The long ridge

After the magnificent first two days of my tour, I wanted to take it easy in Valnontey. I had chosen a cozy day tour with a trail that was rated quite well. The only disadvantage - the ascent went up the same pass as tomorrow's stage to Aosta. But oh well, I can take a look at it and if it's a disaster, at least I'm warned and can look for alternatives.

In pleasant mountain freshness, starting to feel a little chilly, I set off in radiant sunshine with light luggage. First up to Gimillan again, but then turning left onto the hiking trail to Col Tsa Setze. The steady and smooth ascent went well while pushing. The first 700 meters of altitude were a piece of cake. And it would actually be a great downhill trail, I thought to myself. Then it got steeper and more blocked. Not really bad, but with a full load, I would probably start sweating. Anyway, when I reached the pass, it was all manageable. And I also encountered a group of bikers who wanted to go down there. So it couldn't be that bad.

So I enjoyed the fantastic view of the entire prominent peaks that towered mightily behind the Aosta Valley. Not only was Gran Paradiso visible, but also Mont Blanc, Grand Combin, and Monte Rosa. It doesn't get more sublime in the Alps. With this panorama, the descent could only be fun.

Unfortunately, there was now a ridge between me and this descent. And in reality, it looked much longer and more exposed than the map suggested. The hikers coming towards me only had a pitying smile - there's nothing rideable from now on, they told me. Not that hikers always know exactly what is rideable for me or not. In this case, however, their statement was unfortunately quite right and accurate.

So I balanced my bike with one hand over the abyss, floating above the critical sections, and followed the constant ups and downs of this never-ending ridge, cursing heavily. Almost at the very end, near the cable car from the Aosta Valley, I came across a completely overwhelmed family slowly feeling their way along the rocks, probably not completely vertigo-free. When they saw me, they almost screamed at me in a panic - "You can not go further here with a bike, this is very dangerous!" Well, that was one of the few spots that were a bit exposed but quite rideable. Good thing they didn't know where I came from and what you could do with a bike there.

Finally, I reached Col del Drinc, and thus also the start of my trail. A narrow, beautiful ribbon hugged the slope back into the valley. Unfortunately, at the beginning, it was again very exposed. So it was a game of carrying my bike at the spots that wouldn't forgive any mistakes and the less exposed sections that offered a great flow, especially at the bottom.

An overall nice day tour with a few flaws. So I could return to my campsite to enjoy the end of the day. And I was richer in an important realization - tomorrow, I won't go up the same pass again to do the ridge with all the luggage - nope! That won't work.