Refuge des Grands Mulets

The Refuge des Grands Mulets is an alpine refuge of the Club Alpin Français ( CAF) and an important base for the ascent of Mont Blanc.

The Refuge des Grands Mulets located on the north face of Mont Blanc on an enclosed all around by glacial ice of the Glacier des Bossons rocky outcrop at an altitude of 3051 m. It is reached via the Glacier des Bossons mainly from the middle station of the Aiguille du Midi cable car ( Plan de l' Aiguille, 2310 m), but it can also lead paths of Le Mont and the portal of the Mont Blanc tunnel (1270 m ) from the hut. The paths have high alpine character and are partly stone strong and eisschlaggefährdet. In case of heavy snow melt in the glacier break Jonction below the hut they can be almost impassable. The last part of the ascent from the glacier to the hut passes over a light ferrata.

The name Grands Mulets ( German: "The big mules " ) is Moe from the local dialect word or moue derived for hills. With this concept the here protrudes from the ice cliffs were called; later this term to have been bowdlerized to mulets. In 1853, here a first shelter was built in 1866 replaced by a new building, called the " Pavilion". In 1896 it was a new building but times. Today's hut from prefabricated metal parts were built in the years 1959-1960 from the CAF. At that time, the route via the hut of the most popular climb Mont Blanc, today the Refuge des Grands Mulets is particularly in spring an important base for Skibesteigungen of Mont Blanc. In summer the hut is frequently visited in descent from Mont Blanc. It is usually open from late March to mid-September. In the vicinity of the cottage there is climbing and ice climbing.