Val Thorens Chance?

Global warming leaves its effect on many glaciers, and Val Thorens is not an exception. Many of Val Thorens glaciers suffer from it but no one wants to give up. From spring 2008 it is planned to cover the part of Savoie glacier, that is situated on the edge of the Vanoise National Park, with a giant tarpaulin. It is expected that the tarpaulin will let the glacier to gain from early snowfalls.

The idea of a tarpaulin is not new at all. It was used before on the glaciers of Switzerland and Austria. It is planned to cover part of the glacier in Val Thorens under the Col chair with a reflective white film. After the lifts close in May and then removed in autumn the tarpaulin will be set.

To cover 750m2 with the tarpaulin means that it will not be necessary any more to resort to snow making, extensive piste preparation and terracing to make skiing possible around the top of the Col chair.

The material the tarpaulin is made of is the porous water that cuts melting up to 60%.

Local guides and instructors support the cover. They hope it will only maintain access to the off-piste routes of the Gebroulaz and the Pointe de Thorens.

Really, the idea of tarpaulin in Val Thorens seems to be good but not everyone supports it. The ecologists consider it to be a further artificialization of the mountain environment. The CIPRA (Commission Internationales pour la Protection des Alpes) says that ski resorts do not admit their guilt in climate change.

However, everyone is waiting for the Vanoise National Park decision (will they support the idea of the tarpaulin in Val Thorens?) that is expected over this summer.