2023 Val Thorens, Club Med, France, Skiing
Went with Elizabeth, Benedict and Kimi from 23-31 Dec 2023. We finally skied down black slopes, and tried going over moguls, managing to explore most of the 3 valleys.
![Les 3 Vallées Piste Map](/static/images/2023-12-30/3-valleys.jpg)
![Val Thorens Piste Map](/static/images/2023-12-30/val-thorens-orelle.jpg)
Slopes attempted
25/12 Monday
I can't remember - maybe Plein Sud?
26/12 Tuesday
Morning: VT27 > VT23 > VT24 > Lory > OR3 > Niveroille > Fond
![Club Med photographer attempts to take our photo](/static/images/2023-12-30/photographer.jpg)
Afternoon: VT2/3? > VT5 > Chardons > Corniche?
27/12 Wednesday
Morning: Pointe De La Masse > Bouquetin > Masse 1 > Doron > Mont De la Chambre > ? > VT13 > Tete ronde
In the afternoon, we skied with Tobias, a friendly, energetic Chinese Club Med receptionist with interesting stories.
![Atop Cime Caron 3230m, one of the peaks in the 3 Valleys](/static/images/2023-12-30/cime-caron.jpg)
Afternoon: VT32 Caron > VT33 Cime Caron > Col de l'audzin > Gentiane
![Jellybeans we saw while exploring the Christmas market](/static/images/2023-12-30/jellybeans.jpg)
28/12 Thursday
Today, we explored Maribel and Courchevel with our instructor Pierre.
Morning: VT3 Plein Sud > VT5 > Lac de la chambres > Plans des mains> Sitelle > Martre > Truite> Legends > Lievre? > Rhodos 1 > Rhodos 2 > Loze? > Col de la loze > Coqs? > Jardin Alpine > Biollay > Vizelle > Marcassin > Aigle > Plattiers> Cote brune > ?
In the afternoon (2+pm), me and Benedict explored a black slope ourselves.
![Long, lone chairlift](/static/images/2023-12-30/chairlift.jpg)
Afternoon: VT32 Caron > VT33 Cime Caron > Combe de caron > VT33 Cime Caron > Cime > Fond > VT23 Portette > VT24 Thorens > Asters > Genepi
29/12 Friday
Morning: VT34 Moutiere > VT26 Grand Fond > Mauriennaise > OR4 Peyron > La croix d'Antide > OR3 Rosael > Chamois > Fond
Benedict and me explored a mogul filled black slope during lunchtime.
![Moguls at the Combe rosael slope](/static/images/2023-12-30/moguls.jpg)
Lunchtime: VT32 > VT33 > Combe de caron > VT33 > Combe rosael > OR3 Rosael > Chamois > Fond
Afternoon: VT32 Caron > VT33 Cime Caron > Cime > Fond > VT21 Moraine > Moraine
30/12 Saturday
![Warning sign atop Mount Vallon](/static/images/2023-12-30/vallon-sign.jpg)
![View beyond the warning sign](/static/images/2023-12-30/vallon.jpg)
This day was to ourselves. We explored the following slopes:
- Lac de la chambre
- Campagnol
- Combe du vallon
- Ours
- Goitschel (a black slope)
- Lory
- Bouchet
- La croix d'Antide
- Mauriennaise
- Falaise
Ski Routes to try in the future:
Down Pointe de la Masse 2804m: Bd cumin > Pointe De La Masse > Fred Covili (red)/Lac Noir (black) > Les enverses > Reberty > Bruyeres 1 > Bruyeres 2 >
- Mont de la chambre > Plein sud
- (traverse) Lac de la chambre > Plein sud
Notes
Invaluable aids: Fatmap was invaluable in route planning and visualization, especially for the challenging slopes.
Ski tricks to practice:
- Backward direction change
- While facing backward, turn the head and shoulders toward the direction you wish to head toward, letting the ski on the same leg slide back as well.
- Backward turn
- Jumps
- 180 jump