Pics de la Font Sancte, Mountain summits in Hautes-Alpes, France.
The Pics de la Font Sancte are two distinct peaks in the southern Cottian Alps, reaching 3,385 meters and 3,371 meters. A natural spring emerges on the slopes at 2,358 meters, creating a water source that shapes the mountain environment.
The mountains take their name from a natural spring that provided water to shepherds for generations in the region. This source became an important landmark that guided people across the Alpine landscape.
The Oratoire Font Sancte chapel draws pilgrims each August, where communities gather in the heights to honor a sacred spring. This tradition shows how the mountain landscape holds spiritual meaning for local people.
Reaching the northern peak involves navigating a steep corridor with a 40-degree slope where snow-covered conditions make the route safer. These snowy passages significantly reduce the danger of falling rocks compared to dry season climbing.
The Val d'Escreins at the base contains the ruins of an old farming settlement destroyed by fire in 1916. This abandoned site stands as a reminder of how harsh mountain living was for earlier generations.
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