Industrial Fell Biking

We're headed for the warmth of the valley below, but it's still a fair way down and first we must leave Wildstrubel and get back to the Gemmi Pass.

There's even a sheet of snow to negotiate before we meet the main track down.

and even though we're dropping down the views are still stunning.

It's here we notice a difference in attitude between the French-speaking Swiss in the the south, and their Northern, German-speaking, counterparts. The French Swiss are full of enthusiasm and cheer you on as you pass them on a bike, the German Swiss are dour - they don't say a word and either ignore you or deliberately obstruct you. Heading down I had one guy poke a walking pole at me! To be honest though, I was having so much fun I wasn't really bothered.

We're headed for Kandesteg, home of the International Scout camp, but there's a short drop to be tamed first.

Did I mention it was a little exposed?

With Kandesteg being overrun with scouts there are a couple of shops selling a magnificent array of Swiss Army knives. Obviously knife crime is not considered worth worrying about as there are some on display with four inch blades! Not something I'd want a boy scout son returning home with!

The next day is lower level riding. Narrow tracks through green fields with countryside more rolling than rocking.

But before long we reach sight of our final destination - the Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau:

I'll be back tomorrow with some more photos.

Posted by NoPies at 10:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

I'm glad you're keen for more - I've got one or two good ones up my sleeve!
It's like being back at school in September and being asked by the English teacher to write an essay on 'What I did in my holidays'!

After a day of riding the lifts (over 5,000m vertical descent - that's a long way down!) we left Crans Montana en route for the Wildstrubel Hotel at the top of the Gemmi Pass. The first part of the route incorporates a section of the 1988 Swiss National XC course - it's even sign-posted! Our guide is the head honcho of Ride the Alps, Jamie Carr, who used to race a bit, and he represented the UK at that event!
Needless to say we take it at a more sedate pace.
After a long descent through the woods, occasional tree roots dusted with pine needles, some benign pine cones played at ball-bearings and sent my front wheel sliding sideways. That's another graze on my forearm.
It leads to the cliff descent. The track just disappears around a corner onto the cliff face.

And then zig-zags down to the base of the cliff.
You don't know what it's like until you can see it.

Beyond here is a gondola ride up to the pass - up a rock face dangling in mid-air.
But at the top the views are superb:

And in the morning we head up to the Wildstrubel Glacier.
HIgh. Did that enter my list of adjectives?
You feel on top of the world here, even though there are peaks soaring up above you.

And this is looking back at the hotel from up towards the glacier:

It's simply stunning!

That's it for now, but I'll keep them coming, I've got a few more days to go!

Posted by NoPies at 09:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

I missed HTN the other week - but I did have a good excuse, and I did get some proper riding in on some proper hills.

A few adjectives to describe the Alps: big, steep, fast, technical, exposed, swoopy, rocky, rooty. switchbacks.
Whoops! Forgot one. Scary.
So what was I doing in the Alps? A point-to-point route with Ride The Alps called the Eiger Sanction.
Obviously I'm not going to advertise it here, but you can find out more on their web site.

Lifts are invaluable for gaining height. (I used to think they were for wusses but I'm a born-again lift-rider now)

And this is what it's like at the top. Note the sturdy fence to save you from almost-certain death if you should ride the berm a little high.

and more exposed shenanigans just to concentrate the mind:

and even some jumpy stuff in the woods - another adjective!

The one constant amongst the different adjectives is the stunning Alpine backdrop.

Well, that's it for now.
I've got a couple more snaps which I might post later on in the week if you're interested?

Posted by NoPies at 10:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)