September: Girose Glacier
The Girose Glacier lies at the base of La Meije (3,984 m asl), a striking peak in the Écrins Massif, a high mountain range in France. To its west stretches the Mont-de-Lans Glacier, while the Vallon and Râteau Glaciers flank it to the east. Pic de la Grave (3,667 m asl) overlooks the Girose Glacier, in a region distinguished by several ice domes—among them, the Dôme de La Lauze which rises to an elevation of 3,568 m asl.
The Girose Glacier is one of the last remaining large glaciers in the Alps. As of 2022, it spanned an area of 4.63 km². However, it has been steadily retreating, with noticeable melting occurring each summer. Since 2003, this process has accelerated significantly. Between 1983 and 2014, the glacier lost approximately 15% of its surface area (Rabatel et al., 2016).
The Girose cable car, once used to transport visitors to the glacier, is currently out of service and is slated for dismantling. This moment could serve as a poignant opportunity to reconsider our perception of this legendary site—a place that evokes both wonder and reverence for the high mountains.
Yet, the glacier is also part of the third section of a cable car development project that has sparked considerable debate. Since 2018, Mountain Wilderness France has actively campaigned to protect the landscape and its biodiversity through the citizen-led initiative La Grave Autrement.
