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Favorite Spots: Refuge de la Charpoua
May 29, 2024
3 min read
June is Open Mountain Month, and to warm up, we did a quick tour of the office to learn about our outdoor-loving colleagues' favorite spots in the mountains. Here, Product Manager Louise Micolon shares a favorite from her hometown of Chamonix.
What is your favorite spot in the mountains?
My favorite spot in the mountains is a very special mountain hut in the Mont Blanc range, named Refuge de la Charpoua, located at the bottom of my favorite mountain, les Drus, an emblematic mountain in the Chamonix area.
Why is it your favorite?
It’s my favorite because I have always been attracted to this mountain, which I think is quite mystical through its look, its history, and its resonance across the Chamonix Valley. The hut is as special as the mountain, as it was renovated last year and was the oldest hut in the whole area (it was the same hut since 1904 before its renovation in 2023, where they managed to keep the original larch wood). I went up there last summer to realize my dream: climb Les Drus and sit on top of this peak that I’ve been staring at so many times.
How would you describe the spot?
The hut sits at 2,841m of altitude, overlooking Mer de Glace and at the bottom of a huge rock amphitheater composed by the bottoms of one of the most famous Mont Blanc Range mountains: les Drus, Aiguille Verte, Aiguille du Moine, Flammes de Pierre… It’s a very special atmosphere up there as it’s only people coming to climb these mountains who come up there, and the hut sits on top of a steep section, which makes the view onto the Mer de Glace and Mont Blanc range even cooler.
Is there a story about the spot you want to share?
The hut keeper, Sarah Cartier, is as legendary as the hut itself. For 8 summers she has been keeping the hut and welcoming the climbers up there, cooking delicious veggie food and making the hut a safe space for everyone who comes while raising two young children at the same time. Armand was 5 years old, and Camille was less than 2 years old when I visited the hut last summer! Her partner comes every weekend to support her in this very small, unique space, and it’s been amazing to witness this beautiful family and see their kids evolve seamlessly in this mountain environment. There's more about their story here: Refuge de la Charpoua, the story of Sarah Cartier - The Pill Outdoor Journal
Anything you want to add?
It’s a bit "the story of my life" as this climb was my 30th birthday present from my friends and family (to go with a guide) because they had listened to me talk about it for ages. For the record, my dream was to climb its northwest face (the one you see from the valley), but today, it’s only possible in the wintertime because of global warming and permafrost melting, leading up to massive rockfalls. A big chunk of the northwest side collapsed in 2005, and that’s why most people only climb this side when it’s cold enough. A second massive rockfall took place in 2011, a few weeks prior to the death of Walter Bonatti, legendary alpinist who opened the Pilier Bonatti soloing the whole thing over 6 days in 1955, the most mythical route of the West face, and that’s why I think there is something mystical about this mountain. It’s like entering a place of worship for some people; I get quiet and meditative just by looking at it.
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