La protection sans la glace. L'exclusion des glaciers des zones centrales des Parcs nationaux de la Vanoise et des Écrins et leur équipement pour le ski d'été

The glaciers were the object, as territories of hunting, mountain pastures or grounds potentially équipables for ski resorts, of long discussions between the local, carrier actors of the projects of winter sports resorts and representatives of the State, in charge of the national parks. Indeed, their creation coincides with the development of the summer ski, practical considered in this time as a guarantee of a strong economic development and which justified exclusion of some glaciers from central areas of national parks. This study is more particularly interested in the glaciers situated around national parks of Vanoise (Savoy) and Ecrins (for its Isere part) : glaciers of Pisaillas (resort of Val d'Isère), of La Grande Motte (resort of Tignes), of Chiaupe and Bellecôte (resort of La Plagne), of Péclet and Chavière (resort of Val Thorens), of Girose (resort of La Grave) and of Mont-de-Lans (resort of Les Deux Alpes). They represent, with the glacier of Sarenne in L'Alpe d'Huez, the main part of the glaciers who were skied from the 1960s to 1990s, since less numerous. Their strong recession since the end of 1980s makes this activity very vulnerable and forces resorts wishing to continue it to make heavy arrangements and devices of saving. These last ones are mainly justified by questions of prestige and uniqueness of the tourist offer. Through the study of equipments for the summer ski, it is relations between winter sports resorts and policies of protection that are questioned, as well during their implementation as more recently.