Col des Champs (elevation 2,087 m (6,847 ft)) is a high mountain pass in the Alps at the border between the departments of Alpes-de-Haute-Provence and Alpes-Maritimes in France. It connects Saint-Martin-d'Entraunes and Colmars, joining the valleys of the Var River and the Verdon River.
| Col des Champs | |
|---|---|
 Col des Champs, in the background the Tête de l'Encombrette | |
| Elevation | 2,087 m (6,847 ft) |
| Traversed by | D2 |
| Location | France |
| Range | Alps |
| Coordinates | 44°10′41″N 06°42′5″E / 44.17806°N 6.70139°E |
  Col des Champs Location of Col des Champs | |
Together with the Col de la Cayolle and the Col d'Allos it forms part of a popular round trip for cyclists (see for example [1]).
Details of the climb
editThe western side, starting from Colmars, is 12.5 km long, climbing 827 m (2,713 ft) at an average of 6.6%.[2] The state of the pavement is partly very poor (as of August 2014). While some parts are recently renovated, others contain numerous potholes and are covered by loose gravel. Along this route, mountain pass cycling milestones are placed approximately every kilometre for cyclists. These milestones indicate the current height, distance to the summit, average slope in the following passage, and also denote the street number(D2).
Starting from Saint-Martin-d'Entraunes, the climb is 16.5 km gaining 1,055 m (3,461 ft), resulting in an average gradient of 6.4%.[3] The state of the pavement is generally good along this route, there are no designated signposts for cyclists on this side. However, at intervals of every kilometre, signs are placed indicating, as well as the distance to the summit (uphill) or the next villages (uphill and downhill).
The exact height
editThe height of the summit is commonly specified by 2,087 m (6,847 ft), including the signpost at the summit used until 2013. However, the current signpost at the summit indicates a height of 2,080 m (6,820 ft) (see below). A topographic map [4] of the French Institut géographique national marks 2,088 m (6,850 ft) at this position of the sign, and 2,089 m (6,854 ft) some 50 metres away from the signpost.
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One of the mountain pass cycling milestones along the climb from Colmars -
Signpost at the summit of the Col des Champs as of 2013 -
Signpost at the summit of the Col des Champs as of 2014
References
edit- ^ "Cayolle-Champs-Allos - Bikemap - Your bike routes online". bikemap.net. Archived from the original on 21 July 2015. Retrieved 22 August 2014.
- ^ "Col des Champs (2087 m)" (in German). www.quaeldich.de. Retrieved 22 August 2014.
- ^ "Col des Champs (2087 m)" (in German). www.quaeldich.de. Retrieved 22 August 2014.
- ^ Topographic map published by IGN Number 3540 OT, Scale 1:25 000.
External links
edit- Profile on cyclos-cyclotes.org
- Description on Quäldich.de (in German)
- Cycling up to the Col des Champs: data, profile, map, photos and description
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