Petit Col Ferret
{{Short description|Alpine pass}}
{{Infobox mountain pass
| name = Petit Col Ferret
| other_name = Col du Petit Ferret
| photo =
| photo_caption =
| elevation_m = 2490
| traversed = footpath
| location = Italy–Switzerland border
| range = Alps
(Graian Alps/Pennine Alps)
| map = Alps
| coordinates = {{coord|45.8985011|N|7.0682980|E|type:pass_region:CH|display=inline,title}}
| topo =
}}
The Petit Col Ferret (or Col du Petit Ferret) is an Alpine pass between the canton of Valais and the Aosta Valley.
Features
The pass stands on the main chain of the Alps at an elevation of 2,490 m.{{ Cite book | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=-d1nk01mu_QC&q=petit+col+ferret&pg=PA82 | title = Mont Blanc: Mit der "Tour du Mont Blanc". 50 Touren. Mit GPS-Daten | first = Hartmut | last = Eberlein | pages = 82 | publisher = Bergverlag Rother GmbH | language = de | year = 2017 | access-date = 2020-01-30 }} It separates the Mont Blanc Massif (thus the Graian Alps) from the Pennine Alps.{{ Cite book | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=YohOAAAAIAAJ&q=%22petit%22+%22ferret%22+%22graian+Alps%22+pennine | title = The Geographical Journal | volume = 71 | publisher = Royal Geographical Society | year = 1928 | pages = 39 | access-date = 2020-01-30 }}
In spite of this peculiarity, it is less known and frequented than the neighbouring Col du Grand Ferret (often simply named as Col Ferret),{{cite book | pages = 142 | title = Wandering: A Walker's Guide to the Mountain Trails of Europe | first = Ruth | last = Rudner | publisher = Dial Press | year = 1972 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=P_ZBAAAAIAAJ&q=%22col+ferret%22+2537 | access-date = 2020-01-30 }} which is located South of the Petit Col Ferret on the route of the Tour du Mont Blanc. The two passes are divided by the modest elevation of the Tête de Ferret (2,714 m).{{ Cite book | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=CjVsDgAAQBAJ&q=T%C3%AAte+de+Ferret&pg=PA231 | language = fr | pages = 231 | title = Dans les montagnes de Suisse romande: 100 itinéraires du Jura aux Alpes | first = François | last = Labande | publisher = Editions Olizane | year = 2017 | access-date = 2020-01-30 }}
Access
The pass is located on the access route to the Fiorio hut at 2,274 m),{{ Cite book | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=rliP4upL2HMC&q=bivacco+cesare+fiorio+petit+ferret&pg=PA25 | pages = 25 | language = it | title = Monte Bianco | volume = 2 | first = François | last =Labande | publisher = Edizioni Mediterranee | year = 1993 | access-date = 2020-01-30 }} which can be used as a foothold for ascents and hikes around the Pré de Bar glacier. Both the accesses from Italy and from Switzerland are more challenging than the ones to the Col du Grand Ferret.