Belvédère des Avalanches and Col du Merle
By Will • Oct 23rd, 2008 • Category: Climbs, Cycling, Juras
Another steep, beautiful climb on deserted roads in the Jura mountains.
Starting near Bellegarde, the ride got off to a slow start as the bridge to Montanges was closed. This left me on the wrong side of a gigantic (stunning) gorge. I considered changing plans but I’d been wanting to climb this for a long time!
Following a nice cliff road, it took me about 10 kms until the gorge ended and I found a way around.
It was overcast all day in Geneva - on the other side of the mountains - a huge cloud wall was on top of the mountains. I was in a little sunny micro climate valley.
The hard work starts in Champfromier. There is a tiny, forestry road that heads up the cliffs. It’s not often that I get to use the extra dark red in my elevation charts for kms averaging over 12%. Wow!
My plan was to continue on small unpaved forestry roads to the Col du Merle. Thanks to Bastien for this idea. For his excellent photos - see his article (in French) on this route here.
It is “possible” to use a road bike up to the Belvedere des Avalanches. But beyond this, the route requires a mountain or touring bike.
Luckily, I had programmed the route into my GPS, as the route criss-crossed several other forestry roads. After climbing through the woods for a while through some fog/clouds, I broke through into sunshine again.
Some History:
Nearing my goal, in the middle of no-where, it was time for some history.
First, I stopped to look at La Borne au Lion (under my bike in photo at left). This is the largest of a series of stone markers implanted in 1613 to indicate the border between Franche Comté - then owned by Spain (until 1678) - and Le Bugy and Pays de Gex owned then by the Kingdom of France.
At the same location was a monument to the Maquis (French Resistance). This site was used as a headquarters and hospital by the Maquis de l’Ain and the Haut-Jura during the fighting with the Nazis in 1944.
Less than a kilometre further up the road, I reached my goal: the Col du Merle.
A thoroughly enjoyable 70 km there-back ride.
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Will is Happiest while cycling uphill. More enthusiastic than talented, his 2009 Challenge is to cycle a 100 Cols (mountain passes) and lose a couple of pounds.
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I love these climbs and this area ! the photos are beautiful and the two with the cloud wall are very impressive.
Well done
What a great picture! I’m going to have to show this to my wife… I think I may have mentioned before she’s a meteorologist. She loves to see cool cloud formations. What a great shot of a cloud wall. Way to go on the 12% grade… you’re killin’ me!