“We developed these maps because mountains aren’t flat,” says Stephen Brittain, creator of MountMaps, a new 3-D way of finding your way around the pistes. “Ski areas are massive spaces and it’s difficult to visualise all that’s on offer using existing ski maps.”
Well, maybe not for skiing geographers, but a pop-up, wallet-sized MountMap made of 100 per cent recyclable plastic sounds an improvement on the usual paper map that turns into a soggy ball after being stuffed in a salopette pocket. The first map in this series is of Les Trois Vallees, and will be sold this season at all lift stations in the Courchevel and Meribel valleys and through tour operators. It costs e5 and will also be available online from www.mountmaps.com. MountMaps are also planned this winter for Canada’s Big White, where a huge expansion programme has just been completed, and Whistler Blackcomb, also in British Columbia, where 1,100 acres of new terrain are being introduced.
We have 25 MountMaps of Les Trois Vallees to give away to TES readers. To enter our draw, email friday@tes.co.uk, or send a postcard to the address on page 3, by November 19. Mark your message MountMaps competition.