-chal is very flat in places; don't do that if you have a boarder in your party. One of the traverses over from 1800 to 1600 is also very flat, either traversee 1 or arpette 1 - I can't remember which. Lac is not a favourite of mine either; can get very bumpy and its quite narrow. And whatever you do, if you go all the way down to Villaroger, don't make the wrong turn and take Rhonaz; its easily done. You could end up taking your skis off and walking across the road at the bottom, then trudging up a hill across the road. I've done it. Not fun.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| Quote: |
And whatever you do, if you go all the way down to Villaroger, don't make the wrong turn and take Rhonaz; its easily done. You could end up taking your skis off and walking across the road at the bottom, then trudging up a hill across the road. I've done it. Not fun.
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But very scenic. The piste is a bit flat in places so keep your speed up. I've done it as a quick return to Arc 1600 and on one occasion to catch the bus when my knee couldn't take any more.
I think the flat piste to 1600 you mention is now called Traversee. It used to be Gollet. If the snow is decent we often return to Arc1600 that way as its quieter and is oddly atmospheric as it gets dark (we are late finishers)
Down to 27 days now when we arrive in the resort
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| Quote: |
But very scenic. The piste is a bit flat in places so keep your speed up. I've done it as a quick return to Arc 1600 and on one occasion to catch the bus when my knee couldn't take any more.
I think the flat piste to 1600 you mention is now called Traversee. It used to be Gollet. If the snow is decent we often return to Arc1600 that way as its quieter and is oddly atmospheric as it gets dark (we are late finishers)
Down to 27 days now when we arrive in the resort
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Traversee is is a great run back to 1600 and - as long as you set off fast and avoid people! - can be skied pretty much without poling.
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I quite like the run down to walk over the road. Can then take Comborcies and a long cruise back to Vallandry
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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@johnE @yllen This is so so so helpful thank you both so much!!! I am going to be compiling all of this into a guide for our trip - not trying to overplay, but only want to make the most out of a short-ish trip. You're both stars 
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These are great tips and routes! I'll be coming back to this when we're out there. I'm yet to do a black at all. I'm a bit nervous about doing one alone for the first time.
@johnE, fancy showing me the not too scary ones next year? I did Grand Col (slowly in the couloir) this year, and got down upright and in control.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@Owlette, No problem escorting someone down a piste. I've done it lots of times before. Some blacks in Les Arcs are much tougher than others and it depends to some extent on conditions and the development of moguls. I'll have explored before taking anyone down.
IMHO the easiest in order are:
Soilliet in Villaroger
Bosses in Vallandry
Rouelles in 1600
Ecureuils in Vallandry
Refuge in the Grand Col .I don't think it is significantly harder than Grand Col - it all depends on the Couloir. It was the first black I took my niece down
Combe in 2000. It can be a delight but it can be a rocky horror show
In the right conditions Combourciere is also straightforward but it is long. Probably because of its aspect I always find Ours tricky. I have similar feelings about Droset. Those down from the Varet are probably best left until you are on top form.
The first black I attempted in Les Arcs was the Deux Tetes (it isn't marked now) I'd only done blacks in Italy and Austria before and recall standing at the top and thinking this is bloody steep. It was and it was great.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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| Quote: |
Bosses in Vallandry
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Certainly a very doable Black, first part is not a Black at all, middle section is steep, it's only really a black due to the bottom section where it is very narrow, and then the drop out just aboveDerby.
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Great, thanks so much @johnE!
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You know it makes sense.
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Oddly, I think it is only black because of the big bumps (bosses) in the middle section. The rest is probably red. As a whole it is easier than Clair Blanc.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Four weeks out and getting nervous - very free lower down 
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Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@Boris, It is still only November. November snow never lasts anyway.
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a pipe-clearing run
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Perhaps I should be clearing my pipes as well - I'd better get on the exercise bike
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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| Quote: |
a pipe-clearing run
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I read the replies from the bottom up, and thought this was a reference to a particularly scary black.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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I've seen a good deal for Vallandry (sp) at departing on Sunday 31st of December looks quite good. Not sure about how busy the resort will be can any of the locals give a clue as to whether that'll be a busy week or a quiet week, thank you.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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@stevew, it's New Year week so it will be busy, as it will be everywhere. The Sunday transfer might be better for traffic than going to the resort on Saturday 30th, but maybe not a huge difference.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@stevew, New Year week is normally one of the busiest weeks of the year, if not the busiest.
But this year I see that the schools go back on January 2nd so it may be reltively quiet. Just checking on the reservation web sites and this year Christmas week is looking busier than New Year
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@johnE, some schools might go back on the 2nd, but not all will. My girlfriend’s school goes back on the 8th.
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Can any recommend the best company for ski lessons starting in Arc2000? Thanks.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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@rob@rar, just rechecked all regions go back on the 2nd. I don't know about the UK and other countries, however.
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@rob@rar, @johnE, thanks for the feedback, I was thinking like @johnE, that schools would have gone back, don't know about French schools but given the price and saving a days hols I think I will go for it.
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FAQ
