• Karen Hechinger
  • Karen Hechinger

French Alps Ski Trip

A 14-day adventure by Karen Read more
  • Les 3 Vallees

    January 24 in France ⋅ ☁️ 36 °F

    Mike & I popped over to France to spend a week skiing the French Alps at the Three Valleys Ski Resort with some of his old ski buddies, with a few extra days added for some touristing.

    The 3 Valleys ski area in the French Alps is actually 7 ski resorts:

    Courchevel
    Meribel
    Val Thorens
    Les Menuires
    Brides les Baines
    Saint Martin des Belleville
    Orelle

    Our trip plan is:
    Th - travel to Lyon France, arriving Fri AM
    Fri - in Lyon
    Sat - bus to Courchevel (3 valleys)
    Sat PM all week to next Sat AM at the ski resort
    Sat AM - drive to & visit Annecy, 2 nights
    Mon - drive to & visit Lyon 2 nights
    Wed - fly home

    This group of people I'm with are Mike's friends who are mostly retired military who met each other through a skiing club based in Germany many years ago. Super nice folks who are all much better skiers than me. (Not that hard to be). We have 3 chalets in Courchevel, with a 5 minute walk/ski to the lift. Sweet!

    I skied with the group the first 2 days, and then broke off for 2 other days to stay on slopes within my skiing skill level. 2 days we found decent snow, with the other 2 days being a bit icy & challenging. I did manage to keep my feet, despite numerous "whoop di doos" on the ice.

    Beautiful scenery though!

    Sadly, a fire broke out at one of the luxury ski resort hotels in Courchevel. We watched as the fire crew successfully battled the attic-initiated fire. I understand no one was hurt.

    People told me that the ski experience in Europe would be different than that in the US. It is! Its all about lunch, beer & cheese here. The group prides itself in the self-description "drinkers with a skiing problem".

    Great fun!

    Btw - can you believe Djokovic beat Sinner in a 5 set AO semifinal match? Shocker!!! His reward is Alcaraz in the final. Good luck ND.
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    Trip end
    February 4, 2026