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THE ASSOCIATION
" Search to find out and find to search out more " Jean Eyheralde
The Association of the friends of the Aiguilles Rouges is faithful to the ideals on which it was founded , it is also able to look ahead to :
- Save the fragile habitats of numerous endangered species - Protect and maintain this marvellous scenery facing the Mont-Blanc range - Share the knowledge of our history and heritage - Keep people, animals and plants to their clearly defined territory : footpaths are for people.
HISTORY
Founded in 1974 thanks to the determined actions of Jean Eyheralde, Gilbert Amigues, Yvonne Gubler and Yves Pungier, the Aiguilles Rouges nature reserve has always functioned through an Association of Friends , and has extended today to the Aiguilles Rouges, Carlaveyron and Bérard Valley nature reserve. It celebrated its thirtieth anniversary in September 2004, and was rewarded with public recognition though numerous testimonies , such as Eric Fournier, deputy mayor of Chamonix, declaring “ Let’s thank the Association of friends of the reserve for its prominent role in linking the life of the valley and the preservation of nature. This is a success, and one which didn’t appear obvious in
ADMINISTRATIVE COUNCIL
It is composed of twelve voluntary members , meeting at least four times a year. A general assembly of all the members of the Association takes place every year. President : Charles Bernard Pitre Vice-presidents : Dominique Gubler and Yves Pungier Treasurer : René Balson Secretaries : Madeleine Vergain, Marie-Françoise Bichat and Sandryne Bohin Active members : Joelle Porot, Clothilde Hézez, Henri Rougier, Luc Hamonic, Franck Miallier.
WORKING TEAM
Instructors : Jacky Ravanel. Reception : Catherine Ravanel, Magali Devouassoux, Marie-Dominique Ducroz.
MEMBERS
350 people pay a subscription every year. In return, they receive four times a year the booklet “Nature et patrimoine en pays de Savoie” and they are informed about the activities, outings and lectures organised in the summer and autumn.
BECOME A MEMBER
Your subscription : a minimum of 20 euros.
ACTIVITIES
A team with more than thirty years’ experience welcomes you and helps you discover the heritage of our mountain.
There are lectures and guided outings organized in Summer, and we can organize any specific activity you need. From a simple desire to know more about our mountainous environment, to a full educational project about ecology and sustainable development, our team of experts can help you and suggest different activities.
Perhaps you are :
- a local or non-local nursery, primary or secondary school - a group of children in a summer camp or school camp - a group of adults , working in the tourism industry - students, mountain instructors, local people
Perhaps you would like :
- a guided visit of the Visitor Centre or of the nature trail - classroom based theme lectures on specific approaches - slide shows - nature outings
We can offer :
- a guided approach to Nature and its mountain environment - introduction to fauna, flora geology, water, glaciers, ecosystems….. - an understanding of the need of nature reserves - considerations about man and his environment, sustainable development….
The rates of these individual activities are available if you click on “your contributions” , and will allow us to further develop our work .
THE NATURE RESERVES
The three nature reserves of the Aiguilles Rouges, Carlaveyron and Bérard Valley, are in the Aiguilles Rouges mountain range. The Association welcomes you and invites you to follow the mountain code :
-don’t pick flowers so that other people can enjoy them as you do. -don’t take your dogs on the paths, even on leash, so as not to disturb wild animals -don’t leave any litter so everybody can enjoy the beauty of the area -stay on the footpaths, man’s territory, so we can live in harmony with plants and animals.
Ask, look, read ; and discover the countless secrets that Nature has to offer….
The Association suggests different interesting and pleasant walks : The Col des Montets, Lac Blanc, Vallée de Bérard, Lacs Noirs…. The Lac Blanc and its mountain hut are specially interesting, facing the Mont-Blanc range and its glaciers on one side and the Belvédère ( You will undoubtedly meet marmots, chamois or ibex, and admire a lot of wild flowers on your way ….
Hiking, rock-climbing and ski-outings are the most common sports people practise in the Aiguilles Rouges. We must always remember to hike and climb with an enquiring yet respectful attitude towards the mountains.
A FEW WORDS ABOUT THE GEOLOGY
The Aiguilles Rouges range is a succession of high valleys, of corries sculptured by glaciers, scattered with scree and old moraine, surrounded with ridges sharpened by time and erosion. On both sides there are numerous lakes, all with their own charm . The rocks are either very old crystalline ones , as around the Lac Cornu, Lacs Noirs and Lac Blanc, or younger ones , like the granite near Vallorcine and the summit of the Belvédère, a proof of the presence of the sea before the Mont-Blanc range started to rise.
Picture of the Remuaz lake
FLORA
Along the “Grand Balcon”, rhododendrons make up most of the heath. In summer, arnicas, bearded bellflowers, and rampions are in blossom, indicating that the soil is acid . Higher, in the small snow vales, you can see miniature forests of dwarf- willows , or the two-flowered sandwort, typical of places under snow for a long time every year. In the screes, next to Lac blanc for example, there are doronicum grandiflorum and adenostyle leucophyllus.
FAUNA
Since the reserve was created, the fauna has developed considerably. There are now more than a hundred ibex in the territory, moving along according to seasons and/ or weather conditions. If you set out early in the morning, you may see herds of chamois. If you hear marmots whistling, it is because they are signalling some danger (an eagle, or a fox) to their colony. From April to the end of July, during the mating season, the Col des Montets is an excellent place to study different bird song.
More information :
Visitor centre The Reserve Guidebook Brochure of the nature trail |
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