After a year of delays, controversy and mishaps the Gouter Refuge has finally been given the the go ahead to open to the public from the authorities.
The Haute-Savoie prefect has issued a positive vote for the public opening of the new Refuge du Goûter to its full capacity and can open this weekend, in time for the start of the summer mountaineering season in Chamonix.
Perched at 3835 metres the new Gouter refuge investment of 7.5 million Euros by the FFCAM (Fédération des clubs alpins et de montagne) will finally see some justification.
The notably high investment from the FFCAM was largely due to the demands of the new construction; renewable energy (solar & biomass) and use of innovative technologies (snow management & waste-water treatment).
Problems throughout the construction undoubtedly added to the costs and caused delays en route, most significant of these was a fire at the new refuge (provoked by an overheating solar panel) which delayed the original opening date of 30th August 2012.
Nevertheless the recent delay of the inspection and therefore of the opening has had little consequence. With the long winter only a few mountaineers have been attempting to climb the Mont Blanc via the Gouter, some 20 per day compared to the 200 per day in peak season.
Needless to say the opening of the Gouter refuge and the arrival of warmer sunny days will soon change this.
