grosse scheidegg/swiss bike route #4 questions
 

Ken Roberts wrote:
Roberto Divia wrote
I would recommend to do the Simmenthal ... either Mosses pass or Pillon
pass.

Does it add much interesting to climb over Col de la Croix go thru
Villars-sur-Ollon in addition to Col du Pillon?

It is an interesting climb with a nice view on the Rhone river valley
and (partially) the Lake Leman during the descent. It makes an extra
col, with fewer cars/motorbikes than for the Mosses. Doing it from
Les Diableret is not such a tough climb. It is very tough coming up
from the other side (Bex/Villars). Just bring plenty of water, there
are no water sources of easy access, particularly in the 10 Kms around
the col. I always did it coming up from Bex and as first of my tours
in that region, so I have no direct experience on doing it the other
way around.

You can always go to Les Diableret via Pillon, then choose if to go
directly down to Aigle via the main road (mostly downhill) or going
via Col de la Croix.

Interesting hot spots for Col de la Croix:
- golf course at the top
- Villars (nice town)
- train-on-road during the descent
- salt mines in Bex (with guided visits, very interesting)

Ciao,
--
Roberto Divia` Love at first sight is one of the greatest
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grosse scheidegg/swiss bike route #4 questions
 

That makes me think I'll try to fit Col de la Croix along with Pillon, if I
have enough hours on some day when I might be lucky to be there (perhaps
this year?). Thanks for sharing your experiences.

Roberto Divia wrote
[Col de la Croix] is an interesting climb with a nice view on the Rhone
river valley and (partially) the Lake Leman during the descent.

Another idea that's drawing my attention is Col du Grand Ferret between
Courmayeur IT and Orsieres CH (which I could do in a loop with Col Grand St
Bernard). And Sergio suggested I take look at Jobst Brandt's reports on Col
de la Seigne (between Val des Glaciers FR and Val Veny IT). I like the idea
of seeing the steep southeast side of the Mont Blanc massif. I understand
there is a lot of serious hiking with rolling (? sometimes carrying ?) my
bicycle over both Ferret and Seigne. I'm thinking maybe of making a big loop
starting at Orsieres, first south over Grand St Bernard to Aosta, then Petit
St Bernard (on paved roads) -- then return over Seigne and Ferret to
Orsieres.
Much more than I can ride in one day.

Ken

grosse scheidegg/swiss bike route #4 questions
 

Ken Roberts ha scritto:

Another idea that's drawing my attention is Col du Grand Ferret between
Courmayeur IT and Orsieres CH (which I could do in a loop with Col Grand St
Bernard).

Much more than I can ride in one day.

Be aware that there is a tighter loop. to be done on a Mtb, called The
Tour of Mont Blanc.
It is presented as a four stage affair, although a friend of mine from
Roma has done it in only two days. For anyone interested in it, there
is a detailed report (in Italian) of that achievement.

Sergio
Pisa