184: Hiking Les 3 Vallées, Zermatt's Alpine Crossing & Car Sharing in Méribel

We find out what it's like hiking across Les 3 Vallées, about the new Alpine Crossing in Zermatt and an environmentally-focussed ski school in Méribel. Iain was joined by Estelle Roy from the Les Menuires Tourist Office and Ollie Scott from the ski school Rhythm to Ride in Méribel. Intersport Ski Hire Discount Code Save money on your ski hire by using the code ‘SKIPODCAST’ at intersportrent.com, or simply take this link for your discount to be automatically applied at the checkout. SHOW NOTES The zero isotherme went as high as 5300m in the Alps (01:00) There has been new snow down to 2300m (2:00) Ollie ski toured to La Grande Casse in May (3:00) Iain skied in Zermatt last week (4:00) https://twitter.com/skipedia/status/1695071076483477691 In recent episodes, we’ve heard about mountain biking, road cycling and family activities in Les 3 Vallées (5:00) The Lac de Rosière is spectacular (5:45) Florent Hazucka works for the Courchevel Tourist Office (6:15) There are the remains of a plane, which crashed at Breche Portetta in 1969 (9:00) Iain stayed at the Refuge du Grand Plan (11:00) There’s also a refuge at Lac Merlet, both are in the Vanoise National Park (12:00) Listen to Iain’s report on staying the night at the Refuge du Saut last winter (14:00) Iain stayed on his second night at Refuge du Lac du Lou (15:45) Listen to Iain’s experience of ski touring to the Refuge at night (19:30) You can try ice diving in Les Menuires in winter (19:45) Katya reported on ice swimming in Samoens in Episode 166 (23:00) It's an easy walk from Chez Pepe Nicolas to Lac du Lou (23:30) You can book the refuge via their website (24:30) The Matterhorn Ultraks trail running weekend includes 5 different races (26:00) Marc Lagger is Communications Manager for Zermatt Bergbahnen (27:00) Read Iain’s article for Fall Line Magazine This year’s races will take place on the weekends of 18/19 and 25/26 November (30:00) Listen to Iain’s interview with the organiser of the Speed Opening Downhill races, recorded in September 2022 (35:00) Ollie Scott is a co-founder of Rhythm to Ride ski school in Méribel (35:45) Any hours booked with Rhythm to Ride lead to seeds being planted in Africa (39:00) Rhythm to Ride set up the the CarPool Tool (40:30) They donate 3% of their income to Protect Our Winters (46:00) Find out more about the new train services to the Alps at Ski Flight Free (47:00) We discussed Thredbo’s lift pass cap in Episode 183 (48:00) Feedback I enjoy all feedback about the show, I like to know what you think, ideas for features so please contact on social @theskipodcast or by email [email protected]  Joe Childs: “New Ski Podcast day is always a great day!” Hocenski Hoc Dalibor: “Nice podcast” Peter: “I've started listening to your podcast two days ago and am slowly listening to most of your old episodes. I am currently at Episode 24.”  If you like the podcast, there are couple of things you can do to help:   1) Review us on Apple Podcasts  2) Buy me a coffee at www.buymeacoffee.com/theskipodcast There are 184 episodes to catch up with and 134 were listened to in the last week. You can follow me @skipedia and the podcast @theskipodcast