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Val Thorens ski area news: what's new for 2013/14?
Every summer, Val Thorens invests in the ski area. In summer 2013, around €12 million is being spent to make improvements. These include replacing the Peyron chairlift in Orelle, changing the 2 Lacs chair for a more modern chairlift, and using the old 2 Lacs chair to replace 3 Valleys 2. Read the Val Thorens ski area news 2013 here.
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We report first on works the Val Thorens lift company, SETAM, is planning to carry out over summer 2013; then on plans that are either provisional (because they are subject to obtaining permissions), or likely to happen in the next year or two. The information is from a talk given by Jean Bourcet, SETAM's Director General, at the end of the 2012/13 season.
Val Thorens ski area news: replacing Peyron, 2 Lacs, and 3 Valleys 2
Peyron
The Peyron chairlift is due to be replaced. This is the lower of the two chairs that take skiers up towards the Pointe du Bouchet in Orelle. (The other is called Bouchet). Currently, they are both non-débrayable, which means that the chairs remain attached to the cable all the time. The speed of such chairs is limited by the fact that they do not slow down at the departure and arrival points, and they must go slow enough to allow skiers to get on and off.
SETAM's data show that fewer people than anticipated take Peyron and Bouchet. They believe this is due to the slow pace of the lifts. Certainly, riding both of them is a leisurely affair. Should Angela Merkel and Francois Hollande take them one day, it may lead to the resolution of the eurozone crisis.
SETAM will replace the old Peyron chair with a débrayable (detachable) chairlift, which will be much faster.
2 Lacs
The current 2 Lacs chair is detachable, but it's somewhat outdated, and the chairs turn tightly at the departure point. Since it's the main beginners' lift, it's important that getting on and off should be as easy as possible. It's being replaced with a new detachable chairlift, which will be built on the existing pylons. The old 2 Lacs chairs and lift mechanism will be used for Three Valleys 2.
Three Valleys 1
Three Valleys 1 is also an old, non-detachable lift. There's a plan to replace it with a modern chairlift, that will also have two cabins designed for pedestrians. (The cabins are to meet the demand from non-skiers to access the Folie Douce).
The history of this link to Méribel Mottaret began with a lift called Mont de Péclet, built in 1972, which went all the way to the top. In 1984, Mont de Péclet was replaced with 3 Vallées 1 and 3 Vallées 2, dividing the uplift into two separate sections. 2013 is the year for the next improvement.
Update autumn 2013: the new lift is to be called 'les Pionniers', and four specially-designed 4-person gondolas.
Three Valleys 2
Three Valleys 2, which has been non-detachable until now, is being replaced with the old 2 Lacs mechanism and chairs. It is to be called 'Three Valleys', so loses the '2' from its name. (Meanwhile, the Funitel adjacent to it changes its name from Funitel Bouquetin to Funitel des 3 Vallées).
Val Thorens ski area news: zip wire
In an exciting development, the top of the Bouchet chairlift in Orelle will be linked to the top of the Funitel de Thorens by a 1300m-long zip wire. The difference in height from top to bottom is 250m. It costs €50, which includes transport of your ski equipment, and is payable at the departure point.
Val Thorens ski area news: future and provisional plans
Portette
Portette chair could be replaced with a new chairlift, which would start a little lower down, near the Chalet du Thorens and the Moraine chair. SETAM believe that Portette misses out on potential users who have paused at the Chalet du Thorens, because the start point of the lift is just too high for them.
Borgne
When you stand at the Folie Douce, and look up at Three Valleys 2, there is an area up to your right known as the Borgne, with no lifts or pistes. SETAM have a project to add a lift there (perhaps the old Portette chair), to create another piste in a sunny area.
Pont de la Chasse
This would be an extra link between Les Menuires and Val Thorens. A piste would be made, starting from the bottom of the Montaulever draglift in Les Menuires, crossing the main road, and arriving at the pont de la Chasse (the bridge which takes the boulevard Cumin over the stream, just above the departure point of Plan de l' Eau). The return to Val Thorens would be by Plan de l' Eau chairlift.
The project depends on permissions, and the agreement of the Les Menuires lift company, the SEVABEL.
