The Barbegazi is a benevolent type of gnome or dwarf from French, Swiss and North American folklore known to manifest as small elderly men with impressive white beards and giant feet. They enjoy using their feet to slide across avalanches or other hazardous terrain and will enter a state of hibernation until the first snow, being spirits of ice and winter.
Barbegazi are protective of humans and will whistle to try and warn humans of avalanches or other dangers. Sometimes they will even go to great lengths to try and dig humans out of snow and they were also believed to help shepherds by rounding up lost sheep.