Читать книгу Mountain Adventures in the Maurienne. Summer routes for a multi-activity holiday in the French Alps онлайн

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The rock here is mainly metamorphic and consists of reasonably well compacted schist and gneiss on the upper slopes. Conglomerate features in the valley, especially around Sollières where climbing on the localised pudding stone can be as much a lesson in geology as sport.

Near Sardières are two particularly unusual geological features, the Monolith and the Microlith. These impressive fingers of rock reach for up to 90m into the sky and host some challenging rock climbs within the capability of reasonably experienced climbers. The towers were formed by the dissolution of the surrounding beds of gypsum, leaving behind the limestone pillars.

Wildlife

The more remote valleys and high Alpine pastures of the Haute Maurienne are a haven for wildlife. The bouquetin (or ibex) population of the higher valleys is of national importance and their population is growing steadily. Animals from here are also being used to repopulate other mountain areas in France. Bouquetin are magnificent animals that move in herds and are easily identifiable from their dark brown coats, muscular build and iconic horns. Chamois are also in abundance and are likely to be encountered above the treeline on mountain slopes. Smaller than bouquetin, with longer legs and shorter horns, they will frequently be seen clambering among rocky outcrops and grazing on seemly barren slopes.