Chamonix, France is the picturesque start of our
ride into Switzerland. Maybe 20 or so started out... (1033m)
...heading up the gentle grade
Is all of France this beautiful? On a bike
it is! You'd miss so much driving through places like this.
Vallorcine (1260m), if I recall correctly, not too far
from the top of the first climb.
The last part of a climb always seems to be the
hardest, but everyone made it.
Our group at the Col Des Montets summit (1461
meters), before descent into
Switzerland.
One of many reasonably-lit tunnels on your way to
the Swiss border.
Approaching Trient,
Switzerland (a small town with its own website! Of
course, it's not in English...) (1279m)
The road up to La Forclaz, a pleasant
climb that never gets too steep or too crowded with traffic.
In fact, automobile traffic was never bothersome. On another
website I found a
semi-aerial photo of this road that shows Trient at the bottom
at the road to La Forclaz angling up the right side,
The summit at Forclaz, a mere 5010 ft.
To infinity and beyond! OK, maybe just the
Rhone Valley, off in the distance.
Ever have that feeling that you're kinda
insignificant in the grand scheme of things? Nature is big
here!
The armed border guards at the checkpoint ahead
don't think you're insignificant though. (1116m)
This seemed like so much fun in the other
direction!
Heading back into Chamonix, with a large glacier
evident on the mountain ahead. About 1483m, or 4,865ft of climbing
total.
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