{"id":1782354,"date":"2026-02-20T17:11:23","date_gmt":"2026-02-20T14:11:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1782354"},"modified":"2026-02-20T17:11:23","modified_gmt":"2026-02-20T14:11:23","slug":"les-3-vallees-france-report-courchevel-cold-pow-meribel-sun-kissed-pow-the-magic-combo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1782354","title":{"rendered":"Les 3 Vall\u00e9es, France, Report: Courchevel Cold Pow + M\u00e9ribel Sun-Kissed Pow = The Magic Combo"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"entry-content\">\n<p><span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\" data-start=\"131\" data-end=\"210\"><em>Report from February 18, 2026<\/em><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"131\" data-end=\"210\"><strong>Yesterday we woke up in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.les3vallees.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Les 3 Vall\u00e9es<\/a>, France, \u00a0to no new snow for the first time in what felt like weeks.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"212\" data-end=\"256\"><strong>There was a strange color in the sky\u2014blue.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"258\" data-end=\"276\"><strong>Esfand had a plan:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li data-start=\"278\" data-end=\"410\">Go to Courchevel<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"278\" data-end=\"410\">Ski the tree lines I know over there<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"278\" data-end=\"410\">Come back to M\u00e9ribel<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"278\" data-end=\"410\">Hit the L\u2019Oze chair when it opened around 1 p.m.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure id=\"attachment_391862\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-391862\" style=\"width: 1920px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-391862 lazyload\" src=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAoAAAAHiAQMAAABC1++sAAAABlBMVEUAAAD\/\/\/+l2Z\/dAAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAAAlwSFlzAAAOxAAADsQBlSsOGwAAAD1JREFUeNrtwTEBAAAAwqD1T20JT6AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAgL8BmIIAAZNBcuwAAAAASUVORK5CYII=\" alt width=\"640\" height=\"482\" data-src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260218_134136008.RAW-01.jpg?resize=640%2C482&amp;ssl=1\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260218_134136008.RAW-01.jpg?w=1920&amp;ssl=1 1920w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260218_134136008.RAW-01.jpg?resize=300%2C226&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260218_134136008.RAW-01.jpg?resize=1200%2C904&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260218_134136008.RAW-01.jpg?resize=768%2C578&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260218_134136008.RAW-01.jpg?resize=1536%2C1157&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260218_134136008.RAW-01.jpg?resize=600%2C452&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260218_134136008.RAW-01.jpg?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-eio-rwidth=\"640\" data-eio-rheight=\"482\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-391862\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260218_134136008.RAW-01.jpg?resize=640%2C482&amp;ssl=1\" alt width=\"640\" height=\"482\" data-eio=\"l\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-391862\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Monster Views at La Tania. Image: SnowBrains<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"ai-viewports ai-viewport-2 ai-viewport-3 ai-insert-2-65255371\" style=\"margin: 8px auto;text-align: center;clear: both\" data-insertion-position=\"prepend\" data-selector=\".ai-insert-2-65255371\" data-insertion-no-dbg data-code=\"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\" data-block=\"2\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"ai-viewports ai-viewport-1 ai-insert-1-99496853\" style=\"margin: 8px auto;text-align: center;clear: both\" data-insertion-position=\"prepend\" data-selector=\".ai-insert-1-99496853\" data-insertion-no-dbg data-code=\"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\" data-block=\"1\"><\/div>\n<p data-start=\"412\" data-end=\"448\"><strong>To be honest, it sounded impossible.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"450\" data-end=\"673\"><strong>We had to drop the kid off at ski school at 9 a.m., drive the 30 minutes to Courchevel, ski the fun, short, powdery tree runs I know there, drive back to M\u00e9ribel, and somehow make it in time for the L\u2019Oze opening around midday.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"675\" data-end=\"686\"><strong>Impossible.