English Weather, News, and Events - February 23, 2025

Weather:

February has returned to us as another overcast day is expected today, with a few snowflakes falling at altitude and perhaps even some rain in town! We are expecting light winds prevailing from the south west all day.
Temperatures are expected to reach a high of 2 degrees in town, a moderate increase on the -1 we are feeling now. it is currently -3.5 degrees on bellevarde and -6 on the pisaillas glacier.

Ski Report:

In Le Fornet, everything is open except the piste tunnel.

On the Pissaillas glacier everything is open with no exceptions.

Up in Solaise everything is open including the beginners area, except the 3000 drag lift which remains closed.
Similarly on Bellevarde, everything is open including both Liasons with Tignes, chairs Tommeuse and Borsat. There is a chance piste Santons may close later due to avalanche risk, if this does happen and you need a plan B you can return to Val Disere via the Epaule de Charvet piste.

All walking and ski touring trails are also open, as is the expert border cross.
The avalanche risk is 2/5 today.
The lack of fresh powder says to me there wont be an abundance of you heading off piste, but there may be a few so It's important to note that weather has been sunny recently which can lead to snowpack changes. it's essential to take local advice before you go off adventuring. If you are heading off piste be sure to take the right equipment with you, including a transiever, shovel and probe. Iif youve got an experienced person take one of those too, or even better hire a guide if you are not sure what you are doing! Also, it is holiday season so the pistes are very busy, take extra care.

Roads:

Roads remain clear of snow and ice, but ice is surfacing on the pavement so do take care when moving around on foot.

News:
History of the Refuge du Fond des Fours
If you are a fellow ski touring fan then we have some really exciting news for you this morning. The refuge du fond des fours is now open for keen ski tourers and hikers to spend the night.
The Refuge du Fond des Fours is now open for the rest of the winter season. The history of the refuge is closely tied to the creation of the Vanoise National Park in 1963. The park aimed to manage tourism by identifying areas where rest stops for hikers were lacking and decided to equip the entire Vanoise National Park with 16 buildings. Situated at an altitude of 2,537 meters in the Vallon des Fours in Val d'Isère, the first chaloin chalet was built out of necessity in 1969 and later developed, as explained by caretaker Claire Lamari:
She said, "Today, the refuge consists mainly of three chaloin chalets, named after their architecture. A company from Grenoble won the contract to build them. These are lightweight structures, featuring only concrete trusses with a wooden chalet on top, all designed with 45° angles. They are stabilized by steel cables. There is a chalet for the staff, which includes a dormitory for guides, and a space reserved for Vanoise National Park rangers who visit for wildlife monitoring, scientific studies, and other tasks. Another chalet is divided into two dormitories: one with 18 beds and the other with 20 beds. Lastly, there is the main chalet, which serves as the dining hall, containing the kitchen, the dining area, and, in summer, a gallery that houses the bathrooms, showers, and sinks."
The refuge opened on the 21st February and is open until late April and from mid-June to mid-September, accommodating up to 40 hikers. They offer dinner, breakfast and a picnic lunch if your needs be. Reservations are available on their website.

Guarded and Unattended Services
When the caretaker and her team are not present, the refuge remains open at all times, following the tradition of mountain shelters, which must always provide a safe haven for hikers. The unattended service is a core value of the Vanoise National Park.
"They always leave a dining area with gas, a stove, and an open dormitory with only 20 beds to fulfill this mission of hospitality. Of course, this relies on trust and respect for the premises, as well as adherence to the payment system, which is settled after the stay to contribute to the cost of wood, gas, and maintenance."

Preparing for the Season
Before opening two days ago, Claire Lamari, her team, and volunteers who cherish the place had to prepare supplies for incoming visitors. Restocking is done by helicopter, with bags weighing approximately 700 kg airlifted from Manchet to the refuge. Since the refuge is located within Vanoise National Park, helicopter rotations are limited. However, thanks to her experience, Claire is able to plan efficiently:
Claire said "I have a few years of experience, so I manage to organize everything for just one helicopter delivery in the spring—unless there's a major issue, like my water source freezing, in which case I’d need to fly in water because it’s essential. Otherwise, for provisions, we stock enough to last until early July. For example, we brought up 300 kg of flour because we make everything ourselves on-site."
It goes without saying this impressive operation requires meticulous planning and logistics, adapting to weather conditions.
"Hours of estimates go into it—how many meals we’ll prepare, what we’ll cook, which suppliers to use, how we’ll transport everything, and where we’ll store it. This year, it was easier because we had a forecast of clear weather with a high-pressure system, so we knew the helicopter would be able to fly. Sometimes, though, we have to delay the opening date. We also need plenty of manpower because there's snow removal and heavy lifting involved. We have to move quickly so that the vegetables don’t freeze... It leads to a few sleepless nights before opening day."
In addition to stocking supplies, the staff also clean, repair, and clearssnow from the refuge.

The Role of the Caretaker – Claire Lamari
The team includes Manu, Lounia, Maxime, and Claire's two children. Claire Lamari has been the caretaker of the refuge for nine years. She studied environmental sciences and first joined the Refuge du Fond des Fours as an intern, where she had an eye-opening experience:
"What struck me was when I found myself doing the dishes. There’s a window in front of the sink, and you can see the mountains. I thought, ‘Wow! I’m doing a boring chore, but it’s actually amazing!’ Normally, at home, nobody fights over doing the dishes. But here, with the great atmosphere and the sunset over the mountains, it was magical. I continued my studies and became a mountain guide, but I knew that life in a refuge was something I loved—returning to simple tasks in a setting and atmosphere that really spoke to me."
She later earned her refuge caretaker diploma and worked for four years at the Refuge de Plaisance before applying for the Fond des Fours position. Now, she balances her days between cooking, cleaning, welcoming hikers, and providing crucial information such as weather updates, avalanche risks, and trail accessibility.
Claire enjoys the solidarity that comes with isolation and the connection she shares with her visitors.
She said "These are deep values that unite us. In the end, all my guests have something in common: simplicity, an appreciation for the little things, and the joy of being in beautiful landscapes—skiing, hiking, and fully immersing themselves in nature."
The Refuge du Fond des Fours is accessible via the Manchet Valley or the Col de l'Iseran, requiring a 1 hour and 15-minute hike with 100 meters of elevation gain. Depending on the season and weather, the refuge welcomes between 400 and 1,200 overnight stays. Claire Lamari and her team look forward to welcoming you until April 28. In 2023, the 16 refuges of the Vanoise National Park saw a 10% increase in visitors. I hope some of you share my excitement in hearing this news and look forward to heading on an adventure to the refuge in the not too distant future.