ESCAPADE 2025: Billy Snow Mates 2025 Billy Bash

20 March 2025

It was the ‘Billy Snow Mates’ 2025 Billy Bash. 100+ of us descended on VT for a week. At the start of the week someone posted the ‘Escapade route’. As the week progressed the itch to do it increased to the point where I gathered eight like-minded people to give it a go. 

I plotted out the route on the paper map and then made a list of the lifts and pistes that were needed. Sandwiches were made, snacks gathered. We were good to go!

The weather forecast for the day was good so we set off starting at Peclet in VT.  We instantly managed to lose two of the group on the first run- Christine! However one of the two was an ex-ski instructor of many years so we figured he would have no problem catching up, we were right! 

We got slightly over excited once popping back into VT from Orelle, took a wrong turn from the Cime Caron which resulted in us running through VT after having to get the Cairn lift up to get to Pionniers.  

At this point the group size had decreased to five! Nearly 4 when an overzealous lifty did a bag search for alcohol on one of the group! Did he not realise we were on a mission of a different kind?!! 

One girl managed to catch us up as we made our way down Ours (she skipped Mont Vallon) and despite Ours being officially “closed” it was very much rideable down to Meribel-Mottaret!

The six of us then proceeded to tick off the skiers right of the piste map however as we got closer and closer back to the centre of the map, we realised time was running out!

6 then became 5 and then 4 as people’s legs started to give out.

After a quick Google of how long the Masse lift took, how long Reberty chairlift took, the last lift for Bruyeres to get us back in to VT (and whether there was a bus back to VT if we missed it!) we headed up the Masse bubble. 

With about 10 minutes to spare, the remaining four of us (two skiers and two snowboarders) hoofed it Pointe De La Masse to Reberty and made Bruyère’s with 4 minutes to spare! 

An absolutely cracking day and one I think we’ll all definitely repeat next time we’re in the three valleys!

PS – the lost 4 were eventually accounted for and no one was lost forever on the mountain.

Completers:
Jill Edmonds (boarder)
Pete Nesbitt (boarder)
Seth Sannick (skier)
Keith Ewing (skier)

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

Send a pic of yourselves on the day with your successful tracker data & screenshot plus a story of your day to toffa@latania.co.uk and you’ll get your place in the HoF.

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!