Glacier de Gébroulaz, Valley glacier in Vanoise Massif, France
Glacier de Gébroulaz is a valley glacier flowing down the northern side of Aiguille de Polset, stretching between 2600 and 3500 meters in elevation. The ice field shows visible crevasses and broken sections that reveal the constant motion of the frozen mass down the slope.
Scientific study of the glacier began in 1907, but records of its changes go back to 1730 through early administrative documentation. This long record shows how people tracked the ice's movement across nearly two centuries.
The name comes from an ancient word meaning female chamois, the wild goat-like animals that once roamed these mountains. This linguistic connection reflects how the landscape shaped the way locals spoke about the animals they saw around them.
A marked hiking trail with numbered information posts leads to the glacier and takes about three hours from nearby starting points. The route passes through varying terrain and offers clear views of the ice formation and surrounding geological features.
Until 2003, this glacier remained privately owned, but a major portion is now within the protected core zone of Vanoise National Park. This shift in ownership reflects changing attitudes toward how alpine areas should be managed and preserved today.
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