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ESCAPADE 2024: Iain J, a solo effort starting from 1650 Moriond

07 February 2024

Congratulations to Iain

Iain J completed the 2024 Escapade route on 7 Feb 24 starting/finishing in Moriond, taking advantage of the final few quiet days before the start of the holiday season.

This is the second time that I have completed the Escapade, the first being the old route in 2013.  That time, I just sneaked back in time before the last lift closed.

Since then, I think that the new fast Point de la Masse bubble, and the ability to take the Cime de Caron checkpoint by coming out of Orelle on the new bubble lift, rather than risking delay on the Caron cable car, has made a big difference to getting around the course, and I was pleased to get back with an hour to spare.

Iain

Date 2024-02-07
Start/finish 08:01:07 – 11:39:22
Duration 3 : 38 : 15
Max./min. height 2855 / 1254 m
Max. mean/top speed 55 km/h / 64 km/h
Max/min climb rate 3.48 / -3.74 m/s over 60s
Total distance 74.70 km

Date 2024-02-07
Start/finish 11:39:35 – 14:34:21
Duration 2 : 54 : 46
Max./min. height 3235 / 1593 m
Max. mean/top speed 57 km/h / 63 km/h
Max/min climb rate 3.77 / -3.37 m/s over 60s
Total distance 57.79 km

ESCAPADE 2024 – 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 80km skiing (140km total distance). With the newer, longer, faster lifts we’re back down to 30 lifts and the age range for successful completion is from 8 to 76 years old! The latest ESCAPADE route

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…..

ESCAPADE 2024 – The 12 villages and 12 perimeters/peaks used as checkpoints

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
2024 – No changes to 2023 route!

ESCAPADE 2024 – A suggested route. Click on the images for the full size pics

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