エトロウブレスの峠・トップ20

この登りは信じられないほど素晴らしいです。勾配はきつくありませんが、長く、非常に長く、果てしなく続きます。ほとんど嫌いになりそうな地点に達します。1時間以上も自転車を漕いでいるのに、まだ頂上が見えず、エネルギーは尽きかけ、風は顔を叩き続けます。自転車を投げ捨てて「もう十分だ！ここで止まる！」と言いたくなるでしょう…しかし、それはほんの一瞬のことです。なぜなら、それに挑むことを選んだのはあなた自身であり、何をしているのかをはっきりと知っていたからです。以前よりもさらに気合を入れて、残りの力すべてで最後の数キロの道を駆け抜けます。 そしてトンネルに入ると、やり遂げたのだと実感し始めます。トンネルを抜けて、わずかに左に曲がる道を進むと、まるで夢のように湖が現れます。 頂上に着くと、何世紀にもわたってこの道を歩んできた人々のことを思います。サラッシ族、ローマ人、修道士、移民、ナポレオンの兵士たち…歴史が濃密で自然が素晴らしい場所にいることを理解し、この丘を愛さずにはいられません。

The pass between Switzerland and Italy connects Valais and the Aosta Valley (the smallest region in Italy with the black and red flag). "The Fenêtre de Durand is a 2,797-meter-high mountain pass in the Pennine Alps. The mule track connects the Swiss Rhône Valley via the Val de Bagnes with the Italian Aosta Valley. The gap between the 3,347-meter-high Mont Avril and the 3,518-meter-high Mont Gelé (Chanrion) is the only ice-free crossing over the main Alpine ridge east of the Grand Combin massif and west of the Monte Rosa massif. Immediately below the pass summit, on the Italian side, is the small Lac Fenêtre." Source: Wikipedia.

From the Italian side, you mostly have to carry the bike or use rails. Short sections are rideable. The descent into Val Ferret is mostly good, somewhere between S1 and S2. In some places, I had to carry/push the bike because it was too heavy. It took me about 25-30 minutes from the pass to Plan de la Chaux.

Great view of the Mont Blanc massif. You can drive to the refuge.

I recommend choosing the classic crossing via Col de Ferret. In contrast to the Fenetre de Ferret, the climb is partly rideable and the view of the Mont Blanc massif is much more spectacular.

https://youtu.be/D352Ql5fMaY?feature=shared I also passed through here on the Tour du Combin. Crossing the lonely col is simply epic. The climb from Fionnay up to the reservoir through the many tunnels is an experience; the climb to the col is easy for a long time, but quite steep at the end. The descent across the lake into the valley is an absolutely fantastic trail, culminating in the Ru Neuf irrigation channel.

https://youtu.be/Li5AlhVsZvI?feature=shared Push up about 300m from St. Bernhard, then you'll have an incredible panorama of the entire Mont Blanc massif. The trail meanders down through the glacier lakes. One of the most beautiful places in the world.

This pass presents no alpine difficulties on either side.