Transalp day 8: Albulapass
I start the day with spectacular view into the Rhine gorge. A few kilometers onwards, I turn south towards the Hinterrhein, the other starting arm of the Rhine river. In Thusis I turn East again, riding over 40 km along the Albula river up to the pass of the same...
Transalp day 7: Gotthard & Oberalppass
I wake early and take in the sunrise before riding down to Airolo. After a quick stop to shop for groceries, I start up to the Gotthard pass. The cobblestone surface starts eearly, but is soon replaced with tarmac, until about 6km from the top. From here on, the...
Transalp day 6: Nufenenpass
I continue up the Rhône most of the day, sometimes following the river, sometimes following an official cycling path up the mountain's side. The river gets noticeably smaller and I can enjoy a quick dip in the icy water after lunch. After about 75 km I reach Ulrichen...
Transalp day 5: Lausanne – Sierre
After my forced break and with my tooth all fixed up, I take the train back to Switzerland. I will miss out on a few passes, namely the Col de Mont-Cenis, the Col d'Iseran and both the Petit and Grand Saint Bernard. But going back all the way would have taken too long...
Transalp day 4: Col du Lautaret & Grenoble
I'm still a bit sore after yesterday as I get up and I take my time getting started. Perhaps it's also a bit reluctance to end this journey early (or at least take a break). I start on a small road parallel to the main road up to the Col du Lautaret. After a few hilly...
Transalp day 3: Col de Vars & Col d’Izoard
Riding both the Col de Vars and the Col d’Izoard in one day when calamity strikes.
Transalp day 2: Col de la Bonette
110km and painful 3000 m elevation up to the Col de la Bonette in the Cote d’Azur heat.
Transalp the long way round: west to east DAY 1
This year I'm back on a 'real' cycling trip. Flying to Nice in the south of France I plan to ride up over some of the highest alpine road passes towards Innsbruck, before turning back towards home. My original plan had been to ride from Vienna and end in Nice, but...
Hardergrat: Ridge hike brienz to Interlaken through the clouds
I hike from Brienz to Interlaken via the Rothorn and along the ridge towards the Hardergrat. It is a hard 34 km and 3100 m elevation alpine hike that I make in cloudy but dry weather.
Hiking the Via Valle Maggia Day 3: ALPE SPLUGA and out in the rain
The forecast 2-3 mm of rain in the morning turn into a hard downpour at 3 a.m.. Not a thunderstorm but hard rain that lasts into the morning and odes not stop. I decide that the next stage on the hard alpine trail won't be any fun in the rain. Instead try to see if...