Utilities
The challenges of high-altitude infrastructure
Infrastructure for life in the mountains : the historic utilities of a hamlet of homes
The Long History of Utilities
A large share of the utilities had already been installed by the public authorities before the Baud family arrived. The hamlet enjoyed historic infrastructure that was unique for its time.
"Anchical has always stood at the crossroads of the Désert – Buffard – Ville-Dessus path"
Pre-existing Utilities (before 1995)
Electricity (1922-23)
"The hamlet was connected very early, in 1922-23, when the commune granted the Neuvache water-intake concession in order to connect it to Bissorte. As a result, the hamlet had electricity well before the villages down in the valley"
Water
"The whole hamlet had always been connected to a single spring coming down from the mountain to the south"
The Paths and the Road
"Anchical has always stood at the crossroads of the Désert – Buffard – Ville-Dessus path and the way down to la Combaz (where the children walked down to school)"
Wastewater
"Until 1995, the only method was spreading it on the land, and outdoor toilets that led....straight to the ground"
Development and Modernization (1995-2025)
1995
"In 1995, we built a septic tank that had the flaw of clogging twice a year"
1997
"When the « Charles Noraz » farmhouse was renovated, the power supply was so weak that the voltage dropped every time a radiator switched on. The utility company got us through the winter by connecting three-phase power."
2000
"We buried the electric line (1km) connecting us to la Combaz: we began renovating the local paths at our own expense."
2004
"While digging a trench for the snow cannons in 2004, the 1500-1700 medium-voltage line was run past the hamlet (1km from Valmeinier 1700). The Baud family took the opportunity to connect drinking water to the communal path."
2008
"On the occasion of Marie-Lise's wedding at Anchical in 2008, the Baud family had a 1km sewer line built, connected to la Combaz...an investment that is indispensable today"
Pierre Benoit Path: We redid the path from Pierre Benoit at the same time the sewer was built.
2010
Paths at the Top of the Hamlet: We redid the paths "at the top of the hamlet" along with the streambed: the link to Buffard, the link to the "Eglantiers" ski run, and the start of the path to Méraloup (the path had disappeared in a landslide).
Paths and Terraces Around the Farms: We redid all the terraces and all the local paths, which had been overrun by brambles, wild roses, and scrub.
2016
"In 2016, a criminal act of pollution seriously contaminated the water tank, and 6 members of the Baud family were poisoned. The Baud family then connected the hamlet to the 1700 drinking-water network (a pipe had fortunately been laid in the trench dug for the snow cannons in 2004)"
2024
"The Chryolles were then connected to the medium-voltage network with a large transformer in 2024 (300kW capacity for the farms and future electric cars in the parking area; 8 individual meters)"
"The hamlet will thus be connected to Starlink by satellite in 2024, with all the farms linked together through sophisticated computer and home-automation management."
2023-2025 The Parking Lot
"To obtain planning permission, the authorities required a 14-space parking lot. It was an ordeal: embankments collapsing, a technical shed demolished by the town hall… construction began in 2023, finished in 2025"
Particular Challenges and Anecdotes
Notable Episodes
The Bishop Episode (2000)
"That's how a bishop friend of mine helped me, in the winter of 2000, unclog the septic tank in the middle of the night, with 1m of snow covering it...."
The Parking Lot
"It was an ordeal: embankments collapsing, a technical shed demolished by the town hall… construction began in 2023, finished in 2025"
Telecommunications
"The « Charles Noraz » farmhouse was connected in 1995 via an overhead line. Slow speeds, faults and communication breakdowns have been constant ever since."
The Terraces (2000-2015)
"The hamlet's paths were redone between 2000 and 2015, along with the terraces around the ruins to provide access to them.Terraces: especially the "upper" terrace, which had been completely overrun by unchecked vegetation for 50 years."
Conflicts and Controversies
The Road War
"During the construction of the Valmeinier 1500-1700 road, the route was meant to pass through Anchical and Buffard. But the political feud between Joseph Mullet and Charles Noraz sank the project: in 1995, Mr. Mullet confided to me, « Charles blocked so many of my projects that I routed the road as far away as possible, and cut the hamlet off by running the ski run right through the middle »"
The Baud Family's Position
"Ch. Noraz never stopped demanding his road. The Baud family wants no road."
The Footpath
"When the sewer was built, the Baud family had a footpath laid out, an improvement on the narrow, muddy trail."
Open Access to the Paths
"….all these paths are left freely open to the public even though they partly cross our land; as a result, many hikers pass through in summer and winter…. including the national mountain-bike race in summer 2025."
Historic Testimony
"Anchical has always stood at the crossroads of the Désert – Buffard – Ville-Dessus path and the way down to la Combaz"
Current Technical Solutions
Modern Electricity
300kW transformer, 8 individual meters, capacity for electric cars
Telecommunications
Satellite Starlink with sophisticated home-automation management across all the farms
Secure Access
Tunnel under the ski run, integrated parking, improved footpath
Secure Water Supply
Connection to the Valmeinier 1700 network, historic springs preserved
Sanitation
1km sewer line connected to la Combaz, an indispensable investment now completed
Integration
Invisible infrastructure, respect for heritage, preservation of the peace and quiet