ESCAPADE 2023: The Chalet Hosts from Méribel

17 March 2023

Five intrepid Méribel chalet hosts, a day off that would hopefully have (a) enough snow and (b) decent enough weather, and the alarms were set to make first lifts in Chaudanne. That was the first challenge, as we were spaced across Les Allues, Morel and Mussillon and let’s face it, we’re not exactly known for being up and way so early!

As others have noted, Verdets was closed but the first tracks down to Cherferie chair were more than rewarding. We had fabulous runs across the first part of the morning, but noted the snow was softening rapidly and by the time we’d completed La Masse, the slush was starting to develop.

Val Thorens was very nearly our undoing. The lift queues were awful, we waited around 15 minutes for Peclet, the same for Thorens, and everything was stop start once we were on board. As we finally headed to Mont Vallon we had all downgraded our expectations of completion, and the moguls of Vallon tried to kill it off all together!

On mogul weary legs we skated along Ours and made our way to our favourite ski areas in Courchevel. We knew this part of the route well and although the snow was now pretty ropey, it was fun to be there and the mood picked up. We hit La Tania at 4pm and figured we could actually do this, so long as we didn’t have any more lift issues. The ‘soupe’ down Lapin was our final chairlift dash and we were travelling back up to Altiport with 15 minutes to spare – phew!

Thank it was a leisurely mooch down to Chaudanne and we were done and well ready for a pint (or two).

The day was a success, we were all pretty tired but having the exact route written out on a scrap of paper, and marked on a piste map, and having pack ups ready to devour on the lifts, enabled us to crack on with the skiing. We think we could shave over an hour off our time with the co-operation of the lifts, but all told, we’re just thrilled to have completed the Escapade during our 3V season! It was an excellent day!

Participants: Aaron Brooks-Thornett; Violetta Mihhailova; Ela Kucharska; Shay & Rick Boyfield

Well done everyone in tough conditions – you’re now in the La Tania Escapade Hall of Fame

ESCAPADE 2023 – What’s this all 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 – doing it in a day was a bit tricky though!

It all started out as a late night “is it possible?” discussion – the history and our original route from 2006 are here

Originally punch cards had to be stamped at each check point until electronic passes arrived and then the use of a lift was recorded – now we use Apps such as Ski Tracks or Relive to prove our route.

Note that the Escapade is no longer officially promoted by Les 3 Vallees from Winter 2017 but we still record successful tracks for anyone who is interested in being in the sought after La Tania Escapade Hall of Fame

The original Escapade took 30 lifts, around 13000m vertical with 70km length and by 2016 reached 34 lifts, 17000m vertical (twice the height of Everest) and around 100km.

This is NOT a race

ALWAYS CONTROL YOUR SPEED. You do this entirely at your own risk, act responsibly, take full ownership for your own actions and all of those with you, respect other people (& the mountain), ski & ride within your limits, always obey the skiers & snowboarders code, observe all signs, pay attention to all notices, advice & instructions from Pisteurs, only ski off piste if fully equipped & knowledgeable, it’s not a race (you won’t be insured), think about the safety of others as well as yourself but above all, think of other people, take care, don’t wreck things for others & don’t even think of blaming anyone else if it all goes wrong…..

Changes through the years
2006 – First year and cards with hole punches stationed at lifties huts are used.
2008 – Electronic lift analysis is now used – no use hiking out the 4th Valley now!
2010 – The piste map did not include the top of the 4th Valley and the Col lift in Val Thorens.
2011 – The X-Wing Discovery was launched but only had 10 check points and doesn’t count!
2012 – Peclet included and Biollay / Vizelle used for Saulire access.
2015 – Foret used instead of La Tania gondola.
2016 – Mont Vallon is included for the first time plus the Montaulever drag lift.
2017 – Chapelets replaced by Petite Boss drag and La Tania’s Bouc Blanc chair replaces Tovets.
2018 – The new Roc de Tougne chair replaces the drag lift of the same name.
2019 – Legends replaces Roc de Fer and the Montaulever drag in Les Menuires has been removed.
2020 – Cime Caron now back in use.
2022 – New Pointe de la Masse and Orelle-Caron Gondolas (for example) could be used.
2023 – Using the new lifts, we ski all the resorts, all the perimeters and classic peaks – ESCAPADE 2023