I’ve just got back from 2 days with fellow “Accompagnateurs” (International Mountain Leaders) at Lanslevillard in the Haute Maurienne valley on the edge of the Vanoise National Park.? The two days were for accompagnateurs who are either current “Ambassadeurs du Parc” or those in the process of (hopefully) becoming one; as in my case.? There are currently about 25 “Ambassadeurs du Parc” and, if finally approved, I will be the only British “Ambassadeur”.? As the name suggests the accompagnateurs work in partnership with the Vanoise National Park authorities to help promote the park to their clients.? In return there are training / information sessions to help improve knowledge of the all aspects of the Vanoise National Park.
The two days were spent at the Auberge de Jeunesse at Lanslevillard which provided an excellent welcome to us all and we were fed and looked after very well.? Our first day concentrated on the historic “Route du Sel et des Fromages” that links Pralognan-la-Vanoise with Termignon, in the Maurienne valley.? Salt?? Salt was produced at Salin-les-Thermes in the Tarentaise extracted from high-salt content water linked with underground salt deposits.? This was at the time when Savoie was an independent kingdom; the kingdom of Savoie-Sardaigne.? Those of you who have been with me from Pralognan to the Col de la Vanoise will have followed this route.? We were fortunate to have the input from a consultant who has studied the route and it’s history in detail.
The following day looked at how agriculture and biodiversity can be of mutual benefit in the context of “Les Prairies Fleuries”; literally flower meadows.? We learned how bio-diversity when it come to the alpine meadows used for either grazing milking cows or for hay-making is beneficial to farmers.? After lunch we had input from a professor in geography and geomorphology relating to the French Alps.? All in all a very informative couple of days.? I hope to be able to share some of this knowledge of course with my clients.
