In the beginning...
To make sure we'd be able to observe wild species, we approached an expert in the field, Olivier : a mountain leader and wildlife photographer and wildlife photographer.
Throughout the year, it offers outings on a variety of themes, including wildlife discovery.
So we contacted him to choose the ideal day for our our snowshoe outing - which will enable us to observe and learn a little more about mountain fauna, and in particular that of Bessans.
Before heading off to the rendezvous point, we stopped off at the sports store to rent a pair of snowshoes. These are essential for getting around on snow off the beaten track with greater ease. We check our backpacks, warm gloves, hats and water, because even with these sub-zero temperatures, it's imperative to drink and stay hydrated.
Now it's off to the hamlet of Villaron to join our group, accompanied by Olivier, who is waiting for us as he scans the mountainsides for potential animals.
Introduction, safety briefing, snowshoeing and off we go along the Arc, towards the Château rock.
Move forward and... watch!
The eye and the good 😉As we moved away from the hamlet, we gradually found ourselves far from human activity and in the silence of the mountain. A few metres to adjust our gait with the snowshoes at our feet, then our progress became more fluid until we discovered the first animal tracks, at which point Olivier began to decipher them: their direction, the animal's way of moving and finally its identification. In the end, they were hare and fox tracks, which are very common on the plateau.
Ibexes
Lord of the Summits 👑A little further on, Olivier stops us. He stares the top of the cliffswhere larger animals are accustomed to visiting. After a moment's observation, he spots a few individuals with his naked eye.
Curious, we start looking in the direction indicated. Some of us spot them and help the others: "look, they're on the right of the big rock, not the one next to it", while commenting on their observations: "there are 5, ..., not 6", "they look like ibex to me"... Meanwhile, Olivier shifts a little, takes a spyglass out of his rucksack, sets it up on a tripod, adjusts it correctly and points it at the animals to observe them better.
Indeed, they are ibexes, and more precisely, mothers with their young born during the previous season. By the time everyone in the group has had a chance to observe them through the spyglass, Olivier explains their behavior and where to find them, depending on the weather and the year...
Vultures
Bone breakers 🦴After this enriching break, we get back on the road, and in the distance we see the imposing Château rock, then another stop, and there, no doubt about it, Olivier puts his spyglass, ruler and point on the cliff face to the north... the bearded vultures in their nest, known as a "aire", are incubating their eggs one after the other.
Embedded in the rocky cliffs, only their beige-orange heads are visible, a magnificent sight. As with the ibex, Olivier tells us about the characteristics of this species, their habits, their disappearance and subsequent reintroduction to the valley. In short, precise and interesting information.
The Chamois
L'Isard des Alpes 🐐We've arrived at the foot of the Château rock, where human activity is once again to be found. Cross-country skiers, walkers and mountain bikers take the Sallanches-Fauvettes itinerary.
Olivier explains the history of this rock: its type of rock, the rock paintings, the flora we can find in summer... A little further on, he stops again, just as he did with the ibexes, scrutinizing the cliff with his well-informed eyes, and with a little smile puts down his spyglass. This time there's a herd of chamois looking for food, and Olivier tells us that we'll never find chamois and ibex in the same place, because they naturally compete with each other for food.
An afternoon rich in discoveries
As we made our way across the plateau, different species of birds flew overhead, including the majestic golden eagle, skirting the mountainside while scanning the ground, no doubt in search of its meal. Easily recognizable thanks to its triangular tail, which distinguishes it from the lammergeier, whose tail is diamond-shaped.
On the way back, a final stop for a gourmet break, a good herbal tea to warm us from the cold of a winter afternoon, exchanges and clarifications on all the animals observed during the outing.
Gradually, the hamlet of Villaron comes into view. One last realization before the end of this adventure; the mountain is beautiful and is inhabited by different animal species, you just have to look up, scan the cliffs and the magic happens, a wonder to observe them in their natural habitat.
Now it's time for the last exchanges and thanks, and we're off, each of us on our own, with the idea in mind of having had the chance to observe this mountain fauna another time.
5 freerando outings in Haute Maurienne Vanoise
Ski touring: an outing at the foot of the glacier
