3 Valleys (a bit of my trip)

Trip Summary
4th March 2012 (6 days)
Tour Operator: Mark Warner
Flights: BMI Heathrow/Geneva
Stayed in Motteret – 3 Valleys

First off, Snow conditions are fantastic, no bare patches although occasionally "slushy" on lower south facing slopes by 3pm. A few inches of fresh snow topped-up twice during the week. 4 days clear blue, two foggy days (one you couldn't even see the next piste marker at times (not so nice))

Flights with BMI (Charter) were great, comfortable with food included even on the short 1hr 15min flight. Geneva is a 2.5 – 3 hr coach transfer and if I can avoid this another time I will, I much prefer Grenoble or Chambery transfers (1.5-2 hr) even though those alternative airports themselves are lacking facilities in every possible way.

So this is my third trip with MW and I find them excellent, fantastic food (too much actually). Staff are "youthful" (ok, I mean make me feel old) but extremely helpful and make all the right effort. The Chalet-Hotel Tarrentaise is on the slopes in Motteret.

MW promote this chalet more as being "Meribel" probably because it is a better known area…however if you want Meribel then Motteret is not going to ring your bells. Motteret is much smaller and quieter (Meribel is 20min away on a free bus), anyway much better for being quieter in my opinion.

If you are skiing in the 3 Valleys then Motteret has to be one of the best places to be based, it is high enough for good snow and central to all the valleys so you can go to any valley on any day without clockwatching and worrying so much about last lifts home.

If you're not aware, 3-V is promoted as the largest linked ski area…it is huge. If you stay in Val T, for example, and want to ski in Courcheval then you need to be heading over first lifts in the morning and start heading back after lunch (especially for slower skiers or busy weeks). If you're a beginner, whichever valley you are in, I suggest you possibly only need a "one valley pass" and perhaps have a "second valley top-up" for a selected day or two.

With good snow this year runs even down to Courchevel 1550, La Tania 1400, and Saint Martin 1450 all really nice places to drop into (quiet). Also missed by all the crowds is the Masse area, here you'll probably have runs all to yourself.

Can't possibly run through all my favourite pistes, but suffice to say in such a vast area there is something for everyone.

But coming-up is an "challenge day" for faster skiers...

Bit of a challenge - don't miss the last lift back!

Starting on the first lift (9:10am) taking "Plattieres" from Motteret to the top of station 2, short drop to "Cote Brune" lift…this is the access point at 2800m into Val T, then taking "Pluviometre" (lovely first thing, wide blue to warm up – crowded at the end of the day) into Val T 2300m . Next taking "Funitel Peclet" and "Glacier" lifts to about 3100m.

Take "Tete Ronde" (blue) and turn onto "Christine" (red) which is a fast fun run down to "Moraine" lift and the short "Col" lift to 3130m (Glacier de Thorens). These are often cold windy lifts so wrap up).

Next drop down "Genepi" (blue) to "Portette" & "Thorens" lifts which take you back up to about 3000m. Next is "Chocard" & "Fond" & "Plateau"(blues) to "Grand Fond" lift. Straight back to 3000m again. Off here there is a short road (blue) to the "4th valley" Orelle (somebody can't count!). "Gentianes" (blue) or "Mauriennaise" (red) are the next runs in to the Orelle area.

Orelle is small but worth a look with a couple of nice runs (blues & reds). Two lifts up, "Peyron" followed immediately by ""Bouchet" and you're at the highest point of my day - 3230m. The runs back down are named after the two lifts. Here you are now heading back out to Val T on the "Rosael" lift.

"Falaise" (red) into "Gentiane" (blue) passes back under Grand Fond and onto "Cime Caron" lift (bit of a queue expected here). Now you have a 5 mile continuous run from 3200m to under 1800mm. "Col de l'audzin" (red) into "Gentiane" (blue) into "Bvd Cumin" (road with some flat parts unfortunately).

Bubble "Masse 1" with a good snack bar and deckchairs for quick lunch stop at the top. Short drop to "Masse 2" bubble to 2800m, with a lovely run "Fred Covilli" (red) past Masse 2 again, and into "Les Enverses" cutting back to the bottom of Masse 1 again. "Doron" lift is the fastest out into Les Menuires and straight onto "Mont de la Chambre" lift and say good bye to this valley.

"Lac de la Chambre" (red) is a nice run if quiet, apart from the very last section which needs some speed to avoid poleing to reach "Mont Vallon" lift. Then my favourite run "Combe de Vallon" (red), which is sadly rapidly spoilt when it turns into "Ours" (blue) which unless like me you can carry a lot of momentum (I mean body mass!) this will be a pole back to Mottert. (or you can opt to avoid "Ours" by going via "Mures Rouge" & "Plan des Mains" lifts & "Sittlle" (blue)).

In Motteret take "Pas du Lac" to the top (2 stations). "Cruex" (red) is a lovely wide run except can be busy toward the end of the day. "Chanrossa" lift gets you 2734m and the last peak to aim for in the tour. "Jean Pachod" (red) and "Marmottes" lift get you high enough to get back into Mottert, (blacks & reds to choose from).

If that doesn't earn you a beer then nothing will. Estimated about 70 miles, 10 peaks, lots of lovely runs!!

Hi Smartski,

Thank you for your comprehensive report :thumbup:
We are off to La Tania on 17 March :D Can't wait!

Favourite runs & mountain eateries?

Regards,

biki17 wrote:HiSmartski,
Is the 4th valley worth visiting?

Don't bust a gut getting over there, but if you've got up to the top of "Grand Fond" then why not. It's just a small 2-run extension to Val T really.

SmartSki I think you have covered off everything I did when I was there. I stayed in VT, got as far as monterat and thought it was a great place.

Your "challenge". I pretty much did that - but staying in VT obviously ommitted the first bit. It is a great route. The part in Orelle you refer to as being the highest that day, is in fact the highest peak in the 3 Valleys. You can also get there via a black over the back of Cime Caron :)

I did the Tete rond & Christine on a day that sounds similar to yours - cant see the next poleon the piste,or in fact even the sides of the piste. In places it was a bit scary :roll: We actually headed over to Les Menuires that day as it seemed a bit sunnier over there

I was lucky and had 5 days of blue sky. We did consider looking an monterat next season. Is it pricey? I had lunch there a couple of days (at the bottom of the blue "ours") and it cost be a fair few quid!

Iceman wrote:SmartSki I think you have covered off everything I did when I was there.

Damn, thought I was the first :shock:

Iceman wrote:
Is it pricey? I had lunch there a couple of days (at the bottom of the blue "ours") and it cost be a fair few quid!

er, yes..most I've ever paid :oops: . But not as bad as Courchevel ... paid £18 for a pancake & sprite ..nearly died.

I never got round to Courcheval and Meribel (proper) this season ;)

I think it was Monterat that I paid €20 for a bowl of onion soup :shock:

But then skiing is not a budget holiday break :roll:

Very fond of Mottaret - great memories.

How does the Tarentaise compare with the Berangere generally Smartski??