English Weather, News, and Events - March 02nd, 2025

Weather

We are expecting a perfectly sunny day today, not a cloud in sight which rings the changes after the cloudy skies we have had over the last few days.
The wind is expected to be very light, prevailing from the South East all day, but there may still be some Foehn winds around so gusts may reach up to 30kmh on the peaks.
Temperatures are set to reach a high of 3 degrees in town and -5 degrees at altitude, despite the sun with the lack of insulation from the clouds it will feel chilly so do wrap up.
Currently, temperatures are sitting at -6 degrees on Bellevarde, -4 degrees in town, and a chilly -8 degrees on the Pisaillas glacier.

A fantastic day if you are headingup the mountain today, perfect weather and almost everything is open.

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

On the Pissaillas glacier everything is open with no exceptions.

Up in Solaise everything is open except the 3000 drag lift which is , yes you guessed, still closed.

Similarly on Bellevarde, everything is open including both Liasons with Tignes, chairs Tommeuse and Borsat .

All walking and ski touring trails are also open.

The avalanche risk is 2/5 today. With the whispering of fresh powder around you may be keen to head off piste. I must remind you that the avalanche risk is always to be taken seriously, If you are heading off piste make sure you have got all the gear, and ALL the idea of how to use it, this includes a transiever, shovel and probe. If you've got an experienced person handy take one of those too, or even better hire a guide if you are not sure what you are doing!
It will be glorious sunshine today, so dont forget your sunnies
Stay safe, and most importantly, have fun.

Roads

This morning, the road surface was clear, but if youve almost slipped as many times as I have recently you'll know full well that ice can still be found on the pavements.

News

History of Refuge du Prariond
Today we are exploring another refuge. We are going on a deep dive into the history and the details of the Refuge du Prariond, located in the prariond area, slightly deeper into the mountains in the Fornet direction, and accessible by ski tour.
The history of Refuge du Prariond is closely tied to the creation of the Vanoise National Park in 1963. The park aimed to manage tourism by identifying areas lacking rest stops for hikers and decided to equip the entire Vanoise National Park with 16 buildings.
The refuge was built in 1969, located at 2,300 meters in altitude in the Vallon du Prariond in Val d’Isère, at the border of the Grand Paradis National Park. Before that, an old sheepfold served as a shelter for mountaineers. The structure was built within an avalanche protection system and was first renovated in 1990 to improve comfort and capacity before being fully rehabilitated in 2019.
All dormitories, the common room, the kitchen, and the staff areas are concentrated within a single building, accommodating a large number of hikers. Refuge guardian Sandrine Perez explained to us:
“The refuge has 40 available spots divided into six dormitories. We offer half-board, meaning guests who book for the night can also have dinner and breakfast. During the day, we provide walk-in food service for visitors who want a daily special, dessert, or a drink on the terrace.”
There are two terraces, one of which is reserved for half-board guests in the summer, offering a panoramic setting to observe marmots, chamois, ibexes, and birds of prey such as the bearded vulture and the golden eagle. In the summer, a bivouac area can accommodate 10 people.

Guarded & Unguarded Services
The Refuge du Prariond is staffed from March 8 to April 27 and again from June 15 to September 15. Outside these periods, the refuge remains open, as it is a tradition for mountain shelters to always provide a space where hikers can take shelter and stay safe.
In winter, the refuge offers limited comfort:
"People can access two dormitories and a common area with a small kitchen corner and a wood-burning stove for heating."
However, water is cut off during unstaffed periods, and the capacity is limited to 16 people.

Season Preparation
With one week until opening, Sandrine Perez is already finalizing and picking up orders from suppliers. On Thursday, she and her team will airlift supplies from Le Fornet by helicopter.
She said
“The team and I will fill six large bags, which will be flown to the refuge. We bring up about 4.2 tons of supplies for the whole season. We only have one helicopter drop at the start of the season. If we run out of anything, we rely on friends and assistant guardians who help with staff rotations to bring us what we need.”
Logistical preparations also involve:
Turning on the water supply with the help of park agents.
Clearing snow from key areas, assisted by Alpine troops.
Planning food supplies based on online reservations.
“We estimate the required quantities for vegetables, meat, and dry goods. Over the years, we’ve refined our calculations, adjusting based on past seasons. Dry goods can be kept for the summer season, but we need to be precise with fresh produce to last the season.”
Sandrine Perez prioritizes local and organic products in her food supplies.

The Job of a Refuge Guardian
The team consists of Camille and Emma for March and Mathilde and Amandine for April.
Sandrine Perez has been a refuge guardian for eight years, after previously working in a travel agency and a heritage foundation. She explains:
"Every time I went to the mountains, I stayed in refuges and thought, 'I’d love to do this job.' One day, I took the plunge. I wanted to share my passion, be in the mountains, and work in a field that brought together all my previous experiences.”
Her daily tasks include:
✅ Cooking
✅ Cleaning and maintenance
✅ Welcoming hikers
✅ Managing reservations and communication
✅ Providing safety updates on weather, avalanche risks, and trail conditions
The team also organizes educational activities and talks with Vanoise National Park. This summer, the refuge plans to offer yoga sessions on one of the panoramic terraces.

Accessibility
The refuge can be accessed via several routes depending on snow conditions:
1. Left bank route: via Grand Torsaï, Plattes du Vallonnet, and Revers du Prariond. Avoid steep slopes under Plates de Vallonnet.
2. Summer path (right bank of the Isère): Best in spring when slopes are more stable—crampons recommended.
3. Ski route: From Le Fornet, take the Cascade chairlift, ascend to Col Pers, and descend to the refuge.
“In winter, there are three options:
Grand Torsaï: ~500m elevation gain.
Col Pers: Full descent by gravity.
Pont Saint-Charles (summer path): ~300m elevation gain.”
Access via the Malpasset Gorges depends on snow conditions:
“Last spring, the gorges were passable for most of the season. However, conditions change from year to year and even within the same season.”
As the refuge is in an unsecured mountain area, hikers should bring:
✅ Avalanche gear (transiever, probe, shovel)
✅ Navigation tools (map, compass, altimeter, GPS)
✅ Proper equipment (crampons, technical knowledge, and/or a guide)
A tablet at the refuge provides weather forecasts and avalanche reports (BERA).
Before opening day, Sandrine Perez will go up on Tuesday to heat the building, turn on the water, clear snow, and organize the interior. Starting Saturday, the team looks forward to welcoming guests until April 27th.