Sleet or slush? Changable conditions greet our rep in La Plagne

Easter conditions report from Tim in La Plagne…

The weather in the Alps has been very changeable over the last few weeks with January style temperatures of -20 for a while and then a very warm period last week, with rain up to 2000m.

Thankfully the snow is now back in force with cooler temperatures and more snow due above 1200m over the next couple of days.

In Paradiski even when the spring snow gets slushy in the afternoons there is always something to keep you busy. I recently tried cross country skiing for the first time, and now that my legs have stopped aching, I can look back on it with some satisfaction!

Tim making it cross-country

There is a large network of trails around the la Plagne ski area which are also fun to walk if you don’t fancy the unknown quantity of free heel cross country skis. I took several falls due to trying to manipulate these skis as I would alpine skis and I can tell you it doesn’t work!

The best off piste skiing in France?

 Tim shares the secrets on the best off piste skiing in France…

Mention the words off piste, backcountry or freeride and the French resorts that spring to mind are probably the likes of Chamonix, Val d’Isère, St. Foy, la Grave to name a few. It’s unlikely that high on the average list would be the family friendly resort of La Plagne. More well known for its extensive beginner and intermediate terrain, few are aware of the joys that lie outside the marked runs.

La Plagne - a resort for beginners and intermediates?

Perhaps what makes la Plagne so great after a fresh dump is the very fact that most people are slow to leave the designated pistes, even for just a little play in the powder that beckons only a few metres away.

Fresh tracks on the Friolin Bowl

The terrain that awaits them if they do is extensive and rivals many of the aforementioned big guns. I have to mention at this point that those wishing to discover it should do so with the correct equipment and a professional guide. Other contributing factors include the management’s reluctance to open the higher lifts straight after fresh snow. This might seem like a disadvantage, but it means the powder hungry can make the most of the lower sections and have a second powder day awaiting (if their legs can take it) once the full area opens.

Powpow...

I remember a few years back, on a day trip to Chamonix, being shocked by what I saw in the lift line. Over half the waiting crowd had helmets on and a significant portion were equipped with harnesses, ice screws, ropes etc. All very sensible for an area with so much glacial terrain, but also an indicator of just how quickly any easy fresh tracks will be obliterated and how quickly the ante will be raised if you want to go in search of more.

A freeride Mecca is always full of other eager freeriders and there was much excitement in the valley that day about what turned out to be only 5-10cms of very light snow over an unforgivingly rocky base. I was cautious about damaging my equipment and was surprised to see a small crowd of people huddled round a guy who appeared to be about to drop into a tight couloir with dubious snow cover. As he leaned forward from his perch I was about to shout “’ere mate, you’re still roped to the barrier”, when I realised that there was a photographer climbing up his back trying to get a good shot with the logo on his hat and his ski tips pointing into the void. I left the tourists to find out for themselves that he had no intention of skiing it.

On my first day skiing la Plagne many years ago, I took the gondola up to the glacier only to be greeted by a mogul-filled black run, or a rickety old chair lift to a narrow, snaking red cat track. Not very inspired on first impressions until you realise that these lifts give access to some wonderful off piste itineraries including the Friolin bowl, the Rochu sector, the Cul du Nante and not least the north face of Bellecote. A mythical descent off the back of our highest peak, descending all the way to the nordic ski area of Peisey Nancroix. Not a piste marker in sight for the whole route and entrance points varying from a simple traverse to 45 degree couloirs that you have to rope into.

WHEN THE WEATHER SETS IN THERE IS STILL PLENTY TO DO, WITH SOME EXCELLENT TREE SKIING, WHERE YOU CAN SPEND A WHOLE DAY (OR EVEN A WHOLE WEEK) AND NEVER DO THE SAME ROUTE TWICE.

Powder in the trees

I COULD GO ON, BUT THERE ARE NEW ITINERARIES CALLING, THAT EVEN I HAVEN’T SKIIED AFTER 2 SEASONS, SO ALL THAT REMAINS TO SAY IS GET OUT HERE AND SEE FOR YOURSELF. ACTUALLY, COME TO THINK OF IT, I HEARD CHAMONIX IS PRETTY GOOD… YOU SHOULD PROBABLY GO THERE INSTEAD.

