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Fresh Snow in Les Arcs

Overnight snowfall sees conditions improve across all resort villages

featured in Snow report Author Sam Birch, Les Arcs Reporter Updated

Since the beginning of the season the skies above Les Arcs have been predominantly clear and sunny. Although temperatures have been low since early December, there have been very few clouds and, more importantly, very little fresh snow. However, starting late on Wednesday night, the first snow of 2017 has arrived, making a noticeable difference to on-piste conditions throughout the ski area.

Although the amount of fresh snow was relatively moderate (around ten centimetres in most areas), first impressions are that the slopes have perceptibly improved as a result. The depth of new snow does seem to vary according to altitude, and it has not adhered so well to some of the steeper slopes, but generally the pistes feel “fresher” and more playful.

Simultaneous with the new powder, the snow cannons have been working overtime during the last couple of days. When weather conditions are right for natural snow they must be perfect for the artificial stuff because most of the snow-blowers have been firing constantly, creating snow-mounds everywhere. Once the piste-bashers have demolished these lumps and spread them over the existing slopes, conditions should improve again.

a piste in les arcs

Arc 1600

With the addition of new snow, many of the pistes have actually slowed-down, meaning you need a little more initial speed to get over those flat sections (such as when taking Belvedere from the Mont Blanc lift, near the top of the Cachette lift). The weather front bringing fresh snow also introduced some gusty winds to this sector. This, combined with the naturally sharper inclines, has meant that the red runs Clocheret and Cachette have not benefited from the powder as much as the adjoining blue runs.

a piste in les arcs

Arc 1800

If you have skied or snowboarded in Arc 1800 over the last few weeks, the changes to the landscape will be very obvious to you. Whereas, previously, the lower pistes were bounded by grassy sidings, now the whole area is white. This is a very welcome change. The short Vers 1800 blue run has now been completed, providing another option for skiing down to the Carreley and Vagère lifts. Even the bottom of the Vagère (red) piste is much more personable than it has been recently.

Peisey-Vallandry

Once again, the snow cannons in this area seem to be more zealously employed than in any other resort. The snow mound at the end of Plan Bois (blue) leading to the bottom of the Derby lift is quite a magnificent sight, for its magnitude alone. There are similar, if not quite equal, humps of man-made snow on Aigle (red) and Ours (red). Whilst it is now possible to ride the Aigle piste all the way from the Top of the Vallandry lift to the bottom, I found it very dicey towards the bottom: after the second Forêt junction, it became sheer and the top layer was breaking off in large chunks. Hopefully the snow masses in close proximity to Aigle will be groomed into this part of the slope soon.

The upper slopes, around the “2300” lift are riding nicely, and the area is certainly looking much better. If you take the Grizzly lift up to 2280 metres, be aware that the very top of Blanchot (red) is susceptible to the wind, so still has some thin patches.

a red and black chair lift

Arc 1950/2000

Despite the new snow, the Arc 2000 bowl is still the most consistent area in Les Arcs. Today, the Grand Col lift was shut due to the weather, making the Grand Col (red) and Refuge (black) runs inaccessible. However, largely clear skies forecast over the weekend should mean that this situation is only temporary.

Flat areas which have initially been “slower” due to the fresh snow are the bottom of the Lac (red) run towards the Plan Vert rope and the huge intersection near the bottom of Arcabulle.

a snow mound in les arcs

Going Forward

Fortunately for us, there is more snow on the horizon. Snow showers are possible on Sunday and there could be a significant, and sustained, dump by the middle of next week. Should that occur, many more pistes could be opened and the off-piste might be a little more tempting.

Keep abreast of the any snowfall with our dump alerts.

Location

Map of the surrounding area