Checking the groomed pistes – and then finding Jean Blanc untouched…

A reminder that the grooming schedule of the previous night’s piste basher work is available on the ski area smartphone Apps and on-line at: latania.co.uk/skiing/LTLiftsLive.htm (look for the piste basher symbol).

Jean Blanc was groomed immaculately from top to bottom last week and hardly anyone noticed for a while!

Always worth getting up for…

Another Val Thorens Escapade in a Day – we believe you Leon, Klemen and Maxi

From Leon:
Hello La Tania!
My name is Leon and I am a 20 year old student from Switzerland. I’ve been visiting Les 3 Vallees together with my closest friends for the past 3 years now and this year we stumbled upon your “escapade in a day” hall of fame. 
We planned to make our try on a Saturday, the 4th of January, as there would be way less people on pistes because of standard hotel cycles. And luckily, we were right. Staying at Val Thorens, We used the provided route that we found on the latest escapade in a day (Chris, Katie and Matt) but decided to start at the “Funitel Peclet” lift in and have “col” as our end goal.
With our Backpacks full of food and drinks, and having checked out the “Point de La Masse” off-piste route the day before, we were ready for our first attempt. We started at the Funitel Peclet at 09:15 and actually arrived at col at around 15:50. We had actually made it on our first try and sure arrived at col packed with joy, happiness and sore legs. 

The Problem now lays in proving that we actually made it. As neither me nor my friends own a smart watch, we wanted to use the track function on the official 3 vallees app. To our disbelief we learned that the tracking instantly stops as you close the app. Thinking that the ticket office will be able to print out the evidence needed, we went on with the escapade without any worries. Arriving there at the evening though, we learned that they are not allowed to give out the information due to the french law. All we now got is the escapade diploma that the lady was able to give us.
Anyone know if they still have them in Courchevel?

I know that you normally acquire GPS data of some sort to insert people to the hall of fame but all I can give you is my word, the diploma and some photos we took before and during the escape.
Below you will find: All three Diplomas, The Victory picture from me and friends, The Map that we used for our Trip, and a hungry Klemen (name of my friend) eating french chestnut creme to gain power!

I am sure you have better things to do but if you’d call the funitel ticket office (the one located inside of the gondola station on the piste) and asked for three guys that did the escapade in a day, I’m pretty sure that they’ll remember us. We were in there for quite a long time talking to them, explaining them why we needed the proof etc. Not to mention that they were pretty astonished that we managed to do the whole escapade in a day. I really hope that this is enough proof.

The Name of us three: Leon, Klemen and Maxi. If we got into the hall of fame, our Team Name: Les Cremes de Marrons (we ate a whole tube during the trip as a sugar boost). I hope I’ll hear from you and I wish you a wonderful season, Leon

What’s all this about….

The 3 Valleys Escapade was the lift company promotion of visiting (originally in 2006) 14 points across the Three Valleys and gaining a certificate & badge over the period of your holiday – then we had the idea of doing it in a day…

It’s probably the toughest day skiing ever for a recreational skier but lots of people have got involved over the years so we feature them in our Escapade in a Day Hall of Fame

This is no longer being promoted by The 3 Valleys but we’ll still stick you in the Hall of Fame if you complete it – send a Ski Tracks or similar trace in plus a pic of your group.

What started out as a late night “is it possible?” discussion became a challenge the following week – the history and our original route are here

Originally punch cards had to be stamped at each check point until electronic passes arrived – they could then be checked by the lift company. The original Escapade was 30 lifts, 13000m vertical and 70km and 2016 peaked with 34 lifts, 17000m vertical (twice the height of Everest) and around 100km total distance. It became a little less for 2017 and 2018 sees the use of Roc de Tougne fast new lift instead of the drag – still a big, big day out though with all talking (and lunch) kept to the lifts…

PDF list of lifts here for downloading to a smart phone – this needs a 2019 update as Roc de Tougne chair is not a drag now, Legends replaces Roc de Fer and the drag in Les Menuirs, Montaulever is no longer there (which is a bonus!).

Escapade in a Day – Congrats to Tamás Ocsovai from Hungary

Congratulations to Tamás Ocsovai  from Hungary on completing the Escapade in a Day starting from Val Thorens of 8 January 2020.

Tamás said it was a perfect day and one of the greatest experience of his life! Well done Tamás!

What’s all this about….

