The future of the Girose Glacier

By Mathieu Crétet

Pic de la Grave and Girose Glacier
Pic de la Grave and Girose Glacier, courtesy of O. Taris, CC

The Girose Glacier lies at the foot of La Meije, the iconic peak of the Écrins Massif. Its breathtaking landscape was officially recognized by the French government in 1943 as a site of public interest for conservation. Since the 1970s, the glacier has been accessible via a cable car from the La Grave ski resort, making it one of the last large Alpine glaciers open to all.

Today, however, it faces the threat of a controversial cable car expansion. While many mountain regions have suffered from overdevelopment, La Grave has maintained a certain restraint, preserving both the spirit of the place and its wild character. Yet even here, the effects of human-induced global warming are starkly visible. In 2022, the glacier still covered 4.63 km², but its summer melt has been accelerating since 2003. Between 1983 and 2014 alone, it lost 15% of its surface area (Rabatel et al., 2016).

This retreat has rendered the Girose lift, once used to reach the glacier, unusable. Its dismantling is imminent—a moment that could have inspired a deeper reflection on how we envision this mythical space, rooted in awe and respect for high mountain ecosystems.

Instead, the glacier has become the focal point of the contentious third section of the cable car project. Since 2018, Mountain Wilderness France has opposed this development, viewing it as yet another stopgap measure. Mountain Wilderness France is now working in partnership with the citizen collective La Grave Autrement to protect this extraordinary landscape of global significance and the rich biodiversity it harbours. A court hearing on the matter is expected shortly.

Mountain Wilderness France has not yet scheduled any events near the Girose Glacier for two reasons: the French NGO is awaiting the judge’s decision regarding the cable car construction permit, and is actively participating in a broad consultation organized by the French government to discuss the future of the Romanche region.

The Girose Glacier is our Glacier of the month.