Euro-Feejer
Well-known member
Rode the bike to a conference near Interlaken, Switzerland, 2 hours south. Weather reports showed one hot day followed by a series of cool, rainy ones. The hot day would turn out to be nearly 90F in the valleys and about 65F on the passes. So, on the first full day of the conference, between morning meetings and a pre-dinner appointment, we went for our high-country adventure. . . 3 high passes in the Swiss Alps. The route programmed into the GPS was 121 miles in 3 hours. It actually took closer to 4 hours, with a short stop (I think the GPS calculates time assuming you are going a normal highway speed on those two-lane roads, but in the Alps, there is a lot of variation, especially on tight switchbacks).
Last year, I posted an August trip (5 high passes) in this region. Here's a link to that one:
August 2008, Multi-Pass Post
I'll refer to that later in this post, with a pair of photos comparing that August snow level to the current level in June (just a week after the passes opened). This year, my goal was to loop over a different pass, Susten (never been on that one), then return over the Furka (only went up and down one side last August) and Grimsel passes.
The balcony view from our room at the conference, looking toward the lake we would ride alongside for the first part of our journey.
The waters of the lake (Brienzersee) were unusually green (or is that 'teal'). Our ride was along that far side (photo taken on another ride), and occasional tunnels helped break the heat of the valley.
The valley continued after the lake ended, and we kept up some good speed while enjoying the rock faces, waterfalls, and alps ahead.
A small glacier just before the top of the Susten pass
Other bikers stopped ahead for a photo as the Susten pass loomed ahead
Heading down the other side of Susten pass, there were far less switchbacks (note the seemingly straight stretch in the mid-right of photo), so we could actually do the speed limit (80 kph / 50 mph). My little lady enjoyed the ride, but needed the occasional photo stop to relieve the pains in her little bon[n]y bottom.
[somehow the rest got cut off... continuing later in this post]
Last year, I posted an August trip (5 high passes) in this region. Here's a link to that one:
August 2008, Multi-Pass Post
I'll refer to that later in this post, with a pair of photos comparing that August snow level to the current level in June (just a week after the passes opened). This year, my goal was to loop over a different pass, Susten (never been on that one), then return over the Furka (only went up and down one side last August) and Grimsel passes.
The balcony view from our room at the conference, looking toward the lake we would ride alongside for the first part of our journey.
The waters of the lake (Brienzersee) were unusually green (or is that 'teal'). Our ride was along that far side (photo taken on another ride), and occasional tunnels helped break the heat of the valley.
The valley continued after the lake ended, and we kept up some good speed while enjoying the rock faces, waterfalls, and alps ahead.
A small glacier just before the top of the Susten pass
Other bikers stopped ahead for a photo as the Susten pass loomed ahead
Heading down the other side of Susten pass, there were far less switchbacks (note the seemingly straight stretch in the mid-right of photo), so we could actually do the speed limit (80 kph / 50 mph). My little lady enjoyed the ride, but needed the occasional photo stop to relieve the pains in her little bon[n]y bottom.
[somehow the rest got cut off... continuing later in this post]
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