The Gouter refuge – in French refuge du Gouter- is a refuge located in the municipality of Saint-Gervais-les-Bains (department of Haute-Savoie), in the Mont Blanc massif (Graian Alps), at 3835 m s.l.m.
The current structure was built in 1962 by the French Alpine Club, which owns the property. When the refuge was created the name was decided due to the presence of the Aiguille du Gouter.
In July 2010, the construction of a second shelter, about 200 m away, began. south of today. This new structure will have 120 beds and will completely replace the current shelter. The works are expected to be completed in 2012.
After the completion of the new building, the old hut should actually be demolished, but that did not happen until August 2014 and is now controversial. The additional building to the old hut will be preserved as a winter storage and refuge for emergencies (such as a fire) in any case.
The Gouter refuge is therefore mainly a starting point for Mont Blanc. More than 100 people sleep there every evening when the weather is nice, and try the adventure from 2 am. It is also a haven of rest after long and difficult lanes of the Italian Mont Blanc, or after having made the crossing from the first du Midi du Midi.
Access : Coordinates: 45.8478, 6.8306 / From the Nid d’Aigle station in Saint-Gervais-les-Bains, end of the Tramway du Mont Blanc, the cabin can be reached after a journey of approximately 5 hours. For alpinists, the hut is a stopover for a top climb of Mont Blanc via the Gouter route.
Features :
- It is a prefabricated metal structure, totally autonomous from the energy point of view, which can accommodate 120 people, a capacity deliberately limited so as not to excessively crowd the ascent to Mont Blanc. Booking is mandatory, and those without it are not accepted inside the shelter.
- The winter restaurant has a capacity of 20 seats and is located in a shelter structure of 1962, partially dismantled.
- No water – Purchase of mineral water , no wifi , sms ok in front of the shelter , cb visa ok , no luggage transport – Dangerous access to certain periods.
Activities : Climb the Mont Blanc / sightseeing / photo opportunities / trekking , Mont Blanc via the normal route (PD, about 5h) , Aiguille de Bionnassay (AD, about 4h)
Go next : Neighboring huts : Red Head Refuge / Cosmic Refuge / Durier Refuge / Monzino Refuge