<\/strong><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_391859\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-391859\" style=\"width: 1920px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-391859 lazyload\" src=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAoAAAAHiAQMAAABC1++sAAAABlBMVEUAAAD\/\/\/+l2Z\/dAAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAAAlwSFlzAAAOxAAADsQBlSsOGwAAAD1JREFUeNrtwTEBAAAAwqD1T20JT6AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAgL8BmIIAAZNBcuwAAAAASUVORK5CYII=\" alt width=\"640\" height=\"482\" data-src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260218_124145927.RAW-01-1.jpg?resize=640%2C482&amp;ssl=1\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260218_124145927.RAW-01-1.jpg?w=1920&amp;ssl=1 1920w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260218_124145927.RAW-01-1.jpg?resize=300%2C226&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260218_124145927.RAW-01-1.jpg?resize=1200%2C904&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260218_124145927.RAW-01-1.jpg?resize=768%2C578&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260218_124145927.RAW-01-1.jpg?resize=1536%2C1157&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260218_124145927.RAW-01-1.jpg?resize=600%2C452&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260218_124145927.RAW-01-1.jpg?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-eio-rwidth=\"640\" data-eio-rheight=\"482\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-391859\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260218_124145927.RAW-01-1.jpg?resize=640%2C482&amp;ssl=1\" alt width=\"640\" height=\"482\" data-eio=\"l\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-391859\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Happy terrain. Image: SnowBrains<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p data-start=\"688\" data-end=\"702\"><strong>But it worked.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"704\" data-end=\"723\"><strong>Esfand is a genius.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"725\" data-end=\"884\"><strong>The north-facing powder tree runs in Courchevel were epic. We harvested four splendid laps before sprinting back to the car and heading to M\u00e9ribel around noon.<\/strong><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_391860\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-391860\" style=\"width: 1920px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-391860 lazyload\" src=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAoAAAAHiAQMAAABC1++sAAAABlBMVEUAAAD\/\/\/+l2Z\/dAAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAAAlwSFlzAAAOxAAADsQBlSsOGwAAAD1JREFUeNrtwTEBAAAAwqD1T20JT6AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAgL8BmIIAAZNBcuwAAAAASUVORK5CYII=\" alt width=\"640\" height=\"482\" data-src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260218_124149092.RAW-01-1.jpg?resize=640%2C482&amp;ssl=1\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260218_124149092.RAW-01-1.jpg?w=1920&amp;ssl=1 1920w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260218_124149092.RAW-01-1.jpg?resize=300%2C226&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260218_124149092.RAW-01-1.jpg?resize=1200%2C904&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260218_124149092.RAW-01-1.jpg?resize=768%2C578&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260218_124149092.RAW-01-1.jpg?resize=1536%2C1157&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260218_124149092.RAW-01-1.jpg?resize=600%2C452&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260218_124149092.RAW-01-1.jpg?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-eio-rwidth=\"640\" data-eio-rheight=\"482\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-391860\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260218_124149092.RAW-01-1.jpg?resize=640%2C482&amp;ssl=1\" alt width=\"640\" height=\"482\" data-eio=\"l\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-391860\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Pow. Image: SnowBrains<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"ai-viewports ai-viewport-2 ai-viewport-3 ai-insert-4-87377304\" style=\"margin: 8px auto;text-align: center;clear: both\" data-insertion-position=\"prepend\" data-selector=\".ai-insert-4-87377304\" data-insertion-no-dbg data-code=\"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\" data-block=\"4\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"ai-viewports ai-viewport-1 ai-insert-3-14611195\" style=\"margin: 8px auto;text-align: center;clear: both\" data-insertion-position=\"prepend\" data-selector=\".ai-insert-3-14611195\" data-insertion-no-dbg data-code=\"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\" data-block=\"3\"><\/div>\n<p data-start=\"886\" data-end=\"976\"><strong>We got lucky. The L\u2019Oze opening was delayed until 1 p.m., and we rolled up at about 12:45.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"978\" data-end=\"1084\"><strong>The line was big, but most folks were looking to drop the opposite side into La Tania or cruise the piste.