Les Arcs Diary - March Week 4

Saturday 25th March

It's the last week, and Rich returns along with Cathy, Caroline, Mark and Caroline Rockett. It's a hot day and the pistes are very choppy. We all meet up towards the end of the afternoon for a spot of riding before sinking a couple of jugs of beer in the Blanc.

Sunday 26th March

We all meet up for a gentle cruise around. It is very hot, about 13 degrees at resort level, and consequently the snow is so sticky it is hard to get any speed up at all.

Monday 27th March

Most of the group head out together and I get the helmet camera going to get some more footage. Rich gets his video camera out too, and gets some great footage of Dave and I doing synchronised buttons.

Tuesday 28th March

The temperature has dropped to below zero for the first time in weeks, and as Dave, Caroline and I make our way up the mountain the clouds close in and snow starts falling. There are very few people about, and the bad weather soon sends a lot of them home. The wind is very strong, the visibility so bad you cannot tell which direction you are going - or even be sure you are moving at times, at the top of 69. But in the trees it is fine and the snow falls so heavilly there is soon deep snow to play in. We meet up with Tim and Martin, but lose Caroline on the next run as she hares off in the wrong direction. The upper lifts shut early, Transarc swinging so much in the wind that you feel sick just looking at it, and the other two head home. But Dave and I stay out, and end the day making fresh tracks off Grizzly. In the evening Dave, Caroline, Rich and I go to the Shiva to see an excellent Rolling Stones covers band. The place is packed and we dance the night away, our mood bouyed by he sight of heavy snowfall outside.

Wednesday 29th March

Not surprisingly Dave, Caroline and I make a late start but it has been snowing since the early hours, and is still falling as we head up. Still plenty of powder to be had, the first run down from the 74 lift to the 69 lift through the trees is awesome. We can't stray out of the Vallandry area as Paul is due to arrve at lunchtime, so we do all our now familiar off piste routes while Caroline does Renard. We get first tracks under the 69 lift, there is a couple of feet of powder and it is as good as I have known it. We meet Paul at lunchtime and head back up as the skies clear. The highlight of the afternoon for me is finally nailing the rock drop above the Blanche Muree and getting it on film. In the evening we go to the other apartment for one of Mark's famouns chilli's. A good day, apart from bad news from Alain at Tip-Top. Burton have confirmed that my board broke after being weakened when I hit the rock coming down the Col Du Grand Renard, so they won't replace it.

Thursday 30th March

It's a grim looking day, grey flat light and occassional sleet. It is supposed to start snowing again tonight or tomorrow so i decide to take the day off, get some much needed rest and make the best of what should be good conditions on Friday and Saturday. It gives me time to make a couple of calls, and I get confirmation from my insurance company that I should be able to claim on my damaged board. Alain has an excellent replacement lined up for me in his shop in Arcs 1800, a Baron ES 164 - which the improved Baron released at the end of last season and top of the range.Mark and Caroline come over to our apartment in the evening and prepare a fondue for us. About time we had some traditional Savoyard fare!

Friday 31st March

It's the last day of the holiday for most of us, we have a top up of powder and a sunny day. Perfect, especially as I want to get some filming done. Starting off with under the 69 lift, me, Dave, Rich and Paul find the heavier snow that has come down last night has slipped and we are forced to traverse through the debris, as there's no other way out. Turns out okay though. We meet the others at the Arpette restaurant for lunch, soaking up the rays on the enormous terrace. After taking in the park, and more filming on Renard and Morey it's all over. The four weeks are over. Our stay has coincided with the best snow for ten years, and when it wasn't snowing it was sunny and hot.

Saturday 1st April

The morning is spent moving apartments, as Dave and Paul are staying on a couple more days. It's all over for me though, and by 6pm I'm on a coach bound for London, already thinking about returning for the last week of the season.