My St-Etienne friends Philippe and Xavier were in the neighbourhood and invited me to join them on a superb but challenging loop. Every climb was steep – including the famous Col de Joux Plane.
Over 140 kilometres with about 3,400 metres climb (+11,000 feet) in a heat wave.
The plan was to cycle up Col de la Joux Verte.
I knew the road was still closed, but it’s been so warm we thought with mountain bikes that we’d be OK.
Here is stage one of the upcoming July 2008 Lost Boys Tour d’Enfer. A trip organized by my friend Leslie that will include people from the USA, Canada, France, Turkey, Germany, and Switzerland.
A stunning ride from Morzine up to Avoriaz with – a much stronger – Barry.
It is a much nicer route up via Lac Montriond – up the wooded valley along crazy hairpins. The way down is much more open and a little less interesting.
I felt weak as a kitten today – [...]
Joux: Mountain Forest
A super scenic climb in the Porte de Soleil ski region (largest connected ski area in the world) that starts at Morzine ski-station. I climbed the South route to the Col and onto Avoriaz a couple of years back during a heat wave and had descended today’s north route and knew it [...]
33 km
Avoriaz is a perched purpose built ski station in the French Alps high above Morzine. Starting in Morzine, the climb starts gradually but soon becomes relatively steep and provides great mountain views in all directions as the route continual switchbacks.
My bike computer said 100 degrees F (38 Celsius) and I was [...]
