Lac de l'Etroit

Historical site depicting the town’s mining past. Discovered in 1644, the galena seam (argentiferous lead sulphide) was exploited until 1866. A pathway of larches leads to the former Ecole Française des Mines which stood here from 1802 to 1814. The saw grooves that mark its trees date from 1891/1892. These are the remains of an act of vengeance by people sentenced for wild logging.

Known locally as arcosse, it has the peculiarity of bending under the weight of the snow thanks to the extreme flexibility of its branches. The green alder occupies the most avalanche-prone terrain. Dense and almost impenetrable, it provides shelter for many birds and mammals. In the past, it was cleared by the breeders, which allowed them to use the area for alpine pastures and provide themselves with firewood.

Until the 1980s, the pasture was dairy. The two covered markets intended to house the animals are still visible. This mountain was once a “mutual venture”. Several herds were gathered and managed at a community level. A team was in charge of caring for the herd, milking and making cheese on the mountain pastures. Some non-dairy cows still graze on the pastures today but are no longer watched over.

Weighing between 22 to 40 kg, they are the smallest wild goats in the Alps. Adapted to moving over rocks and snow, their hooves have two separate parts that can swivel and are connected by an interdigital septum. By the end of the 20th century, the chamois had almost disappeared from the Bellecote massif, but five individuals were reintroduced in 1992. The population is now substantial and has benefited from a temporary halt in hunting and natural recolonisation.

At the end of the ascent, stop to admire the view! To the north-west you can see the Pierra Menta (2,714 m), with its enormous square spur. To the north, the Italian slope of Mont Blanc (4,809 m). On the opposite side of the Ponturin valley are the Aiguille Grive (2,732 m), the Aiguille Rouge (3,227 m) and Mount Pourri (3,423 m). And on your slope you will see Alliet (3,109 m), the entire north face of Bellecôte (3,417 m) and the Pointe de Friolin (2,678 m).

Between 1982 and 1984, the fall of a whole face of the Friolin mountain mobilised 10 million cubic metres, two thirds of which fell in a few months. The municipality was then forced to follow up with the support of geologists. Their studies showed that this collapse stemmed from the presence of soluble underground rocks: the anhydrous calcium sulphate crystal, also known as anhydrite, which forms gypsum by rehydration when cropped out at the surface.

As a reward for your efforts, this charming turquoise lake is unveiled only after the climb. It owes its origin to a depression dug out by a glacier as well as to the moraine deposits generated by their retreat. Numerous rocky boulders make this place an ideal location for a lunch break (but don’t forget to take your rubbish with you).

The black grouse or “black cock” inhabits the upper limit of the mountain forests. In the spring, the males gather together in arenas before dawn, cooing and hooting, furling their tails in the shape of a lyre. Heavily impacted by the development of ski resorts, their habitat has been reduced to the benefit of the slopes. In winter, they spend 90% of their time at rest, huddled in a tunnel dug in the snow as the slightest disturbance can threaten their survival.

The Hazel grouse is a rare galliform in Vanoise. This species is particularly fond of the mixed forests of Peisey-Nancroix on the mountain zone. It keeps a very low profile, including from a vocal point of view, the male emitting small high-pitched whistles. The hazel grouse is sedentary. To overcome the harshness of the winter climate and avoid the cold, it sinks into the snow just like the Rock Ptarmigan or the Black-tailed Grouse.

This wild orchid is protected at national level. It flowers in the undergrowth of Peisey in some restricted zones. The evocative shape and delicacy of its flowers earned this plant the name Lady’s slipper orchids. Although there are forty species of this kind in the world, it is the sole species existing in Europe.

L'eau salée (Saltwater) owes its name to the many minerals contained in the water there, which passed its name on to the locality itself.
This little corner of paradise is an ideal spot for family outings: there is a little pond for the kids to enjoy and a selection of games on hand to keep them amused while the grown-ups play tennis or simply relax in the shade of the spruce forest, lulled by the lapping of the water.