Glacier protective sheet saves a metre in snow depth
Glacier du Varet melt has slowed
Tests have proven successful for the protective sheet which partially covers the top of the glacier Varet, on the North face of the Aiguille Rouge (3227 m), and have proved effectiveness to investors.
As reported last summer Les Arcs installed a huge glacier 'sun-block',covering an area of 4,000m2. Well now after it's second summer the director of the pistes is happy with the result, "we have saved 1.50 meters of snow depth", claims Gilles Grand.
The aim of the project was not only to conserve the snow depth for the good of the resort, but also to prevent layers of permafrost melting and causing dangerous rock-falls as seen elsewhere in the Alps.
Les Arcs is not the only ski resort to take on this Swiss developed technology, but it is definitely one of the larger projects to date. Chamonix has deployed a 750 m² sheet on the Grands-Montets up at 3 233 metres and Val Thorens covered 1000 m² of the Peclet glacier up at 2950 metres.
Les Arcs ski lift company expect to continue using this technology and hope to double the surface covered in the years to come.