The 3 Valleys Escapade was the lift company promotion of visiting (originally in 2006) 14 points across the Three Valleys and gaining a certificate & badge over the period of your holiday – then we had the idea of doing it in a day…

It’s probably the toughest day skiing ever for a recreational skier but lots of people have got involved over the years so we feature them in our Escapade in a Day Hall of Fame

This is no longer being promoted by The 3 Valleys but we’ll still stick you in the Hall of Fame if you complete it – send a Ski Tracks or similar trace in plus a pic of your group.

What started out as a late night “is it possible?” discussion became a challenge the following week – the history and our original route are here

Originally punch cards had to be stamped at each check point until electronic passes arrived – they could then be checked by the lift company. The original Escapade was 30 lifts, 13000m vertical and 70km and 2016 peaked with 34 lifts, 17000m vertical (twice the height of Everest) and around 100km total distance. It became a little less for 2017 and 2018 sees the use of Roc de Tougne fast new lift instead of the drag – still a big, big day out though with all talking (and lunch) kept to the lifts…

PDF list of lifts here for downloading to a smart phone – this needs a 2019 update as Roc de Tougne chair is not a drag now, Legends replaces Roc de Fer and the drag in Les Menuirs, Montaulever is no longer there (which is a bonus!).

Courchevel La Tania Tourist Office Email Address / Contact Details

Please note that the Tourist Information Office in La Tania now has the email address of latania@courchevel.com

The previous address of info@latania.com does no longer work.

Lots of information from friendly, english speaking staff with loads of leaflets, maps, booklets, timetables and brochures available concerning La Tania and the local area. Details of a huge amount of things to do in Summer too – The 3 Valleys are not just for skiing…

They can also be contacted by phone on +44 (0)479 08 40 40

And another Escapade in a Day! Congrats Pascal…

From Pascal:
Yesterday I tried and passed the ‘3 valleys in 1 day’ challenge, starting from Orelle.
It started very badly, with 30 minutes stuck in the 3 vallees express gondola at 9am, but finally I made up my delay all day long. Only “Col” and “Petites Bosses” were closed, I compensated by doing “Peyron” and “Bouchet” twice at the end.

Not much time to look at the landscape, some fruit and drinks in the lifts, but in the end a great day.
Thank you very much for keeping the information about the 3V Escapade in a day on your website latania.co.uk.

I’ve put some screenshots and a selfie at the top of Bouchet, as well as a PDF file with details of the openings and closures of all the lifts, and the descent times. It may be useful for further attempts, depending on where they start from, I’m happy to share it with the community.

Warm regards,
Pascal

What’s all this about….

The 3 Valleys Escapade was the lift company promotion of visiting (originally in 2006) 14 points across the Three Valleys and gaining a certificate & badge over the period of your holiday – then we had the idea of doing it in a day…

It’s probably the toughest day skiing ever for a recreational skier but lots of people have got involved over the years so we feature them in our Escapade in a Day Hall of Fame

This is no longer being promoted by The 3 Valleys but we’ll still stick you in the Hall of Fame if you complete it – send a Ski Tracks or similar trace in plus a pic of your group.

What started out as a late night “is it possible?” discussion became a challenge the following week – the history and our original route are here

Originally punch cards had to be stamped at each check point until electronic passes arrived – they could then be checked by the lift company. The original Escapade was 30 lifts, 13000m vertical and 70km and 2016 peaked with 34 lifts, 17000m vertical (twice the height of Everest) and around 100km total distance. It became a little less for 2017 and 2018 sees the use of Roc de Tougne fast new lift instead of the drag – still a big, big day out though with all talking (and lunch) kept to the lifts…

PDF list of lifts here for downloading to a smart phone – this needs a 2019 update as Roc de Tougne chair is not a drag now, Legends replaces Roc de Fer and the drag in Les Menuirs, Montaulever is no longer there (which is a bonus!).

First Escapade in a Day of the Season – Congrats to Chris, Katie & Matt

Congratulations to Chris & Katie on Ski and Matt on a snowboard who completed the Escapade in a Day on New Year’s Eve. Their route below:

• La Tania (9:00)
• Bouc Blanc
• Sources/Rocher De L’Ombre
• Saulire
• Dent De Brugin
• Golf
• (Foret rope pull at top of Golf)
• Legends
• Olympic
• St Martin 1
• St Martin Express
• Roc De Tougne
• Masse 1
• Masse 2
• Plan De L’Eau
• Cime Caron
• Peyron
• Bouchet
• Rosaël
• Moraine
• Col
• Funitel Peclet
• Pionniers
• 3 Vallees
• Becca
• Mont Vallon
• Pas Du Lac 1
• Pas Du Lac 2
• Roc Mugnier
• Petites Bosses
• Aiguille Du Fruit
• Foret (16:06)
• Bouc Blanc
• Dou Des Lanches (16:28)

Total Length: 139.0km
Length Skied: 96.1km
Vertical Descent: 15,056m

What’s all this about….

