L'Aiguille Rouge

L'Aguille Rouge (in Italian Guglia Rossa^[1]) is a 2,545 metres high mountain of the Cottian Alps,^[2] located on the Main chain of the Alps NW of the Col de l'Échelle.

L'Aguille Rouge
(in Italian) Guglia Rossa
Highest point
Elevation	2,545 m (8,350 ft)[1]
Prominence	359 m (1,178 ft)
Isolation	2.26 km (1.40 mi)
Listing	Alpine mountains 2500-2999 m
Coordinates	45°02′45″N 6°38′42″E
Geography
L'Aguille Rouge Location in the Alps
Location	Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France
Parent range	Cottian Alps
Climbing
Easiest route	Hike

Toponymy

In French aiguille means needle and rouge means red. In Italian too rossa means red, while guglia means spire.

Geography

View from Plampinet

The mountain belongs to the commune of Nevache, and stands close to the French-Italian border. Administratively is part of the French department of Hautes-Alpes. Following the main watershed eastwards the Col de l'Échelle divides it from the Cima della Seur/Sommet de Guiau (2657 m), while in the opposite direction the Col de Thures (2194 m) takes it apart from the rest of the chain between Vallée Etroite (river Po basin) and Vallée de la Clarée (Rhone basin).^[3]

History

The mountain till to the end of the II World War was on the Franco-Italian border. After the end of the war, following the Paris Peace Treaties signed in February 1947, the border was modified and Mount Chenaillet is now totally in France.^[4]

Access to the summit

The mountain face towards Italy is very steep and rocky and can be ascended by experienced climbers,^[5] while the summit is easy to reach also by hikers by the opposite side, following a good footpath starting from the Col de l'Échelle.^[6]