The morning of the second day we awoke to an inch of slushy snow. Various reports indicated that the pass we were planning on crossing had as much as 30cm! It was 8:30 and we started to re-plan our day. I was able to use the front desks computer to check weather, routes and bus schedules. It only made the most sense to jump on a bus to get us in a better location and avoid the planned route for safety. The plan for day two was to head towards the Passo Di Val Alpisella (2285m), Left at the Laghi di Cancano, and back up-over-and-through the famed Val Mora (2234m), down into Val Müstair (Switzerland) and to our hotel in Malles Venosta, Italy (1063m). All of this being quite remote (i.e. no roads, only remote farms which could be closed for the season), we felt it best not to risk the 55km ride over the almost 2300m in 30cm of snow. We figured it could last 10 hours at best. So here is the story in photos...
When I looked out the window in the morning (notice the splash from the black car...)
Dom (aka "Camera Two") documenting the situation...
The fields seemed to have a bit more than one inch, in any event, a very different picture than the one we arrived with.
A view from the bus. A good decision.
The Val Alpisella, the route we were planning to take, look closely you can see the trail from the right heading towards center...
Waiting for our turn in the one-way tunnel back into Switzerland, we noticed lots of stickers on the guard rail.
Even our bikes look content...
A view of the bus... more like a really cush van.
We got off at Punt la Drossa, it was a straight shot up the road to Pass dal Fuorn (2149m), Camera One's view...
...and Camera Two...
We stopped at Hotel Parc Naziunal - Il Fuorn (1794m) to check the water situation, you may remember this place from our post about the Swiss National Park...
Climbing up the long a snow lined road...
Our first mechanical problem... Hernan gets a flat!
Holy Crap! we're not even at 2100m and look how deep the snow is!!! I'm really glad we changed plans.
Looking back down the road we came... I love the mountains!
Climbing, Climbing, Climbing... the tower in the distance is the pass (2149m).
The restaurant at the pass.
Panorama looking over the pass...
Dom's (aka Camera Two's) View
We decided to stop for some coffee and Hernan convinced us to stay for lunch, also a really good decision...
Hernan wanted to ride down, Dom and I took the bus. The switchbacks were nauseating... it dropped 400m in 2km. Hernan almost beat the bus down.
Near the village of Tschierv...
Recovering from a lost hour at some farm on the hill, we made our way back to the main road. The valley (Val Müstair) looks great.
On a side road in Fuldera we secure some visuals...
In the town of Müstair we take some pictures... nice Romansch village!
We stop to visit the Benedictine Convent of Saint John, some of the walls are from 900 AD, but the church is from the 11th century, many of the paintings have been restored.
Leaving the church I had an "aaaaaah" moment, the beauty of the late afternoon sun. I took a picture and it did not seem right, then I realized I have my amber biking glasses. I re-took the picture through my glasses...
Just after crossing the border in Tubre, Italy, the cows are brought in for the night...
At the end of town was another impressive church, although unassuming, the church pre-dated the Kloster St. Johann, prehaps 9th or 10th century. Special Effects - Amber Biking Lenses...
Camera Two...
Camera One... Mechanical number two, seat needs adjusting.
Getting further visuals on the way to the hotel...
Dom... Check.
Arriving in Malles Venosta, Italy.
A view from the hotel room with the sun setting on the mountains.
A walk around town to stretch the legs.
Looking back up the valley we came from...
A walk through the village. It wouldn't be Italy without a Ferrari...
Church tower at sunset, the bells were ringing...
Perfect after a long re-planned ride. We made it.
The moon rising over the mountain; time for some much needed sleep.
Dom (aka "Camera Two") documenting the situation...
The fields seemed to have a bit more than one inch, in any event, a very different picture than the one we arrived with.
A view from the bus. A good decision.
The Val Alpisella, the route we were planning to take, look closely you can see the trail from the right heading towards center...
Waiting for our turn in the one-way tunnel back into Switzerland, we noticed lots of stickers on the guard rail.
Even our bikes look content...
A view of the bus... more like a really cush van.
We got off at Punt la Drossa, it was a straight shot up the road to Pass dal Fuorn (2149m), Camera One's view...
...and Camera Two...
We stopped at Hotel Parc Naziunal - Il Fuorn (1794m) to check the water situation, you may remember this place from our post about the Swiss National Park...
Climbing up the long a snow lined road...
Our first mechanical problem... Hernan gets a flat!
Holy Crap! we're not even at 2100m and look how deep the snow is!!! I'm really glad we changed plans.
Looking back down the road we came... I love the mountains!
Climbing, Climbing, Climbing... the tower in the distance is the pass (2149m).
The restaurant at the pass.
Panorama looking over the pass...
Dom's (aka Camera Two's) View
We decided to stop for some coffee and Hernan convinced us to stay for lunch, also a really good decision...
Hernan wanted to ride down, Dom and I took the bus. The switchbacks were nauseating... it dropped 400m in 2km. Hernan almost beat the bus down.
Near the village of Tschierv...
Recovering from a lost hour at some farm on the hill, we made our way back to the main road. The valley (Val Müstair) looks great.
On a side road in Fuldera we secure some visuals...
In the town of Müstair we take some pictures... nice Romansch village!
We stop to visit the Benedictine Convent of Saint John, some of the walls are from 900 AD, but the church is from the 11th century, many of the paintings have been restored.
Leaving the church I had an "aaaaaah" moment, the beauty of the late afternoon sun. I took a picture and it did not seem right, then I realized I have my amber biking glasses. I re-took the picture through my glasses...
Just after crossing the border in Tubre, Italy, the cows are brought in for the night...
At the end of town was another impressive church, although unassuming, the church pre-dated the Kloster St. Johann, prehaps 9th or 10th century. Special Effects - Amber Biking Lenses...
Camera Two...
Camera One... Mechanical number two, seat needs adjusting.
Getting further visuals on the way to the hotel...
Dom... Check.
Arriving in Malles Venosta, Italy.
A view from the hotel room with the sun setting on the mountains.
A walk around town to stretch the legs.
Looking back up the valley we came from...
A walk through the village. It wouldn't be Italy without a Ferrari...
Church tower at sunset, the bells were ringing...
Perfect after a long re-planned ride. We made it.
The moon rising over the mountain; time for some much needed sleep.
