Hiking (mountain trail, in places narrow and exposed)
Alpine route (equipped or very exposed section, snow field, blocks)
R145
Refuge de la Madone de Fenestre » Refuge de Nice
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3h15 |
5.5 km
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675 m
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358 m
In a mineral environment in the core zone of the Mercantour national park and below Mount Gélas, the highest point of the massif, Via Alpina leaves the Madone de Fenestre hut taking the GR® 52 via the Mt Colomb pass, heading over very alpine terrain, and then continues to the Fous lake near the Nice hut, the stage destination.
From the square of the sanctuary, walk downhill to the north east along the track that branches off to the right of the fountain. Follow the red and white markings for the GR® 52 and then cross a wooden bridge (cheese on sale at the nearby dairy), head back up the left-hand bank of the river and shortly after this cut across the Ponse stream. Cross a meadow scattered with larch trees and overlooked by the Caire de la Madone. Leave the trail that climbs to the Prals lakes on your right and head uphill in the meadow towards a rock in order to arrive on a spur from where the Jas Cabret meadow crossed by several streams can be seen lower down. Climb to the foot of the Caire de la Madone. In the scree, leave a track that climbs straight ahead towards the Caire de la Madone to then branch off to the east, crossing a rock by making a little and very easy climb of around 2 metres (red and white markings). Next comes a trail in the scree that runs at the foot of the Caire Barel. It crosses a grassy zone and reaches the lake of Mount Colomb (2,390m). The lake is overlooked to the south by the sugar-loaf summit of Mount Ponset and the Caire Barel, to the north by Mount Colomb and to the east by Caire Colomb. It is between the latter summit and Mount Ponset that narrow opening of the Colomb pass is situated. Climb back up this little valley on the left and then across some scree where traces of the trail are clearly visible to arrive at the pass of Mount Colomb. Descend along the east slope in a narrow couloir with a winding trail that opens out into a vast scree-covered area (follow the GR® markings carefully). Cross the scree, following the red and white markings in a south-easterly direction to reach an easy path that descends to La Barme, where you will reach a crossroads with the path coming from the Gordolasque (2,173m). Continue along the GR® trail to reach the EDF (French Electricity Company) dam at the origin of the Fous lake. Circumvent the lake on the west bank to arrive at the Nice hut (2,232m), perched on a fortified hill. (Paul Guglielmi, CDRP 06)
Natural and cultural heritage
The Mercantour National Park comprises a high-altitude section, which forms a natural border between France and Italy. At the feet of the famous Gélas summit, the highest point in this mountain range (3,143 metres), the trail criss-crosses between streams and pinkish limestone. The aim of the Park is to protect the wild flora and fauna. This section seems to be the land of mouflon sheep and ibexes, species that were reintroduced in the late XXth century. Furthermore, the influence of the Mediterranean, alpine and continental climates create the originality and extreme diversity of the mountain flora. The Gélas (Mount Gelé, a reference to its frequently heavy snow cover owing to the altitude and the persistence of eternal firn, or traces of old glaciers to be exact) exposes its sheer faces of granite and gneiss, metamorphic shale, rock and submarine lava pushed upwards following the collision of the two tectonic plates at the origin of the emergence of the Alps. That is where we are, in spite of appearances: in the central zone of the “Alpine Orogeny”. The first ascent dates back to the year 1864 and Count Paolo di San Roberto. It announced the start of tremendous times, with many climbers preferring to start on the side of the Nice Hut, the destination towards which this stage is heading. Overhanging the pass (pas) of the Colomb mountain (pas in patois indicates a passage that can only be crossed by man), the vertical needle in pink rock of the Caïre Colomb peak rises up to over 200 metres in height. Below, the Nice Hut nestles at 2,250 metres in altitude on the banks of the Fous lake, known for its vastness. Since its attachment to the county of Nice in 1945 (it previously belonged to Italy), this zone was the reserve of the royal hunt and was even then considered to be an area of extraordinary wildlife. A pack of wolves that reappeared in 1992 after disappearing 70 years before has actually established its territory in the area. To the North of the hut on the Franco-Italian ridge, the Pagari pass, a name related to the word pagaré, to pay, is still famous for the route it provided in the XIIIrd century for the official and unofficial trade in salt. Passers-by were entrusted with carrying the salt, a precious foodstuff with many uses (food, preservation of dishes, chemical industry, etc.) that was subjected to rigorous political controls from Nice, over to the Piedmont region. (Sara Zeidler, Gilles Chappaz, Grande Traversée des Alpes)
Favourites, criticisms ? Make your personal comments on this stage. For more general notes please use the comments section of the page Over to the Via Alpinists.
Spektakulärer Weg. Der Aufstieg zum Pas du Mont Colomb führt durch viel Schutt und Steinblöcke. Unsere Wanderzeit (Pausen nicht mitgerechnet) betrug 4 1/4 Std.
The Baisse du Basto (2700m) is the last 2500m+ col you will pass this trip. Refuge de Nice is a must-go-once for most French. So expect it to be very full. A hotel like place. Supplies are twice weekly carried up in backpacks.
Henk - 2019-07-26
Between Refuge de Valmasque, Refuge de Nice and Refuge La Madone de Fenestre, the Via-Alpina runs parallel with the popular GR52, attracting lots of hikers. Beautiful scenery.
Mountain Girl - 2011-11-28
Pas du Mont Colomb is little more than a two-meter gap in the mountain wall. The first 50 meters off the pass (toward Nice) descend very steeply. I would not want to hike this in poor weather.
Neko - 2011-01-23
Im Winterraum des Refuge de Nice gibt es einen Ofen.
Automatic translation
[Google]
In winter, the Refuge de Nice room, there is a furnace.
Nach Auskunft des CAF de Nice-Mercantour wird das Refuge de Nice, das seit 2006 wegen Totalrenovierung geschlossen blieb, am 15. Juli 2009 wieder geöffnet.
Automatic translation
[Google]
According to the CAF de Nice-Mercantour is the Refuge de Nice, which remained closed since 2006 because of complete renovation, reopened on 15 July 2009.
|
3h15 |
5.5 km
|
675 m
|
358 m
Favourites, criticisms ? Make your personal comments on this stage. For more general notes please use the comments section of the page Over to the Via Alpinists.