This page has been assembled with photos from a Member who has spent part of most recent summers
in the Alps sampling parts that most cyclists never see. This is the world mainly of the walker,
where a light bike is an advantage on some routes because it will have to be carried. Fred is not
constrained by having to find a hotel - any old derelict building will do -
even a tree if there is no other choice.
These cover an area from Austria to central Switzerland and then southwards almost to the
Mediterranean, with routes in France and Italy. If you care to follow them,
then it is at your own risk - we would emphasise that it is advisable to start
with easy routes; the book gives a rough idea of difficulty.
 |
fw85e18. Birnlücke pass which connects Bruneck in
Italy with Krimml in Austria via a hard route. Approaching the foot of the main climb on
the Italian side. The summit, 2667m, is at the snowy gap.
August 1985. |
fw85e30. Pfitscherjoch. At the summit, 2251m, looking NW to
Hohe Wand. The pass joins Mayrhofen in Austria with Sterzing/Vipiteno in Italy.
(Not one of the hardest here!) There is a good track on the Italian side and
not too bad a path on the Austrian side.
August 1985. |
 |
 |
fw9058. Pitztalerjoch, which reaches 2996m. In Austria above and west of Solden.
Very difficult. There is a good tarmac road up to 2800m on the east side but then there is
a short bit on a glacier to the summit. Fred had to strap his bike on his back to get down this stretch
on the west side. Some following walkers gave up and returned by the easier side!
August 1990 |
fw9531. Kreuzkofeljoch (Poma in Italian) summit, 2340m.
It is in Italy SSE of Brunico/Bruneck. Not particularly difficult.
August 1995 |
 |
 |
fw9618. Rabbi Joch seen from Barlap Alm, 2295m. The pass is in Italy, due west of Bolzano,
joining the Ultimo and Rabbi valleys. The route is mostly rideable with a mountain bike.
August 1996. |
fw85d33. Giogo di Bala reaches 2162m
on an unsurfaced road, south east then south of Breno in Italy.
It is believed now to be fully surfaced one side. Fred met this view
on his descent, later taking the road across the mountainside in the middle
distance.
August 1985. |
 |
 |
fw9031. The Rifugio Pirovano from the Rif.
Livrio (the latter, at 3174m, involves an easy stretch on a glacier. In Italy near the eastern Swiss border. The Stelvio pass
summit and east side can be seen below in the distance.
August 1990. |
fw9632. The northernmost of three passes at
Pass da Val Viola, 2489m, between Bormio (Italy) and Poschiavo (Switzerland). This is a rather
hard path on the west side; an easy, often rideable, track on the east.
August 1996 |
 |
 |
fw86a2. Septimer pass, 2310m, in Switzerland. This is
at the summit looking south to Val Bregaglia. The pass joins the west side of the Julier pass
with the west side of the Maloja pass. It is difficult from the south but easy from the north
(from Bivio).
July 1986 |
fw9423. Fred Wright at the 2378m summit of the Greina pass.
This is in Switzerland, about 20 miles east of Andermatt.
It is a moderately difficult crossing with some carrying required on the south side.
July 1994. |
 |
 |
fw8906. "Desolation of a high route" from the summit of the
Faulhorn Traverse in central Switzerland. It is just to the south of
Lake Brienz with views of several of Switzerland's highest peaks. This difficult route
goes east from Interlaken and has a highest point at 2620m.
August 1989. |
fw8910. Fred Wright on the Sefinenfurke in central Switzerland - on a
very difficult route reaching 2612m. This gives a good idea of the kit needed to be self-sufficient.
The rucksack is carried on the bike itself when riding on roads. Thus, unlike the walker, you can
cover big distances on surfaced roads to get to the area of your choice.
August 1989. |
 |
 |
fw9315. Albrun, on the Swiss-Italian border east of Brig.
This is the type of very difficult route where you don't want the extra weight of a
mountain bike! Here Fred was approaching the 2409m summit.
August 1993 |
fw82b. On the west side of the San Giacomo pass. The route
reaches 2313m and is SE of the Nufenen pass in central Switzerland.
This particular obstacle took two hours to get round. Apparently a
bit early in the season.
June 1982 |
 |
 |
fw82c. San Giacomo. Another picture on the west side.
June 1982. |
fw8861. Monte Moro Pass on the Swiss-Italian border SE of Zermatt. This is
a very difficult route which reaches 2868m. The lake in the distance is the Mattmarksee.
August 1988. |
 |
 |
fw8718. Approaching the Turlo Pass in
northern Italy near the Swiss border. Another very difficult route,
this time reaching 2738m.
August 1987. |
fw86a35. Theodule pass - climbing the
north side beside the Matterhorn. The route is south of Zermatt,
going to Italy and is probably the highest pass (3317m) traversed
in the Alps with a bike, although very difficult with a glacier to
cross on the north side.
31 July 1986. |
 |
 |
fw87a. Chèvres pass and its 60 foot steel ladder on
the NW side - straps needed! The pass is in Switzerland, south of Sion in the Rhône valley.
It reaches 2855m and is a very difficult route.
August 1987. |
fw9803. Part of the Mont Blanc range from the Col di Chavannes, about 2600m high,
in NW Italy. The route is mostly moderate.
Late July 1998. |
 |
 |
fw85a20. A snowy obstacle near the summit on the way to Mont Malamot
in the NW Italian Alps. The route is an old and very rough road, reaching 2917m.
July 1985. |
fw85b10. Route des Crêtes in NW Italy near Susa. This is a classic
rough road route and reaches almost 2500m at one of its six summits. This picture is near the
Colle Basset, 2419m.
July 1985. |
 |
 |
fw85a35. From the rough road up Mt. Chaberton above the Col de Chaberton.
This route reaches 3131m in France, having started in Italy, east of the French town of
Briançon.
July 1985. |
fw85c2. Col de Parpaillon, looking north from the top of the ridge.
This rough road reaches 2645m and is well south in the French Alps, forming an alternative
to the surfaced Col de Vars.
July 1985. |
 |
 |
fw8832. From the summit of the Passo della Gardetta looking into the Valle
Maira. The pass is in Italy, west of Cuneo in Italy and is not too hard.
July 1988. |
fw8632. On the rough road between the passes of la Boaire and la Tenda,
on the Italian-French border and only about 50 miles north of the Mediterranean. This road
runs for many miles at about the 2000m level.
July 1986. |
 |
