2017 Piste Map Examined and Animated Differences

For all the piste map geeks out there – the differences on the 2017 maps we’ve seen so far, the new 3 Valleys Escape checkpoints and links to the map downloads.

There is good news on the Jerusalem “dumbing down” to a blue, as we suspected, it’s an alternative way in – the main run is untouched. The new selfie machine logos have been added and the escapade logos now appear in the Courchevel Valley part of the map too, they were missing last year!

The differences animated – see also 1024 resolution and 2k resolution

The St Martin / Les Menuires map shows the new blue entrance to the Jerusalem piste. As we hoped when we reported here, the piste levels off after the initial steeper section so the run can be categorised as blue (with the red option at the top). Good work and sighs of relief all round…

We also noticed that at the bottom of Jerusalem it looks like a piste will be maintained straight down toward St Martin and hook up with the Biollay piste down to the village. An obvious short cut but in recent years this area has been fenced off and you had to loop around to skiers left following the track where the old 3 seater chair arrived to come out near to the gondola top station.

Also marked on the St Martin map is a [New} logo in the village – we believe this is the new “low pressure” snow cannons that have been installed to maintain the skiing down to village level throughout the season.

The 2017 Val Thorens map shows of the new Stade chair lift (replacing the old drag) and a new red piste running down the side is being maintained named Croissant.

Also on the Val Thorens map is the new replacement Boismint Chair.

The new 3 Valleys Selfie logo can be seen near the top of the 2 Lacs Chair – 6 of these across the Three Valleys at:
* Col de la Loze – Top of Dou des Lanches / Loze Express above La Tania
* Top of the Signal Chair above 1650
* Bottom of Mont Vallon / Plan des Mains, top of Meribel Valley
* Top of Sunny Express above Les Menuires
* Top of Deux Lacs chair in Val Thorens
* Pointe de la Masse – Top of Masse 2
More 3 Valleys Selfie information here

We haven’t got hold of the individual 2017 Courchevel and Méribel Valley maps yet but we did notice a few changes to the 3 Valleys Escapade and are pleased to report that La Tania is included again – (we thought we’d got ourselves banned) ! This year the Bouc Blanc Chairlift is one of the 18 checkpoints across the 3 Valleys that make up the Escapade and the new green globe like logo can be seen (plus another selfie machine – we’ve got one at the top of Lanches chair).

The Escapade in a Day
The 3 Valleys Escapade idea is you ski these points across your week holiday and really experience the whole of the 3 Valleys and get a certificate to prove it (back when this started in 2006 you had a hole punch card but now it’s recorded electronically with your hands free lift pass).

After a late night, alcohol fuelled conversation we had the idea of doing this in a day – it’s now around 100km distance with 34 lifts and 17000m of vertical (that’s twice Everest). All the attempts and Hall of Fame here

The toughest day skiing ever for most people, no coffee stops, no lunch, no chatting – maybe a sandwich on one of the longer lifts…

2017 Escapade – Suggested Route with checkpoint lifts in bold

La Tania Gondola
Bouc Blanc
Rocher De L’Ombre drag
Saulire
Dent de Burgin
Golf
Mini rope tow
Plan de l’homme
Olympic
St Martin 1
St Martin Express
Roc de Tougne drag
Masse 1
Masse 2
Plan De L’Eau
Cime Caron
Peyron
Bouchet
Rosael
Moraine
Col
Funitel Peclet
Pionniers
3 Vallees Funitel
Montaulever drag
Sunny Express
Becca (not currently on the 3V Smart Phone App)
Mont Vallon
Pas Du Lac 1
Pas Du Lac 2
Roc Mugnier
Petite Boss
Aiguille du Fruit
Foret

Differences for 2017 are Chapelets chair being replaced by Petite Boss drag in 1650 and La Tania’s Bouc Blanc chair replacing Tovets in 1550.

The 2016 Route Above

All the Piste Map Downloads are at:
www.latania.co.uk/skiing/pistemaps.htm

We’ll have the 2017 Courchevel and Méribel focused maps up soon.