WINTER SPORTS GUIDE > FRENCH AIPS
The unforgettable Alpine landscape of Les Arcs
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Resorts can be the stuff of wide rolling green pistes or gravity defying north faces. Morag Bruce investigates the French Alps, home to some
of the most varied terrain on the planet.
es Ares exists to provide skiing and
hoarding l‘or everyone from a speed of
light skiers to those preferring to deseend on their rear ends. Nestling ahove Bourg Saint Mauriee. the main huh ol' aeeoiiimodation and
lllgllllllt‘ exists in villages named after their
elevation: I(i()(). Ih’IXI. I950 and 2()()(). While not the most aestlietieally pleasing (although the nevvest. Wit). is prettier) there are restaurants and aeeominodation to suit every hudget. lior a sliee of genuine old world eharin. the village ol' I’eisey .\'aneroi\ UliliL‘l'x aeeess to l.es Ares and the eoniieeting eahle ear to La I’Iagne. and is pei't'eet Ior those not wishing to go that for apres ski.
There are 2()()km ot' skiahle runs in Les .-\res. and it you buy a lift tieket \vhieh ineoiporates La Plagne this area is doubled. Alter a hig snovvtall. my to he the lirst to the top of the .-\iguille Rouge (ilaeier I'or those speetaeular vievvs oi the mighty .\Iont Blane and some of the hest povvder you eould hope to experienee without an epie trek. The hlissl'ul tree-lined trails in Are l()()(). l.es I)eu.\ Tetes and Vallandiy are perteet for days vvhen you ean‘t see heyond the end of your skis or hoard.
It. terra tirma is heeoming tiresome. l.es .-\res
has a massive hoard park. with three levels of
jump throughout so there‘s less ehaiiee ol‘ one heeoming a tangled mess at the bottom oI’ some monster gap jump.
IN ASSOCIATION WITH TISO AND THE NORTH FACE
ll. you‘re looking to add another (ally to your
'l'm pure mental‘ list. one plaee that is deeidedly un-siiovv plough t’i'iendly is La (have. It‘s pei'elied on a steep hillside Iaeing the glaeier- enei'tisted slopes ol' l.a Meije and in the same
region as I.‘.-\Ipe d'llue/ and I.es I)eii\ .'\|pes. ll'
extreme is your kettle oI' Iisli. you‘ll have more povvder to yotirsell~ here than most plaees. The areas population varies only slightly l'rom (illll throughout the year.
The skiing is ungroomed. unpatrolled. and not proteeted Iroin avalaiielies. This is true vvilderness skiing so it‘s essential that you go out vvith a guide and are lit”) kitted—up \vitli avalanehe reeeiyers and shovels. The .\lei_ie (ilaeiers Aerial 'I‘ramvyay takes you tip to the Ruillans l’ass at 32le metres in 30 minutes. li‘om \\ here you eaii take (no drag IiI‘ts up to 3550 metres and the only tvso marked trails plus aeeess in Les l)etl\ Alpes (it ehanee litil' an eseape to easier elimes i.
The ’l‘i'etide ('ouloir pitelies at more than 50 degrees (yes. that‘s very steepi Ior 900 metres and will eliallenge even the most esperieneed skiers. so best not skimp on the travel insuranee. l5or somevvliere to rest your vyeary pins. the Hotel Des .'\lpes. huilt in 188‘). has heen i'et'ui'hished into I2 separate apartments with panoramie vievvs ol' the glaeier.
LES ARCS
Do it yourself Fly to Geneva. The train station it. actually within the airport so it‘s easy to iiiiiip on a train to Bourg Saint Maurice (about four hours depending on route}. From the train station at BOurg, take the funicular up to Are 1600 were free buses can take yOu to either of the other Villages. Let them do it for you Crystal, Ihoinson, i riia Low, Ski Beat. Lift pass (srx days): Les Arcs/La Plagne: 225 Euros ($7156 aprox}. Les; Arcs: 181 Euros ($3125 aproxi. Tourist Office Bourg Saint Maurice/Les Arcs OO 33 a 79 ()7 12 57. wwwlesarcscorri
LA GRAVE
Do it yourself Fly to Grenoble (Easyiet fires; daily from Stanstead) where there's a shuttle link from Grenoble airport to the bus station. then you can catch a bus or taxi to La Grave. Let them do it for you www.skifreshtracksco.uk Lift pass (six days;: 150 Euros (£104 aprox). Guide for the day 70 Euros per person. depending on where and what you want to go and do (E48 aproxi. Tourist Office 0033 4 76 79 90 05 Guide Office 0033 4 76 79 90 21 . wwwla-gravecom
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