|
|
| False white helleborine (left) and yellow gentian |
|
|
The summer season proper begins this weekend, starting with a major open mountain biking competition, the “3 Vallées Tout Terrain”. All this weekend lycra-clad adrenaline-junkies will hurtle around the tracks and paths of the Three Valleys. Reaching death-defying speeds on Saturday they'll race from the summit of the Saulire (2700m) all the way down to Brides les Bains (600m) and complete various tours of the ski area on Sunday using the ski lifts as well as leg power for the uphill sections.
I should perhaps confess that my own mountain biking forays are limited to tentative descents of the Truite piste (bizarrely, this green, almost-flat ski runs appears horribly steep in summer) but I’m delighted that the lifts will now be open. For walkers, the lifts allow easy access to the higher trails, the un-sporty can easily enjoy the views and restaurants at the summits and for bikers the lifts offer almost unlimited downhill fun.
In the Méribel valley, the major Tougnète 1 & 2 and Pas du Lac 1 & 2 lifts will open over the summer, with a similar number of gondola lifts running in both the Courchevel and Belleville valleys. The Méribel lifts will open 6 days per week from Friday 3rd July to the last weekend of August. (See here for full details of 3 Valley lift openings).
There are additional attractions this year for bikers: new this year is the Chaudanne Bike Park, which will offer wooden obstacles of varying difficulty and next week is the first Meribel theme week dedicated to biking, with children’s introductory sessions, demonstrations and other events.
Happily, the lift tickets are cheaper in summer than in winter: a one week pass giving access to all the open lifts in the Three Valleys costs only 41€ and a day pass is just 15€. Even better value is the Meripass, which gives access to all the open lifts plus the swimming pool and ice rink and discounts on various other summer activities. And if you bought a Three Valley winter season pass, you can use it all summer for free! (A Méribel valley winter season pass can be upgraded to cover the whole summer for 40€).
The resort is already looking busy. In particular, the Chaudanne this afternoon was a hive of activities. Ponies were being cantered up the Truite piste; boule players were practising; the bike and skate parks are being constructed; teenagers were playing basketball; sunbathers were soaking up the rays on Le Sporting’s terrace and walkers were setting out on the hiking path to Mottaret.
Although there are lots of different activities on offer in summer, it is always more relaxed than the winter and the pace of life is more gentle.
On my walks around the valley this week I have been spotting new flowers coming into bloom. The magnificent Yellow Gentians are now in their full glory. The height of this plant is, according to local lore, an indicator of the snow depth the following winter. (Last summer the Gentians were particularly tall, and the winter snows were exceptional, so perhaps there is some truth in this particular old wives’ tale. I shall keep a keen eye on how high they grow this summer).
Foragers should note that Gentians often grow in proximity to a look-a-like plant, the False White Helleborine, which has resulted in accidental poisonings in the past. The root of the Gentian are gathered to make the alcoholic drink, Gentiane, while the roots of the Helleborine, are highly toxic. I was amused to learn that the local name for the Helleborine is ‘tue belle-mere’ or ‘mother-in-law killer’.
Don't forget you can find out what events and special theme weeks are on during the summer season with our What's On Calendar.
|