The inside scoop on the runs in the Espace Killy

Hannah, our resident seasonnaire in Val d’Isere working in a Ski World chalet gives us the low down on the best slopes…

After working and living in Val d’Isere for about 3 months, these are my favourite runs as well as some of the worst that I would suggest avoiding simply because they’re pretty nasty. But bear in mind conditions will change over the next few months. Fistly, AVOID ‘epaule du charvet’ which is a black run which goes down into central Val d’Isere from the bottom of the ‘Datcha’ lift – it is essentially a short steep run covered in moguls. Only a few days ago I managed to get some spectacular scratches on my back after sliding down half the run and not being able to stop myself until I hit the powder at the bottom! There is also a lovely blue run that runs down the side called the ‘Santons’ so I can’t understand why you’d want to do this run anyway. Another run with nasty moguls is at the bottom of the ‘Trifolet’ which runs into La Daille – Last time I went past the entrance, it was closed but the bottom is accessible from a bit of off-piste. On a brighter note, some of favourite runs include the ‘Germain Mattis’ which is icy at the top but a great tree run which runs into ‘Le Laisinant’.

Stunning view from the top of Toviers at 2704m

 If you fancy pisted runs with little ice then I’d suggest the runs in Tignes Le Lac, especially up the Palafour lift. And also you have the added benefit of the sun which tends to prefer Tignes rather than Val D’isere. Another good lengthy run is the ‘Double M’ run which comes in Val Claret from the top of the Lanches lift. It can get a bit icy and is in the shade but it’s pretty wide and I wouldn’t consider it a red run but more of a hard blue run since it has a bit of steep bit at the beginning. If you want some nice easy skiing, or are a beginner, then I would suggest up the Solaise lift in Val d’Isere which is where I learnt to ski on the ‘Madeline’ slope. The lift also goes down as well as up so you don’t even have to do the red or black runs down afterwards. Yes, it’s pretty bad that after being here so long that I haven’t completed the Espace Killy map yet; so I still have to explore la Grande Motte, the glacier and Tignes les Brevieres. So I shall have to update when I get round to completing those runs. I’ve also heard that a really good day of skiing consists of going from one side of the map to the other by starting in La Fornet ending in Tignes les Brevieres. This is all very subjective and there are still loads of great runs which I haven’t described, but you’ll have a great ski holiday in Val d’Isere just by trying to cover as much ground as possible and not sticking to the same runs since there is so much to explore.

Very ’short’ break to the Scottish slopes…

Francois is back from Scotland where he made a brave attempt to hit the slopes…

It snowed so much in Scotland that Aviemore had no access roads open on Saturday, so we were up at 6am and decided to try Glenshee! Having arrived in close to the resort at 8.15am, we found ourselves stuck in terrible traffic. As we crawled our way along we eventually found out the road had been blocked by the police… No access! We were told that we had to wait until 10am when they will re-access the situation!! 10 am came and went, as did 11am and when it got to 11.30am, we decided to go head home as it had been snowing quite a lot in the last hours, and we didn’t want to risk getting stuck up the mountain or on the road (and we had also exhausted the car’s collection of CDs too!) The weather was supposed to pick up for Sunday, so we thought we would try again in the morning.

Finding out the hard way that the road was closed!

We didn’t leave as early this time, and managed to get to the resort around 10.45am – as did the whole of Scotland! After getting ready, we had to queue for ski rental. Started queuing at 11.30, and got out at 12.30! At that stage, I was hungry, but after looking at the next queue for food, I thought I could hold on for a little longer as I wanted to hit the slopes! Take it this way: one chair lift was working and the rest were button lifts – not the best for the begginner boarders of the group! Even the best ones seemed to struggle with the inconsistency of the buttons! So we were off to join the queue for the chair…

The queue for the chair lift

Overall, it was good to be back on fresh snow, and I managed get down  about 5 times a very hard blue! Haha. The queues to get up the hill were just spoiling everyone’s fun, and it’s understandable that a small ski resort cannot invest in the infrastructures that we got accustomed to when taking  ski holidays in France. A few pieces of advice for whoever decides to go skiing in Scotland: If you are looking for a workout, don’t go there as you won’t have enough time on the slopes to warm up after the 30mins queuing. Also, bring your own equipment as even if the ski rental is cheap enough, there is a reason for it to be (I’m size 8 ½ boot-size, but none available… and I remembered having the same skis when I first started skiing, back in 1982!).

