The end of the glacier at Argentière in the Chamonix Valley has been given a protective summer coat in a bit of slow down its thawing as a result of climate change.

Working with the Mayor of Chamonix, and the Prefecture of Haute Savoie, the Compagnie du Mont-Blanc lift operator is spending 3,000 Euros on a small 750 square metre tarpaulin to cover a sector at the Grand Montets.

“ This technique of ice covering has already proven itself on Swiss glacier and is required to keep a maximum volume of ice on the mountain while limiting the action of sunlight reflection.” Said a statement from the Compagnie du Mont-Blanc.

The lift company has advised those hiking or mountaineering in the area that it’s dangerous to walk on the tarpaulin and that they should use marked routes around it.

The tarpaulin will be removed in mid-October before the first major snowfall on winter 2011-12 is forecast.

Veronica adds “This has been a successful tactic in maintaining depths in Verbier and other Swiss resort so it is understandable why Chamonix has made this move.   What they need to think about though is the visual impact for summer hikers and climbers – particularly in a resort like Chamonix that has a big summer season.   Chamonix is known for its wild untamed landscapes – if it starts to look like a building site – it won’t be popular”