Okay, I though I'd post some of the new developments in the Val Thorens area. There's also a video that explains it all much better than me!
1) New Fun Slope
The main development is the creation of a new easier ski cross course called the Fun Slope. The idea is that it should be accessible to as many people as possible, so it should be ideal for kids and relative beginners.
It will be 1km long, and have rolling bumps, banked corners, a tunnel, and some special sound effects. An animated version of the course is shown in the video, and to be fair it does look fun! 😉 It looks as though it may go alongside the Traversée des Deux Lacs, towards the Portette and Moraine chairlifts.
2) Existing ski cross course
With the addition of the fun slope it means that they can keep the existing ski cross course for more experienced riders so that they can experience a World Cup course. They'll also be a timing element and video in addition.
3) New Piste - Piste de la Chasse
When you get to the bottom of Pluviometre, instead of going into the resort of Val Thorens, or Les Menuires, it'll be possible to follow the new red piste de la Chasse over the road, and via the chalet Chez Pépé Nicolas, to boulevard Cumin and the Plan de l' Eau chairlift.
There's also a few more developments around ski touring, igloos on top of hotels(!) etc which are all in the video.
All good stuff! Though part of me is rather sad that Chez Pepe Nicholas is no longer going to involve getting off the beaten track.
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Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
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3) New Piste - Piste de la Chasse
When you get to the bottom of Pluviometre, instead of going into the resort of Val Thorens, or Les Menuires, it'll be possible to follow the new red piste de la Chasse over the road, and via the chalet Chez Pépé Nicolas, to boulevard Cumin and the Plan de l' Eau chairlift.
I saw this on the latania.co.uk, but interestingly, this piste does not appear on the 2016 Les Menuires piste map
Cheers @kioksor for posting the new piste map - as well as the new Chasse piste, it also shows the fun slope and a new easy park adjacent to the snow park.
Also.... is that a new piste (lory) over in Orelle, in the Bouchet valley! Haven't heard anything about that - that's a really interesting development as that area is very popular with off-pisters.
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@Handy Turnip, like the idea of Lory; 3V again next year to try it out! I also like the idea of new red Chasse as it extends a really nice piste in Plouvimetre; but also good in being able to avoid going through VT to get to the Boismint sector.
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@stevew, yeah I'm excited about Lory too - it's exciting enough when they add a new run, but this one is a completely new area which just adds to it. I can see then adding a few more runs there in years to come.
A nice point on Chasse too, it's hard to avoid going through VT when going from sector to sector, but this'll do the job nicely!
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@Handy Turnip, Well spotted, I missed the new piste Lory when I first looked at the map on Saturday. It's not very clear from the map where it starts , it looks like the funitel? If it is then another major change giving another access route to Orelle.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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@stevew, yeah I'm excited about Lory too - it's exciting enough when they add a new run, but this one is a completely new area which just adds to it. I can see then adding a few more runs there in years to come.
Doesnt this just piste a previously open off piste area?
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
@kioksor, yes, for those that just ski on piste this will open up a completely new area. But you're right the area is a favourite among off-pisters so I'm not sure how well this news will be received by them. I know that a lot of off-pisters start their descent from the top of Bouchet, whereas Lory is starting from the Funitel de Thorens, so there is a little variation there (I stand to be corrected though!).
And more snow overnight in VT
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
Well as you've both pointed out, that new piste Lory means what was once a remote valley will now become a busy area. When the only lift in the 4th valley was the 2 person Rosael chair that you needed to get back to the VT sector, I first skied that area many years ago by traversing from the Col chairlift and then walking up the incline to the Col Pierre Lory. You then dropped down onto the glacier before the flatter run out to join the Rosael chair. A lovely run that is now much busier because of the off piste skiers coming from the Bouchet.
@thefatcontroller, try emailing or phoning the tourist office direct. They put together specific packages for the first two weekends (without transfers) for big ski and board weekend events anyway, and they've been extremely helpful when I've been on the phone to them - they might be able to use all those contacts to do something bespoke for another time period.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
kioksor wrote:
Quote:
@stevew, yeah I'm excited about Lory too - it's exciting enough when they add a new run, but this one is a completely new area which just adds to it. I can see then adding a few more runs there in years to come.