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1086\" data-end=\"1175\"><strong>We slipped into two awesomely long tree runs in sun-kissed hot pow, completely untracked.<\/strong><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_391863\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-391863\" style=\"width: 1920px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-391863 lazyload\" src=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAoAAAAHiAQMAAABC1++sAAAABlBMVEUAAAD\/\/\/+l2Z\/dAAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAAAlwSFlzAAAOxAAADsQBlSsOGwAAAD1JREFUeNrtwTEBAAAAwqD1T20JT6AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAgL8BmIIAAZNBcuwAAAAASUVORK5CYII=\" alt width=\"640\" height=\"482\" data-src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260218_140531507.RAW-01.jpg?resize=640%2C482&amp;ssl=1\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260218_140531507.RAW-01.jpg?w=1920&amp;ssl=1 1920w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260218_140531507.RAW-01.jpg?resize=300%2C226&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260218_140531507.RAW-01.jpg?resize=1200%2C904&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260218_140531507.RAW-01.jpg?resize=768%2C578&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260218_140531507.RAW-01.jpg?resize=1536%2C1157&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260218_140531507.RAW-01.jpg?resize=600%2C452&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260218_140531507.RAW-01.jpg?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-eio-rwidth=\"640\" data-eio-rheight=\"482\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-391863\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260218_140531507.RAW-01.jpg?resize=640%2C482&amp;ssl=1\" alt width=\"640\" height=\"482\" data-eio=\"l\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-391863\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">La Tania has some legit terrain. Image: SnowBrains<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p data-start=\"1177\" data-end=\"1240\"><strong>We kept it mellow with avalanche danger still rated HIGH (4\/5).<\/strong><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1242\" data-end=\"1260\"><strong>I love this place.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1262\" data-end=\"1351\"><strong>There is so much terrain, so much powder, and not nearly enough freeriders to ski it all.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1262\" data-end=\"1351\"><strong><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-391858 lazyload\" src=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAoAAAAHiAQMAAABC1++sAAAABlBMVEUAAAD\/\/\/+l2Z\/dAAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAAAlwSFlzAAAOxAAADsQBlSsOGwAAAD1JREFUeNrtwTEBAAAAwqD1T20JT6AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAgL8BmIIAAZNBcuwAAAAASUVORK5CYII=\" alt width=\"640\" height=\"482\" data-src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260218_120121049.RAW-01-1.jpg?resize=640%2C482&amp;ssl=1\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260218_120121049.RAW-01-1.jpg?w=1920&amp;ssl=1 1920w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260218_120121049.RAW-01-1.jpg?resize=300%2C226&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260218_120121049.RAW-01-1.jpg?resize=1200%2C904&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260218_120121049.RAW-01-1.jpg?resize=768%2C578&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260218_120121049.RAW-01-1.jpg?resize=1536%2C1157&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260218_120121049.RAW-01-1.jpg?resize=600%2C452&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260218_120121049.RAW-01-1.jpg?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-eio-rwidth=\"640\" data-eio-rheight=\"482\"><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-391858\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260218_120121049.RAW-01-1.jpg?resize=640%2C482&amp;ssl=1\" alt width=\"640\" height=\"482\" data-eio=\"l\"><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1353\" data-end=\"1440\"><strong>We did explore the backside of L\u2019Oze for one run, and the terrain back there is unreal.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1442\" data-end=\"1538\"><strong>From there, we took it home\u2014which is easier said than done at the largest ski resort on Earth.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1442\" data-end=\"1538\"><strong>Merci, la France.