Col des Champs

{{Infobox mountain pass

| name = Col des Champs

| photo = File:Champs001.jpg

| photo_caption = Col des Champs, in the background the Tête de l'Encombrette

| elevation_m = 2087

| elevation_ref =

| traversed = D2

| map = Alps

| map_caption = Location of Col des Champs

| map_size =

| label = Col des Champs

| coords = {{coord|44|10|41|N|06|42|5|E|type:pass_region:FR|format=dms|display=inline,title}}

| location = France

| range = Alps

| topo =

}}

Col des Champs (elevation {{convert|2087|m|abbr=on}}) 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.

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 {{cite web|title=Cayolle-Champs-Allos - Bikemap - Your bike routes online|url=http://www.bikemap.net/en/route/60709-cayolle-champs-allos/|publisher=bikemap.net|accessdate=22 August 2014|archive-date=21 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150721181706/http://www.bikemap.net/en/route/60709-cayolle-champs-allos/|url-status=dead}}).

Details of the climb

The western side, starting from Colmars, is 12.5 km long, climbing {{convert|827|m|abbr=on}} at an average of 6.6%.{{cite web|title=Col des Champs (2087 m)|url=http://www.quaeldich.de/paesse/col-des-champs/#Colmars |publisher=www.quaeldich.de|accessdate=22 August 2014 |language=German}} 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 {{convert|1055|m|abbr=on}}, resulting in an average gradient of 6.4%.{{cite web|title=Col des Champs (2087 m)|url=http://www.quaeldich.de/paesse/col-des-champs/#Entraunes |publisher=www.quaeldich.de|accessdate=22 August 2014 |language=German}} 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

The height of the summit is commonly specified by {{convert|2087|m|abbr=on}}, including the signpost at the summit used until 2013. However, the current signpost at the summit indicates a height of {{convert|2080|m|abbr=on}} (see below). A topographic map Topographic map published by IGN Number 3540 OT, Scale 1:25 000. of the French Institut géographique national marks {{convert|2088|m|abbr=on}} at this position of the sign, and {{convert|2089|m|abbr=on}} some 50 metres away from the signpost.

Col des Champs cycling milestone.jpg|One of the mountain pass cycling milestones along the climb from Colmars

Col de Champs Summit 2013.jpg|Signpost at the summit of the Col des Champs as of 2013

Col de Champs Summit 2014.jpg|Signpost at the summit of the Col des Champs as of 2014

References

External links

[http://www.cyclos-cyclotes.org/col_champs.html Profile on cyclos-cyclotes.org]
[http://www.quaeldich.de/paesse/col-des-champs/ Description on Quäldich.de (in German)]
[http://cyclingup.eu/english/France_Alps/Col_des_Champs-west.php/ Cycling up to the Col des Champs: data, profile, map, photos and description]

Category:Mountain passes of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur

Category:Mountain passes of the Alps