This trip contains two gravel adventures. First climbing from Valloire to the highest of its Ski Station (2534 metres) by way of a minimum of 35 hairpins. Then some excellent gravel up a very stunning hidden valley parallel to the paved Galibier street however surrounded by excessive mountains, after which a barely loopy ascent to Col de la Plagnette – bike pushing concerned. Woohoooo !

My spouse and I have been staying in Valloire for 3 nights. Our plan was to do a number of massive hikes and I used to be allowed one (one!) bike trip. So I selected it fastidiously. Actually, I used our first hike to do some critical route planning:

However my first purpose was to get to the very prime of Valloire-Galibier ski station. Ranging from city, should you look carefully on the map you’ll see it’s nothing however hairpins early on. It’s paved for a few kilometres and I handed varied ski chalets, but it surely quickly turns into a pleasant gravel ski-lift service street.

I reached the highest of one of many most important chair lifts and there was a pleasant lake.

Nevertheless it was nonetheless a protracted option to the excessive level on the prime of one other carry. The ultimate couple of kms have been steep and I handed some mountain climbing faculty kids so slowly that we might have a pleasant chat they usually kindly cheered me on. However I made it! Good views and a elaborate top-of-the-resort signal.

Subsequent I descended down one other gravel service street to try to be a part of up with the route I had hiked with Doreen yesterday. I’m going to publish the photograph once more, however whereas mountain climbing I had been so transfixed with L’Aiguille Noir. I’ve visited Col de la Plagnette from a special course earlier than on a mountain bike, however questioned if it was potential from this aspect.

And now I used to be on my bike heading instantly at this stunning peak.

I knew the gravel street would quickly finish and issues would get trickier. However two pleasant and really match guys in French Nationwide jerseys (ski or VTT or XC ski champions?) coming from different approach stated it was troublesome however not harmful. So I bought on the path.

Some elements have been comparatively simple and a few elements brutal, however I made progress. Be aware, the ultimate 3 kms to the col have been primarily bike pushing/carrying.

However I used to be thrilled and relieved to achieve Col de la Plagnette (2525m):

Excessive I quickly arrived at 2 alpine lakes which can be sadly pretty dry/empty. It was a brief trip to Col des Rochilles (2496m) – which I do know – and a protracted, bumpy descent to Plan Lachat on the Galibier north aspect.

See this outdated trip for particulars of climbing Col des Rochilles from Plan Lachat and persevering with east previous these lakes all the way in which to Briançon: Col Searching Behind Le Grand Galibier

This outdated photograph under reveals the gorgeous Col des Rochilles descent. It was taken on paved street at 6km marker under Galibier summit, however the gravel street is evident on the left. Many hairpins! Anyway it’s enjoyable when a foolish thought is profitable.

Right here’s a 3D video of this nice route: