Skiers and ski tourers are facing new restrictions. This time in the ski resort of les Sept Laux following a dispute with a land owner. A gate now blocks the bottom of the classic Vallons de la Pra piste with a notice saying the trail is private property and covered by security cameras. The dispute follows problems in the Chartreuse where the land owner decided to severely restrict access to the High Plains of the Chartreuse.
A law passed in February 2023 has had the effect of criminalizing open access to land where that land is private property. Anyone found breaking the law can be fined 135 €. Article 226-4-3 states that it is now illegal “to enter without authorization into a private rural or forest property without authorization”.
The vallons de la Pra is also used by ski tourers to access the popular Dent du Pra and Belle Etoile summits. Apparently the ski resort has not respected an agreement signed with the landowner. The gate will certainly impede any piste preparation on the trail although with the amount of traffic it should get naturally pisted by skiers. The gate looks easy to get around, unless a fence is installed. However skiers ignoring the signs would be liable to a fine.
The local authority is holding a public inquiry with the aim of declaring that access to the track to Vallons du Pra is in the public interest in order to establish a right of way. The track is already marked as an official path on the IGN maps.
https://pistehors.com/AXzRkooB1g7SdbHcgOka/new-french-law-criminalizes-access-to-the-backcountry