The Gouter Refuge has been closed to mountaineers for over a week as the alpine conditions were less than favourable during the recent heatwave. Continuous rockfall in the Grand Couloir has resulted in a number of fatalities this summer and closing the refuge during the period of instability would limit the danger to climbers.
The mayor of Saint-Gervais, Jean-Marc Peillex, announced this morning that the Gouter Refuge will re-open at midday today. He also stated that the Gouter route, which passes through the Grand Couloir and usually includes a night in the Gouter Refuge or the Tete Rousse, should only be climbed by experienced mountaineers or those who are accompanied with a professional mountain guide.
There will be a member of the PGHM (Peloton de Gendarmerie de Haute Montagne) at the Tete Rousse refuge who will be informing climbers of the risks associated with the high mountains and also the rules regarding camping near the Tete Rousse Refuge.
Pre-booking for this hut is compulsory. Find the link to book here.
NB: Mountaineering is dangerous. The opinions expressed in these articles are very much time and condition specific and the content is not intended in any way to be a substitute for hiring a mountain guide, undergoing professional mountaineering training and/or the individual's own back country decision making.
