(B) MAIN DIVISIONS OF THE ALPS

(c) Dauphiné Alps

On the west side of the Cottian Alps, and separated from these by the broad valley of the durance, rises a group of lofty peaks, surpassing them considerably in heights, and almost completely isolated from their neighbours. This group has not usually been included amongst to regard it as the nucleus of a distinct division constituting the Dauphine Alps. On the north side of this central mass, and separated by the valley of the Romanche and the Col de Lautaret, is a considerable group, including three principal ridges, whose the neighbouring mountains of Savoy by the deep valleys of the Arc and the Isere, which may best be regarded as in outlying portion of this division. On the south side of the main group another outlying mass, which on one side feeds the chief sources of the Drac, and on the other several short tributaries to the Durance, must also be include4d in this division. The ranges of secondary rocks lying west of the broad valley between Grenoble and Chambery, which are geologically and orographically a southern extension of the chain of the Jura, are at the same time exactly parallel to the northern ranges of the Dauphine Alps, and must be regarded as the outer range or "Border Alps" (Voralpen) of the group. The only doubt in fixing the limits of the Dauphine Alps is as to the boundary between their northern group and the adjoining mass of the Cottian Alps, It seems that this may be fixed at the Col de Galibier, connecting the chief source of the Durance with the valley of Valloiresin Savoy.

Chief peaks of the Dauphine Alps
Pic des Ecrins, or Pointe Grandes Rousses………..…11,395
Des Arcines…………………..13,462 Taillefer……………………. 9,387
La Meije, or Aiguille du Pic de Belledonne…………. 9,780
Midi de la Grave……………..13,081 Pic du Frêne………………. 9,203
Pic d’ Ailefroide…………..about 13,000 Pic Bonvoisin………………11,503
Mont Pelvoux(highest peak)……..12,937 Dormillouse………………..10,571
Pic d’ Olan………………………...11,739 Chamechaude…………….. 6,847
Aiguille d’ Arve (highest)………...11,529 Mont Granier…………….. 6,348
Aiguille de la Sausse (highest)……10,896 Dent du Chat……………... 5,302





Chief Passes in the Dauphine Alps
Col de galibier (Briancon to St Michel), footpath……………………… 9,154
Col de Lautaret (Monestier to Bourg d’ Oisans), carriage road……… 6,791
Col des Ecrins (vallouise to La Berarde), glacier ……………………… 11,071
Col du Glacier Blanc (Vallouise to La Grave en Oisans), glacier…….. 10,811
Col de l’Echauda (vallouise to Monestier), bridle-path……………….. 7,936
Col de la Lauze (St Christophe to La grave en Oisans), glacier………. 10,509
Col de Venosc (Venosc to Freney), bridle-path………………………… 5,292
Col de Sa_s (La Berarde to Val Godemar), glacier…………………….. 10,289
Col de Célar (Vallouise to val Godemar), glacier…………………….... 10,092
Col des Tourettes (Orcieres to Chateauroux), footpath……………….. 8,465
Col de l’Infernet (La Grave en Oisans to St Jean de Maurienne),
Footpath…………………………………………………………. 8,826
Col de la Croix de fer (Bourg d’ Oisans to St Jean de Maurienne),
Bridle-path………………………………………………………. 6,509





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