The 3 Valleys Escapade was the lift company promotion of visiting (originally in 2006) 14 points across the Three Valleys and gaining a certificate & badge over the period of your holiday – then we had the idea of doing it in a day…

It’s probably the toughest day skiing ever for a recreational skier but lots of people have got involved over the years so we feature them in our Escapade in a Day Hall of Fame

This is no longer being promoted by The 3 Valleys but we’ll still stick you in the Hall of Fame if you complete it – send a Ski Tracks or similar trace in plus a pic of your group.

What started out as a late night “is it possible?” discussion became a challenge the following week – the history and our original route are here

Originally punch cards had to be stamped at each check point until electronic passes arrived – they could then be checked by the lift company. The original Escapade was 30 lifts, 13000m vertical and 70km and 2016 peaked with 34 lifts, 17000m vertical (twice the height of Everest) and around 100km total distance. It became a little less for 2017 and 2018 sees the use of Roc de Tougne fast new lift instead of the drag – still a big, big day out though with all talking (and lunch) kept to the lifts…

PDF list of lifts here for downloading to a smart phone – this needs a 2019 update as Roc de Tougne chair is not a drag now, Legends replaces Roc de Fer and the drag in Les Menuirs, Montaulever is no longer there (which is a bonus!).

Some more great tree runs in the Christmas powder from La Tania local Pikatchu

Pikatchu going hard on his favourite tree run…

https://www.zapiks.fr/merci-fabien-rush-du-22-23-d.html

New Smartphone App for Skiers – "Ski Nav"

A new free Smartphone app “Ski Nav” has been released this season. It’s a simple interactive piste map that lets you get directions like a sat nav. The view is angled like the official paper maps, and both the large Three Valleys map and the smaller Courchevel one are included. There’s a dem available on their home page at ski-nav-app.com

Entering Courchevel 1850 as a destination, you get sent up the La Tania bubble and the Dou des Lanches chair. This should should take 22 minutes, though you can change your speed in the settings. There are preferences for certain types of lift or piste too, and if you avoid chair lifts, you instead get sent via Le Praz to take the newly-installed gondola to 1850 from there.

Now, which crossing is best to head over to Méribel-Mottaret? It suggests Dou des Lanches again then Boulevard de la Loze for a 50-minute cruise. Avoiding greens completely, you are instead directed up the Bouc Blanc towards the Saulire crossing and some of the steeper runs on the far side. And what about the zip wire at the far side of Val Thorens? It’s an ambitious journey but Ski Nav reckons you can get there in under two and a half hours skiing at a very modest 15 kph, and less than 2 hours on the way back.

According to the developer, location sharing is coming in the next update. That would mean seeing your friends or  family on the map and allow you to split off and meet back up again easily. Also planned are directions via notifications to allow checking the route on your phone without taking your gloves off or on a smart watch. The app is available for iOS and Android and is free to download with free routing.

Powder Rules Apply!

The La Tania usual suspects putting some first tracks down this morning. A 1m base now reported on Saulire.

Powder Rules Apply – Explained…

Rule No.1 – No Friends On Powder Days (never wait for anyone, you’ll miss those first tracks, though waiting your turn on avalanche risk slopes is allowed).

Rule No.2 – Everything Excused (you should be allowed to be late or not turn up for work, school etc).

Note that in very rare circumstances certain girlfriend/boyfriend rule exceptions and/or exclusions may apply on some days.

The earliest origins of this we know of are in a 1981 US ski movie.
A Californian Ski Hire shop simply shut on Powder Days for the staff to go skiing with the sign on the door saying “CLOSED – Powder Rules Apply”.

More pics from today…

A ski over to the 4th Valley to look at the progress on the new Gondola

Beautifully groomed pistes, blue skies and sunshine for a great ski over to Orelle (aka the 4th Valley) yesterday.

Work has begun on the replacement of the existing gondola from Orelle up to Plan Bouchet and construction work on the new second gondola is well underway with pylons now in place.

The completely new second gondola is to go from the Plan Bouchet gondola station straight up to Cime Caron to give an alternate route over in to Val Thorens. This is due to be completed for Winter 2021.