In reply to Laubie:
The northern, or really north-eastern edge of the field was roughly on a direct line from the Pierre d'Orthaz to the river.
I first camped there in 1974, when it soon became a sea of mostly Black's Arctic Guinea tents, with a scattering of the new-fangled Force Ten's ..
By 1979 it had changed completely, and I was already feeling nostalgic about "the good old days .."
Although we went to the "Bar Nash" a few times, we definitely preferred the bar close to the centre of Argentiere village, much friendlier .. several times we were sat outside and the grocer opposite would come over and give us a big tray of only-slightly-bruised fruit, just as he was shutting up shop.
And contrary to a lot of other folks' anecdotes, I've only ever had courteous and helpful encounters with french guides on the hill or at huts, et cetera ..
Perhaps things really were different in those days..
Cosmic John.