I can say now that I’ve done it, but won’t do it again unless I’m staying up there for a week at least, where I might have a chance to go skiing for more than 5 hours over the week. I’m sorry to say I don’t feel too bad for writing this as even my Scottish friends agree with me! These resorts are good for locals, not for a short break when everyone has the same idea I’m afraid.

Us finally hitting the slopes!

We’re off skiing….in Scotland!

Francois, from our Erna Low Property office, is heading up north this weekend in hunt of more snow… Och aye!

With all the recent snow fall in UK, it just urged me and my girlfriend  to head to the slopes, so we have decided to go for a weekend skiing in… Scotland!
We have family in Edinburgh so we thought we will pay them a visit and hit the slopes of Aviemore on Saturday and Sunday and back to London on Sunday evening! Apparently there is a lot of snow over there, and hopefully the extra caterpillars needed to unblock the roads to the station will do wonders overnight!!! This BBC article has made me nervous. Yikes! 15 ft snow drifts! Alps eat your heart out!
Check back on Monday for the news and pictures on my trip… hopefully showing off the wind burn on my face and not me stranded at the airport!

This was my last trip to the slopes... am hoping the scots will be more welcoming!

Latest snowfalls in La Plagne

Tim, our resort manager for La Plagne, reports in the current conditions out in resort…the pictures speak for themselves!

After some unsettled weather and even some rain over the week of New Year, the Alps are back in full winter mode. The last couple of days have seen some of the best skiing conditions of the season so far, with blue skies and fresh snow.

view of the Mont Blanc from the Aiguille Rouge in Les Arcs

I used my day off to do a tour of Paradiski starting in Plagne Bellecote and heading to les Arcs. The views from the summit of the Aiguille Rouge were phenomenal and from there we undertook the longest run in Paradiski, non-stop to Villaroger. Some beautiful pistes through the trees that I’d never done before and the snow low down was surprisingly reasonable.

I paid a brief visit to our Erna Low Property office in Arc 1950 to see how fellow employee Alice was getting on before heading back home to soak my tired legs in the bath!

January is a great time to be here, with empty pistes, hardly any queues and great conditions. Accommodation prices are also significantly cheaper than the holiday periods so why not come and see for yourself?

buried car... spot the wing mirror!

Current snow conditions in La Plagne

Tim Wilson, our highly seasoned seasonnaire, heads out to La Plagne for another eventful winter and gives us a first hand snow report of the conditions for all you lucky readers heading out over the festive season. Enjoy!

Well it’s the start of another winter in the French Alps. As Erna Low’s Resort Manager for La Plagne in the Paradiski area, I am busy preparing for the first arrivals.

The set up period is busy for all the tour operators and the fact that I’ve been here the 2 previous seasons gives me a great advantage.

Catching up with all our suppliers and checking for any new procedures or activities is the order of the day. That doesn’t mean I haven’t had chance to get a few runs on the mountain…. Of course, it’s an important part of my job to know the current conditions and where’s good to ski etc

Looking over to Courchevel from La Plagne

 It’s been very cold for the last few days and the snow cannons have been working to build a good base and ensure that the opening of the Paradiski link is a success.

The on piste conditions at high altitude are surprisingly good in places and hopefully this current snowfall will be a bit heavier lower down.

Back with more soon,

Tim

Ski holidays to La Plagne start at only £96pp based on 6 people sharing a lodge apartment at Les Chalets des Alpages in Plagne Soleil on a self-catering basis from the 16 – 23 January 2010. Includes return Eurotunnel crossings with free upgrade to FlexiPlus as well as a 25% accommodation discount.  Call us on 0845 863 0525 or drop us an email to info@ernalow.co.uk to book!

