UKC

Heading out to Chamonix with little money and crap knees. Plan on spending wisely on lifts and enjoying bivis. Is it still possible to bivi on the plan de l’aiguille or will the gendarmes intervene? 

In reply to Dingwallmummy:

You mean anywhere along that terrace so to speak, or by the hut or phrique station? The Warden/ staff won't be happy if you're very near a building, but beyond that they won't care. 

In reply to ExiledScot: thanks, happy to be discreet and hide behind boulders. Do you know if the Lac Bleu would be ok? Thinking of water supplies. 

In reply to Dingwallmummy:

There have been several reports of theft around the station on camptocamp the last couple of years. Make of that what you will. It’s illegal to bivy at the Alpages de Blaitière, and bivying near the hut is probably frowned upon. I’ve seen people bivy somewhat below the station.

People bathe in the Lac bleu so… up to you. But there’s usually a reliable stream a few minutes further on the trail leading to Blaitière.

In reply to Adrien:

Thanks for the warning!

In reply to Dingwallmummy:

Any time I've bivvied up there I've hid my gear under a boulder or in some other extremely put of the way spot, not visible from the cable car. GPS it so you can find it again! 

Good luck.

In reply to Roberttaylor: good info thanks

In reply to Dingwallmummy:

Once returned to a bivi at the Plan to find sheep had sh*t all over our gear. Best pack it all away out of reach.

In reply to Groundhog:

The sheep can be quite a problem, best try to bivi away from the good grazing areas.

Once , just above the station, a few parties were sorting out gear. A sheep, waiting for an opportunity, ran off with a large bagguette, then ate it in ( a long) one go. I thought it was going to choke but managed  to keep going, probably no choice    Quite impressive. Though the look on its eye suggested panic.

Good spots near lac bleu as suggested above.

In reply to Dingwallmummy:

I've heard numerous cases of people getting sick drinking water from around Lac Bleu. The refuge now take their water from two giant green heli lifted water bladders, I assume as running water from around the Plan has become too polluted. Probs wisest just to bring up sufficient water with you on the lift.