Maritime Alps are a wild part of Western Alps situated in their southern end; the main ridge runs on Italy-France boundary from Colle di Tenda (1.871 mt a.s.l., 44°09’06’’N; 4°52’30’’O) at South-East to Colle della Maddalena (1.996 mt a.s.l., 44°25’17’’N; 5°33’15’’O ) at North-West.
As their name means, Maritime Alps are a part of the Alps located close to Mediterranean Sea (sea = mare in italian).
The Italian side belongs to Cuneo Province, Piemonte Region, the French one mainly
belongs to the Departement des Alpes Maritimes (06) and Alpes de Haute Provence (04).
Starting from North, at first the chain runs from
Nort-West to South-East from Colle della Maddalena (o Col de Larche in French) to Colle di Ciriegia (walking col).

Northern sector's main summits:
Cima di Fremamorta (2.731 mt); Testa Malinvern (2.939 mt); Cima di Collalunga (2.759 mt); Monte Laroussa (2.905 mt); Becco Alto d’Ischiator (2.998 mt); Monte Tenibres (3.031 mt); Cima las Blancias (2.970 mt); Monte Enciastraia (2.955 mt).

In the southern part the chain runs from East to West from Colle di Tenda (road col) to Colle di Ciriegia (walking col).

Southern sector's main summits:
Rocca dell’Abisso (2.755 mt); Monte Clapier (3.045 mt); Monte Gelas (3.143 mt); Cima di Mercantour (2.775 mt).
Apart from the main boundary chain, two important subgroups rise in Eastern side (Italy): Monte Matto Group and Monte Argentera Group (or Serra dell’Argentera).

Main summits: Monte Argentera (3297 mt.), the highest of the range; Cima di Nasta (3108 mt.);Monte Matto (3097 mt.); Corno Stella (3050 mt.).

Probably the Argentera Group is the most important sector concerning mountaineering and climbing, and many important rock mountains and walls belong to this subgroup, such as Corno Stella, with its famous South-West granite wall.
Maritime Alps offer a great opportunity of hiking,scrambling,climbing and mountaineering.

Main Subgroups:

Brocan-Baus-Nasta, Argentera, Oriol, Bresses, Prefouns, Testa Malinvern, Lombarda, Lausfer, Corborant, Ischiator, Tenibres, Ubac, Enciastraia, Rocca dell’Abisso, Vernasca, Basto-Grand Capelet, Clapier-Maledia, Gelas, Agnel

Red Tape

Both sides of the chain are under the authority of Natural Parks: Argentera Natural Park in Italy (East), established in 1980, and Mercantour National Park in France (West). May be in future they will form a unique european Park. Therefore the Maritime Alps’ territories are subject to some important rules. Free camping is not allowed and fires are forbidden. To bivouac is authorized only at more than 1 hour’s walk from Park boundaries or from access roads. The whole fauna and flora is protected. Don’t disturb fauna and other mountaineering and hikers’ peacefulness with every kind of noise.

Climate, Nature, Geology

A little Ibex

Climate and Nature

Due to this location, it rains more than in other parts of the Alps, mostly in spring and autumn (rain) and in late winter (snow). The French side (West) offers more rain, because of the Atlantic perturbations coming from West.
Many rare and endemic species live in Maritime Alps, due to the geographic position under the influence of sea in South side and with a typical alpine climate in northern side and in higher zone, to the ancient glacier’s action, rock variety and man’s activity.
No other place in alpine chain is so rich in animal and vegetable species.
You can find both artic species as Ranunculus Glacialis and mediterranean species as Lavandula Angustifolia and Juniperus Phoenicea. But the most important endemic specie is Saxifraga Florulenta, which lives only in the small range from Mont Frisson and Vens Lakes. Clarence Bicknell, the famous English botanic, called it “Maritime Alps’ glory”. This incredible plant can live till 50 years and it flourishes only a time, just before dying.
Bear, wolf, lynx and vulture (gypaetus) have been missing for years, but many other animals still populate valleys and high peaks. Ibex and chamois (rupicapra rupicapra) are common all over Maritime Alps territory.

Geology

The most common rocks are “granite” (as in middle part of Argentera Group) and “gneiss”, but sometimes you can find also limestone, in some valley as in Valle Stura.

Huts and Bivouacs

Guglielmo Migliorero Hut mt. 2100

Lorenzo Bozano Hut at Corno Stella mt. 2453

Jacques Guiglia Bivouac at Fremamorta Lakes mt. 2437

Franco Remondino Hut at Cima Nasta mt. 2430

EAST SIDE (Italian Side)

Huts

Bozano mt. 2453 - Dante Livio Bianco mt. 1910 - Gandolfo 1847 mt. - Genova – Bartolomeo Figari mt. 2015 - Lausa mt. 2400 - Laus mt. 1910 - Migliorero mt. 2100 - Morelli and Buzzi 2350 mt. - Pace al Colle della Maddalena mt. 1996 - Questa 2388 mt. - Regina Elena mt. 1800 - Remondino mt. 2430 - Talarico mt. 1750 - Zanotti mt. 2200

Bivouacs

Barbero mt. 1670 - Baus mt. 2568 - Costi-Falchero mt. 2275 - Guiglia mt. 2437 -Varrone mt. 2090 - Vigna mt. 2880

WEST SIDE (French Side)

Huts

Bousieyas mt. 1883 - Chastellar mt. 1507 - Chastillon mt. 2034 - Cougourde mt. 2090 - Rabuons mt. 2523 - Salese mt. 1724 - Ski Club Nice mt. 1519 - Vens mt. 2370

Getting there

Ischiator Lower Lake

ITALIAN SIDE (EAST)

From Ventimiglia to Colle di Tenda (SS nr. 20/E 74, Km 38) for the southern part. For the Central part it’s useful from Cuneo following Gesso Valley to Valdieri and then either to S. Anna and Terme di Valdieri (NW side of Argentera Group) or Entraque (SE side of Argentera Group).
To the main chain' Northern Side from Cuneo follow Stura Valley, from which on the left-hand side some secondary valleys lead to the foot of the main mountains (some valleys, such as Vallone di S. Anna and Valle del Rio Corborant, are provided with drivable roads; the Vallone di S. Anna road, starting from Vinadio, crosses the boundary at Lombarda Col mt. 2.351 mt a.s.l., leading to Isola, in the French side).

FRENCH SIDE (WEST)

From Nizza head toward North (following at first the road D6202 Route de Grenoble/Route des Grandes Alpes and then the road D2565) to St. Martin Vesubie (Km. 65), Isola and St Etienne de Tinee. From La Bollene, Roquebilliere, St Martin Vesubie, Isola the secondary roads allow to go up the valleys toward the main chain.

External Links

Parcs:
Mercantour, France
Alpi Marittime, Italy

Guidebooks and maps

"Alpi Marittime Vol. I and Vol. II" by E. Montagna - L. Montaldo - F. Salesi Guide Monti d'Itali CAI-TCI

"Le Alpi del mare" (Les Alpes de la Mer) by Flaviano Bessone

Map "Alpi Marittime" 1:30.000 - Meridiani Montagne Ed.

Meteo

REGIONE PIEMONTE

METEO ALPI

Images


	$A whole of different summit\'s signal over Corborant$
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