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ESCAPADE 2026: Leon, Jonas, Pia, Constantia & Valentin
19 March 2026
After a failed attempt in March 2022, we finally conquered the Escapade Challenge on Thursday!
The Crew:
- Ski: Pia, Constantia, Valentin
- Snowboard: Leon, Jonas
We kicked things off at 8:45 AM, dropping from Courchevel 1850 down to Le Praz. However, luck wasn’t on our side initially – technical issues at the Forêt lift delayed our first ascent until 9:10 AM. With the memory of our 2021 failure looming, the pressure was on from the very first minute.
Following the descent to La Tania, we stuck to the suggested route. Even as long-time 3 Vallées veterans, we were surprised: the route led us to lifts like Tortollet, Bettex, and Grandes Combes – corners of the resort we had never explored before. Unlike our first attempt, the slopes were empty, the snow was fast, and we were making excellent time.
Disaster struck at the summit of Mont Vallon just as we were planning our relaxed return to Courchevel. A metal pin in Jonas’s binding snapped, rendering his board useless. Spirits plummeted; it felt like the challenge was over. Jonas managed a sketchy, slow descent down the long run and cat-tracks to Mottaret, but the lift staff at Pas du Lac had no tools or tape to help.
At the top of Saulire, we spotted a paraglider and asked for help. He offered us a piece of rope. Without a knife or scissors, we had to get creative: we used the freshly sharpened edges of the snowboard to cut the rope. With a series of professional sailing knots, we lashed the binding together. It held!
We officially completed the challenge at 4:10 PM in Courchevel 1550, leaving us with 50 minutes of lift time. At 85 km total distance, our ambition kicked in—we wanted the “100.”
We pushed through: Tovets to Plantrey, Bioley, and Suisse back up to Vizelle. From there, we took the Creux non-stop all the way down to Le Praz. With burning legs and a final count of over 100 kilometers, we finally called it a day.
ESCAPADE 2026 – 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 now at 32 lifts (depending on the route) ESCAPADE 2026 Route
THIS IS NOT A RACE
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, take care, don’t wreck things for others & don’t even think of blaming anyone else if it all goes horribly wrong….. Note that setting of record times and max speeds WILL NOT BE PUBLISHED
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!
2026 – Grandes Combs and Tortollet are added – ESCAPADE 2026
