In reply to Stujbro:
I can only tell from last year's experience on Gouter Route:
- from the start of the season (around 1 July) mountain police were checking hut bookings at the 'tram station'. Those without bookings or a good explanations were turned away.
- camping at the campsite near the Tete Rousse hut was still allowed.
- since the opening of the new Gouter Hut, camping nearby was absolutely prohibited.
My own experience was a little different:
- I took the tram on the 29 June 2013 so there weren't mountain police around
- and stayed at the Rognes Hut for free that night