The Swiss Adventure...: TransAlp 2010

I have been dreaming of doing a multi-day ride in the Alps for a long time. Finally the plan was for a three day ride, Sept. 24 - Sept. 26, between St. Moritz and Scoul Switzerland riding in an out of Italy. We left Basel around 7:30am for a four and a half hour train ride to St. Moritz, the three of us (Dom, Hernan, and myself) and our 30+ pound packs. We were taking only what we could carry: clothes, water, rain gear, warm gear, bike gear, medical and bike repair kits, and of course, the cameras.
Special thanks to "Camera Two" (Dom), "Videographer" (Hernan), and "The Hook-up" (Erik).

The first day plan was to eat lunch at or near the St. Moritz station (1770m), head towards Pontresina, Ospizio Bernina, over the Bernina Pass (2330m), and crossing into Italy to spend the night in Livigno (1800m). Below is the ride report in pictures for the first of three days.

From the window of the train, we cross the Filisur Landwasserviaduct into the tunnel...

Somewhere past Albula train station and 3.5 hours later...

Hernan is anticipating the ride...

Finally in St. Moritz, final gear check before the ascent...

After the first climb, this is the best time to stop and take in the scenery...

After more climbing, we pause in Morteratsch (1896m)...

...to get our bearings and follow the right trail...

...Tires slip on the stones and roots, the fella's back home what to know what the trails look like...

Across the train tracks and road, we spot an old barn just beyond the river...

We stop for some shelter from the gusty winds and a quick call home at the Diavolezza gondola lift (2090m)...

With views like this, you have to stop to take it in. The train circles down below... we're now above the tree line...

Another break is needed at the Lago Bianco (2235m), "the white lake", as the air gets thinner and the clouds get thicker...

...to the right, glaciers so close you could almost touch them...

Riding around the lake was awesome, not just the trails, but the wind, small pellets of sleet, and the view...

...finally we make it to the Bernina Pass (Passo del Bernina, 2330m)...

...one for posterity...

...the view beyond...

Riding down the pass, turning left in Dogana, it soon goes back up on our way into Italy...

Once up the second pass, Passo del Forcola (2315m) and across the Italian Border, we prepare for the descent (you can see the trail far below to the right of center)...