How to avoid getting lost

The last post covered some tips to stay safe when visibility becomes limited, it proved to be quite timely as we have been dealt a few bad visibility days since the post was published. In between we have had more snow and some lovely sunny days which can tempt many to make the most of the huge skiing area here in the Three Valleys. So in this huge area how do you find your way around?

Piste Map:

Freely available everywhere, you can even get one printed on a lens cloth. The entire 3 Valleys is on one side of the map, the other side shows one of the Valleys in a larger scale which is much easier to read. The larger scale side will show the Valley where you picked up the map so as you move between the valleys it is a good idea to pick up a new map. The Piste Map also has the closing times of the lifts so no excuse to miss the last lift.

The 3 Valleys App:

This puts a wealth of information at your fingertips whilst you are on the go or sitting at home planning your day. It's a free App which includes webcams, suggested routes, weather conditions plus much more. Better than a brochure and it can track your progress around the ski area, available through the Apple App Store

Sign boards:

At the top and bottom of the major lifts there are signboards which give you information relating to lifts and the pistes they give you access to. Opening and closing times, status of runs, weather conditions, a clock (again no excuse to miss the last lift) the current avalanche risk rating and direction information to get to other valleys are usually included as standard. In addition you will often see blackboards or whiteboards as in the picture below, with additional information such as which runs are groomed and sometimes the Pisteurs suggestions for "Piste of the Day". If the weather turns nasty the blackboards are where information relating to the best way home are posted so be sure to read them. If bad weather is expected you will see messages relating to the sudden closure of links between the Valleys, pay particular attention to these as lifts can close as suddenly as the weather changes.

Lots of additional information written by the Lift operators each day

Maps showing the pistes available to you can be found at the base of each lift

Piste Markers

Probably the most obvious source of information about where you are can be found on the Piste poles. The colour of the pole tells you which grade of piste you are on and every couple of poles there will be a pole with the name of the piste on. Where there are numbers these count down as you move down the piste so if you are on a nasty black piste and the number reads "15" you have a way to go! The numbers are very important if you need to report an accident or summon help, also handy to identify exactly where on  a piste you are if you become separated from your group and someone calls you and asks that infernal "where are you" question.

Some piste markers also include the name of the ski are as this one does in Les Menuires

Finally one of the best sources of information are the people around you in particular the Lift Operators and Piste Patrols. They ski the area daily, most of them have lived locally for years so don't be afraid to ask for help or advice. All lift stations carry maps and will point out to you exactly where you are. In addition to staff at the start and end of each lift you will also see huts like the one below where the Piste Patrols are stationed, don't be afraid to knock on the door and ask, none of them bite - not even the Avalanche dogs who will often be inside waiting to be sent out to do their very important work.