Doesnt this just piste a previously open off piste area?
Yep.
Sadly the rot had already set in with the zip wire over the valley, though you could almost ignore it once you were lower. Unfortunately a piste down there removes a lot of the interest from going in there, particularly the classic Col Pierre Lory entrance which gave a great mellow off piste run with a feel of being well away from it all - will hardly be worth the traverse/sidestep if you rejoin the piste a few hundred metres below the col.
Orelle locals not expecting Lory to be open this year . . . another year then
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
I took a walk to look at the new piste La Chase today. Quite a lot of the earthworks are done but not complete. The route of the piste takes it across the main road to Val Thorens(D117) and the steelwork for a new bridge across the road is in place. Where la Chase joins the Boulevard Cumin there is a river tributary to the river Doran to cross. Most of the earthworks are done at this point but work on crossing the tributary has not started although some RSJs have been delivered.
The piste runs close to the Chez Pepe Nicholas and both the restaurant and piste are a few minutes walk from the main restaurant car park. It will be interesting to see if day trippers start to use the car park for their days skiing rather than going further towards Val Thorens.
After all it is free
After all it is free
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Progress, apparently...
And a blue run from the top of la masse. Just not sure why it's needed when you have so much variety as it is.
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kioksor wrote:
Quote:
Progress, apparently...
And a blue run from the top of la masse. Just not sure why it's needed when you have so much variety as it is.
Might suit my ACL being ripped without the risk of the black?
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kioksor wrote:
Quote:
Progress, apparently...
And a blue run from the top of la masse. Just not sure why it's needed when you have so much variety as it is.
The blue was meant to have been there last season but I didn't see it.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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webcams across the 3vs showing the white stuff has fallen down to about 1800m
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
@stevew, The top half of the Bouquetin blue on La Masse was there last year and operational, I did ski it. The countdown markers were red on blue poles which I have not seen before. There was a massive amount of earthworks out of season last year to build it with a constant convoy of trucks going up and down. It may be it was just too much work to complete. As far as I can tell the earthworks are now complete.
Also in Les Menuires they have started to dismantle the Montagnettes chairlift despite opposition from ESF who used it a lot for beginners. It may have an impact at busy times with beginners now using the Menuires chairlift. I avoid La Croisette whenever I can anyway so not too worried but not so good for beginners.
3v's guarantee of having more connected runs open than anywhere else in europe!
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application conditions
If one European ski area offers more open connected runs, the 3 valleys undertake to refund any un-used days during the validity of your skipass.
This guarantee applies for every day of the 3 Valleys season. It applies to 3 Valley passes of 6 days and over (Except season passes, 3 Valley Liberty & Pedestrians passes) bought on the internet or as an all-inclusive package at resort booking centres, as well passes bought through accommodation providers or tour operators offering this ski pass through their brochure or website.
If a single European ski area offers a larger number of open connected runs, the 3 Vallées undertake to refund you, in the form of a credit note, for any days not used during the duration of the validity of your ski pass. Repayment can be done only for the days not used during which another European ski area could claim a number of linked pistes open over and above the 3 valleys area.
Evidence of more open connected runs must also be verifiable and produced by the customer.
Only runs closed due to lack of snow will be taken into account: Closures due to bad weather, technical failures, or for security reasons (triggering of avalanches, glacial crevasses...) cannot be invoked for using the guarantee. A run is considered as a connected one when it communicates directly or via a lift with another run, forming a connected whole.
A day is considered to be used if one lift has been taken. This data is checked from your Skipass.
how to benefit from this guarantee:
Please return your pass as well as proof of purchase and proof of an another European resort with a larger number of open connected runs within 2 months after the end of your stay to your lift operator ticket office or by mail to l’Association des 3 Vallées - 378 avenue des Bellevillle - 73600 MOUTIERS TARENTAISE - France. We will refund the unused days within four months of receiving the documents. The refund will be a credit note whose value will correspond to the prorata of unused days. The credit shall be valid for the current season and the next.
FAQ
Poster: A snowHead
The chances of anyone claiming that guarantee successfully are exactly zero.