<\/strong><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_391857\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-391857\" style=\"width: 1920px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"wp-image-391857 size-full lazyload\" src=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAoAAAAHiAQMAAABC1++sAAAABlBMVEUAAAD\/\/\/+l2Z\/dAAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAAAlwSFlzAAAOxAAADsQBlSsOGwAAAD1JREFUeNrtwTEBAAAAwqD1T20JT6AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAgL8BmIIAAZNBcuwAAAAASUVORK5CYII=\" alt width=\"640\" height=\"482\" data-src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260218_094200758.RAW-01-1.jpg?resize=640%2C482&amp;ssl=1\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260218_094200758.RAW-01-1.jpg?w=1920&amp;ssl=1 1920w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260218_094200758.RAW-01-1.jpg?resize=300%2C226&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260218_094200758.RAW-01-1.jpg?resize=1200%2C904&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260218_094200758.RAW-01-1.jpg?resize=768%2C578&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260218_094200758.RAW-01-1.jpg?resize=1536%2C1157&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260218_094200758.RAW-01-1.jpg?resize=600%2C452&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260218_094200758.RAW-01-1.jpg?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-eio-rwidth=\"640\" data-eio-rheight=\"482\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"wp-image-391857 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260218_094200758.RAW-01-1.jpg?resize=640%2C482&amp;ssl=1\" alt width=\"640\" height=\"482\" data-eio=\"l\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-391857\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Vista. Image: SnowBrains<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"ai-viewports ai-viewport-2 ai-viewport-3 ai-insert-4-43714769\" style=\"margin: 8px auto;text-align: center;clear: both\" data-insertion-position=\"prepend\" data-selector=\".ai-insert-4-43714769\" data-insertion-no-dbg data-code=\"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\" data-block=\"4\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"ai-viewports ai-viewport-1 ai-insert-3-83888035\" style=\"margin: 8px auto;text-align: center;clear: both\" data-insertion-position=\"prepend\" data-selector=\".ai-insert-3-83888035\" data-insertion-no-dbg data-code=\"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\" data-block=\"3\"><\/div>\n<figure id=\"attachment_391866\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-391866\" style=\"width: 1920px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-391866 lazyload\" src=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAoAAAAFnAQMAAAAMqmrHAAAABlBMVEUAAAD\/\/\/+l2Z\/dAAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAAAlwSFlzAAAOxAAADsQBlSsOGwAAADNJREFUeNrtwQENAAAAwqD3T20ON6AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALg1xlwAB\/HxwBAAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==\" alt width=\"640\" height=\"359\" data-src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Screenshot-2026-02-19-at-10.58.12-PM.jpg?resize=640%2C359&amp;ssl=1\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Screenshot-2026-02-19-at-10.58.12-PM.jpg?w=1920&amp;ssl=1 1920w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Screenshot-2026-02-19-at-10.58.12-PM.jpg?resize=300%2C168&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Screenshot-2026-02-19-at-10.58.12-PM.jpg?resize=1200%2C673&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Screenshot-2026-02-19-at-10.58.12-PM.jpg?resize=768%2C431&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Screenshot-2026-02-19-at-10.58.12-PM.jpg?resize=1536%2C862&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Screenshot-2026-02-19-at-10.58.12-PM.jpg?resize=600%2C337&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Screenshot-2026-02-19-at-10.58.12-PM.jpg?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-eio-rwidth=\"640\" data-eio-rheight=\"359\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-391866\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Screenshot-2026-02-19-at-10.58.12-PM.jpg?resize=640%2C359&amp;ssl=1\" alt width=\"640\" height=\"359\" data-eio=\"l\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-391866\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Skiing powder at Meribel, France. Image: SnowBrains<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><!-- CONTENT END 2 -->\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Report from February 18, 2026 Yesterday we woke up in Les 3 Vall\u00e9es, France, \u00a0to no new snow for the first time in what felt like weeks. There was a strange color in the sky\u2014blue. Esfand had a plan: Go to Courchevel Ski the tree lines I know over there Come back to M\u00e9ribel Hit [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,267],"class_list":["post-1782354","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-snowbrains-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1782354","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1782354"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1782354\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1782354"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1782354"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1782354"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}