Col de la Crèche

The Goldcrest is one of the smallest birds in Europe. It enjoys conifer forests. Hyperactive, it passes from one branch to another, visits a bush, returns to a tree, stays in one place by the speed its wings flap and leaves for foraging. It eats larvae, insects and small spiders. Its presence is related to mild winters. Indeed, the Goldcrest is fragile and a harsh winter would decimate a part of the colony. Conversely, a mild winter would increase the number of individuals.

Just before the Col de la Crèche, the path comes out of the forest and offers spectacular views of the Aigue Agnelle Valley. In the background, the snowy peaks mark the border with the Ubaye on the right and with Italy on the left.

Fairy chimneys or hoodoos are formed of a column made of sandy and stony brittle layers and a more solid rock that covers the column and ends up falling. Here the cap has come off. So how are these hoodoos formed? Two opposing theories (see mountain bike hiking, the Pierre Dimanche Canal for the second theory). Some geologists believe the cap placed on the column prevents water from coming up by capillary action. This phenomenon promotes the deposition of minerals contained in the water and cements the sediments beneath the protective rock. The columns are therefore already formed in the soil and erosion will gradually discover them

The Dent du Ratier mountain overlooks the Arvieux valley to the east and the gorges of the Guil to the south. This distinctive "stump" is a klippe: a piece of rock stuck on different rocks. Indeed, the lower and wooded area consists of shiny schists of Piedmont. As for the upper part, it consists of rocks from Briançon composed of a majority of marble for sign engraving. The stump itself is from limestone placed on a thin layer of schist. These last layers most likely older than the others are the remains of old eroded layers.

Saint Charles Borromée was an italian bishop of the 16th century. He was actively involved in the Catholic reform in struggling against abuses that had developed within the church. In winter, the shepherds of Rouet practised transhumance in Piedmont and Lombardy. That's where they got this saint not very represented in France. The chapel was destroyed during the religious wars in 1548 and rebuilt in 1687.