ESCAPADE 2025: Macroom Ski Club

21 January 2025

Macroom Ski Club, 3 Skiers, 2 Boarders

It was an early start to the day as the group three Irish, one Swiss and one Irish/American (three skiers, two snowboarders) set out and were on first lifts for 9:15 am (strategic decision and not laziness). The first section in Val Thorens went well and a few top speeds of the day were achieved early on before the fatigue set in. Queues were on our side as we managed to traverse over the valley into Maribel. 

Having scouted the Maribel and Courchaval section of the route on Monday we managed to navigate the two towns and make good time as we started the turn back to home.

Quick 5 minute rest at the top of the golf lift to refresh and refuel, highly recommend as a pit stop when trying to complete the loop.

By the time we were skiing into Saint Martin all eyes of the group were on trying to finish and make last lifts back into Val Thorens.

None of the group had managed to check out the Pointe de la Masse yet so we were unsure what to expect. Run down was fairly icy but managed to reach the Bruyeres lift with 10 min to spare and all members that started the day successfully completing the entire route on our first attempt.

Macroom Ski Club Race Team Members:
Steve Hannon (Top speed of the day)
Josh ‘JPS’ Coyne (Chief Navigator) 
Fabien Zellweger (Motivational Strategist)
Laura Murphy (Team Matriarch)
Tadhg Murphy (Team Captain)

Lastly thanks for maintaining the website and this tradition as it added a lot to our trip having something to aim for and to keep the challenge alive!

ESCAPADE 2025 – 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…..

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!
2025 – No changes to 2024 route!