Christmas queues and views in La Plagne

Living the dream… a ski season in Val d’Isere!

Just embarked on her first season, Hannah, a loyal fan and friend of Erna Low, shares her first impressions of Val d’Isere.

In the past week, Val d’Isere has been blanketed in a layer of snow. So for beginners such as myself, means a lot of powder to fall into when the going gets tough. Since the beginning of the great skiing weather, Val has been turned into a winter wonderland in the day and a fantastic night out in the evening. With bars having their opening nights, there is always great deals going on that soften the cost of the Val lifestyle. During my time off I’ve been checking out some of the bars on offer including the Saloon bar and Dicks Tea bar. Both have totally different atmospheres; Dick’s, with its great dance floor, is fab for clubbing and the saloon is smaller and more laid back with really friendly staff. So depending on how knackered I am after a day of skiing and working as a chalet host at the lovely chalet Fjord, I love visiting both. Obviously I have a lot more bars to check out, like V Stop and the Morris bar, but with such a long season ahead, it won’t take long to become an expert. Being a first timer in Val, it’s been great to get to know the beautiful resort and do some great window shopping. With the massive range of top brands all with brand new lines added this season, I am in serious danger of blowing my entire season budget on one ski jacket. Luckily there are so many skiing opportunities in the Espace Killy that I am being distracted from that costly disaster.

Back soon,

Hannah

Prices for holidays to Val d’Isere start at only £117pp based on four people sharing a studio apartment at Les Jardins de la Balme for week commencing 9^th Jan 2010. Includes 30% accommodation discount and return Eurotunnel crossings with free Flexiplus upgrade.

The Alps catch up… with massive snowfalls in the past couple of days!

First day of December and already plenty to get excited about!!  Not only did I bag the first choccy in the advent calendar but a quick look at the resort webcams and we’re jumping for joy. Perhaps all the early predictions of snowiest season ever could be spot on… here’s hoping anyway!
Falling hard since Sunday night, take a peek at our favourite alpine resorts from the webcams this morning.

Serre Che this morning

Serre Chevalier – 1st December 2009
Staying true to its reputation of sunniest alpine resort, Serre Chevalier got over 20cm of snow in the last couple of days and the sun is making it look lovelier. This picture is taken from Monetiers side of the mountain on the Bachas piste. Where are my skis!?

Arc 1950 – 1st December 2009
The village is opening this weekend in time for the first European Film Festival which is taking place in  Les Arcs all next week. The producers and directors are all staying in Arc 1950. We’re hoping all the celebs won’t be wrapped up too warmly… could hinder our star spotting activities!

Val d'Isere this morning

Val d’Isere – 1st December 2009
I’m heading out there next week so of course am keeping a close eye on the snow levels… the skis will definitively be coming out for this one!

Now…. stay put please!

Mass snows in Snowmass!

‘I’m talking about a little place called Aspen!’

Everyone knows Americans like things BIG and their snowfalls are no exception! After receiving over 60cm (2 feet) of snow last weekend, Aspen/Snowmass is hotting up (well, not literally) to open in 9 days time.
Opening weekend sees have the return of the FIS Alpine Women’s World Cup race on Aspen Mountain and it’s a great way to kick off the season and combined with great terrain, events, snow, restaurants and nightlife, Aspen sure looks inviting this season…. And not too heavy on the purse strings either…

Ski holidays to Aspen start from £881 per person, based on double occupancy in a Ridge View room at The Stonebridge Inn. Price includes 7 nights lodging including daily continental breakfast from 01 December 2009, direct flights with British Airways from LHR-DEN, shared shuttle transfers to resort and all applicable taxes and surcharges. Please note: flights into Aspen airport can also be arranged at a supplement if preferred, subject to availability.

mass snowmass snows Photo: Jeremy Swanson

Snowy Downtown Aspen Photo: Daniel Bayer

Snowy Downtown Aspen