From July 3 to 5, 2026, students from the AMPEAK association successfully completed the final phase of their project.
After several months of design, manufacturing, and preparation, they installed their waste compactors at the Cosmiques Refuge, in the heart of the Mont Blanc massif. This expedition marks the culmination of a project that combines innovation, environmental commitment, and human adventure.
A Project That Became a Reality
Founded by Louis Valentin, Tristan Le Metayer, Tilio Kreel, and Timothée Pierrel—students in the Grande École Program at the Châlons-en-Champagne campus—the AMPEAK association was born out of a shared desire: to provide a concrete solution to the problem of waste management in high-altitude mountain regions.
Their goal was to design 100% manual waste compactors for the Cosmiques refuge. By compacting cans and bottles, this equipment reduces the volume of waste and limits the number of helicopter flights needed to remove it, thereby reducing its environmental impact.
Three Days in the High Mountains
On July 3, the team arrived in Chamonix to prepare for this final leg of the journey. After picking up the necessary equipment for the expedition, the students also visited the offices of their partner, Blue Ice—a specialist in mountaineering gear—before making their final preparations.
The next day, the day begins well before sunrise. At 5:45 a.m., the students meet up with their guides at the Aiguille du Midi before heading to the Cosmiques refuge via its ridge.
Once they arrive at the shelter, the students set up the waste compactors. This step is the culmination of several months of work and gives the project its full meaning: seeing their solution put into use in its intended environment is a highlight for them.
The afternoon is devoted to crossing the Pointes Lachenal, a route that offers a first taste of high-altitude mountaineering.
On Sunday, the expedition continues with a morning of glacier training. The students learn and practice several techniques essential for mountain safety, including emergency stops on snow slopes and setting up a “dead man’s anchor,” an anchor used to secure a rope team in the event of a fall into a crevasse.
They then continue their ascent along the Cosmiques Ridge before reaching the Aiguille du Midi at the end of the day. This final leg brings their high-mountain adventure to a close.
The culmination of a student project
From designing the presses to manufacturing them in the campus workshops, including finding partners, handling logistics, and the final shipment, AMPEAK is a true student-led engineering project.
Beyond the athletic challenge, this adventure highlights the students’ ability to devise a practical solution to a real environmental issue. It also demonstrates the importance of teamwork, commitment, and pushing oneself to new limits in the success of a project.
This expedition marks the culmination of several months of work and demonstrates their commitment to preserving the Mont Blanc massif.
