Les Arcs Diary - March Week 3

Saturday 22nd March

I'm out early for the fresh snow but can't get on the mountain for half an hour as the 74 lift isn't working. When I do get up there find conditions aren't as good as I'd hoped. There's just too much snow! Attempts to ride off piste end up in sinking into the snow and coming to a stop. Paul arrives in the resort for a long weekend with his kids Kelly and Matt, and join Caroline and I on the mountain. Dan turns up too and we have a few mostly piste runs before the visibility goes and we stop for lunch at the Blanc. The afternoon is more fun, as Paul, Dan an I get in some good tree runs down from the bottom of the 66 piste. Caroline goes back home in the evening, but more friends from home Tim Barnes and Ali turn up unexpectedly in the evening. We go up to The Vache, a restaurant started by Vallandry stalwarts Fiona, Chloe and Ronky this season. The food is very good, and we have a nice relaxing time.

Sunday 23rd March

I sleep in and miss the rendezvous at 9.30am, but when I do get out meet up with Brynn and Izzy from the Blanc, Johnny and others at the Derby. We spend a few hours off piste in Vallandry and Arcs 2000, where we do a fantastic route off the Bois De Lours lift that is new to me. I join Paul, Kelly, Matt, Tim and Ali at the Combourcie lift as they have been eating at the areas best mountain restaurant, Vallon De Fumee. The weather closes in so we abandon plans to tackle Le Deux Tetes in Arcs 1600, one of my favourite off piste routes, and head back over to Vallandry for the familiar tree runs. Apres-ski in the Blanc is followed by dinner in the L'Ousron and a couple of drinks in the Blanc.

Monday 23rd March

Today is a much needed rest day, as last night I pulled something in my knee and am still limping. I only venture out to meet Dave, Paul, Kelly and Matt at Maxima for lunch.It's their last day in the resort so the evening proves to be a big one. After dinner at The Refuge we head up to the Squirrel for quiz night. There aren't many in, but just enough teams for a quiz. We have a good sized team - me, Dave, Tim, Ali, Paul and Kelly - and after a shaky start pull away during the last two rounds, sport and song intros. The prize a squirrel T-shirt and metre of caramel vodka. Then on to the Blanc for top covers band Doctor Bruce, more beer and shots.

Tuesday 24th March

Canceled!

Wednesday 26th March

Today is another lazy day. I don't get out until the afternoon, and take my Kink out to work on my tricks on Renard. But it soon becomes so cloudy I can't see any of the hits and I'm too fatigued to be on top form. After a few runs I give up and go home. In the evening after a rare meal in Dave and I go to a busy Blanc to watch the France v England friendly, joined in due course by Tim Barnes and Ali.

Thursday 27th March

The last few days have paid off and I awake refreshed and raring to go. For the first time in two years I decide to get the helmet camera out and do some filming. I have a new gadget for it, it a remote control, and I get 10 minutes of good footage following Dave through the trees before a fall jars the power connection loose. Tim Barnes and Ali join us and we spend most of the afternoon in Vallandry the clouds come in and visibility suffers. Snow has been forecast, could this be it? Unfortunately we only get a sprinkling at night. Troy arrives in the evening and Dave and I dine with him and Tracker in the Blanc in the evening.

Friday 28th March

I set up the helmet camera and head up to the Derby with Dave, where we soon meet up with Tim and Ali.After a run we meet the guys from the Blanc - Bryn, Tara, Sarah, Fiona, April, and Mark plus Johnny and J.P. - for a couple of runs filming down Renard. It is a beautiful blue sky day. We also pick up Danni just before the group fractures. The Mont Blanc crew disappear (later I discover they are heading to a kicker) and Tim and Ali set out to the Arpette restaurant in Arcs 1600. Dave, Danni and I take the long way around via Arcs 200 and the board park before Dave and I join them for lunch. The weather closes in, so we head back to Vallandry for a few runs. In the evening Dave, Tim, Ali and I venture to La Ferme at the far end of Plain Peisey and have fondue in what is a very French restaurant I haven't been to before. A couple of drinks in The Vache and Squirrel Bar follow.