Guardien of the Couvercle Refuge Michel Tavernier Retires After 35 Years

Last weekend Michel Tavernier turned the key in the door of the Couvercle Refuge, where he had been the guardien for 29 years, for the last time.

The Couvercle is an iconic refuge at the starting point of many great climbs; l’Aiguille Verte, les Courtes, les Droites, l’arête des Ecclésiastiques to name a few, and can be accessed in around fours hours by crossing the Mer de Glace and scaling a number of hair-raising ladders.

Michel first became a guardien back in 1980 and over the last three decades, says he has seen the glacier retreating and turning into a sea of rocks, making access to the refuge more difficult. In the 1990's there were around 5,000 overnight stays in the summer months but this number has reduced significantly in recent years.

Life as a guardien at the Couvercle meant long days looking after around 100 people per day from 6 in the morning until 11 at night, and after a total of 35 years in the job, and at the age of 56, Michel is looking forward to seeing what summers in Chamonix are like without being surrounded by snow and ice.

A party was held in his honour on Saturday night and then the next day Michel locked up the refuge for the last time.

We wish him all the best and hope that he has a long and happy retirement.