Welcome to Episode 3 of our European Cycling trip. This time, we take a ride in two amazing Switzerland alpine crossings: the Grimsel Pass and the Furka Pass. The ride offers unforgettable views of granite peaks, massive reservoirs like the Räterichsbodensee, and the Rhone Glacier area in Central Switzerland.
We will also check out the valley floor and explore the historic local town of Meiringen. Known as the gateway to the Grimsel and the home of the famous Reichenbach Falls (where Sherlock Holmes met his fictional demise), Meiringen provides a perfect, picturesque contrast to the rugged high passes.
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Equipment:
@insta360
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Photo Credit:
https://climbfinder.com/en/climbs/furkapass
https://thephotohikes.com/rhone-glacier-hike/
Music Credit:
Track: Wallflowers
Artist: Bad Snacks
Youtube Audio Library:
Track: Far Apart
Artist: Causmic
#GrimselPass #FurkaPass #SwissAlps #SwitzerlandCycling #AlpineClimbing #CyclingVlog #Meiringen #HighAlpinePasses
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[Music] What’s going on guys? Punky Psychics here. Welcome back to the channel. Thanks you guys for joining me today. We’re in the Focal Pass in the Southern Alps. It’s going to be an interesting ride. I got a couple climbs and some great views. Looking forward to this one. See you guys in a little bit. [Music] Today we’re starting our ride on Grimsel Pass Road on our way to the FK Pass. The Grimzel Pass is located in the Swiss can town of Bird. Leaving this location, our current elevation is just over 1,700 m or 5,500 ft. [Music] All right, first climb. [Music] The Grimsel Pass is the first mountain pass just east of the Bernese Alps. The Grimsel Pass has an interesting history as an ancient trade route first documented in the 14th century. It was used for goods like cheese and wine. The pass was upgraded and paved in the 1800s and later modified for a hydroelectric power plants. Built in the 1930s to Grimsel Hospice, a historical hotel is also located here after the original site was flooded by a reservoir. On the right, we see a reservoir with a surface area of 26 square miles and is connected to the air river. Traveling along this road connect us to the FKOstrasa road and the focal pass with an elevation of just over 2400 meters or 7,900 ft. The road also connects us with the cantons of Yuri and Valet. The Alpine passes are closed from the fall to the spring due to weather conditions. So, it’s recommended that anyone visiting monitor the Alpine Pass status [Music] along with the elevation with percentage grades ranging from 4 to 9%. Rounding out here not only presents challenges with air pressure, but also can impact your exertion levels. Now, you can also get to this location by train, which is really neat. It doesn’t get you all the way to the northern passes, but looks like it’s pretty close. It’s called the Matterhorn Gddard Bond Railway Line. There’s also a car transport option as well if you want to drive. So certainly check that out if you get the time. I didn’t get a chance to do that with my schedule, but if I come back, I definitely wouldn’t mind checking that out, too. [Music] I took this ride in August, so traffic was definitely a factor with the summer season. If you get here, you may encounter cars, RVs, motorcycles, and even tour buses. Really important to stay alert. Just make sure everything is good as you’re making your way around. [Music] Now, I’ve been really blessed to see some really nice locations in my travels, but I have to say Switzerland by far is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever experienced in my life. And right now, I’m planning a few more videos and new locations for you guys. So, certainly stay tuned for some of that. And I can’t wait to share that with you as well. [Music] Near the FKA Pass, you can find the famous Bever Hotel. Although it’s closed, it was once featured in a James Bond film. In this location, you can also see the Rome Glacier, which provides water to Lake Geneva. The first ride of my European trip feature this amazing lake. Check out the link above to see that ride. And of course, like most tourist friend destinations, there are some hotels and restaurants in the area. Certainly good for planning if you’re looking to stay a little bit longer. And I have to say those climbs are no joke. You have to be ready, fit, diet, everything is on point or if not, you’re just going to be struggling out there. It’s still a cool experience, but to really enjoy it, if you can prepare and give yourself some class or just get an ebike, that works, too. [Music] All right, guys. Man, I tell you, this is a the real deal. Had a chance to ride around a little bit, check some of the climbs and the areas. It is absolutely gorgeous. I’m glad I was able to get here. Definitely something on the bucket list. But if you’re going to come out here, just be ready. Be ready to climb. You got to get your your diet right, your fitness right. You got to be all on board cuz these climbs are no joke. The descents are pretty wild, too, cuz you really go down and you’re sharing the road obviously with vehicles, motorcycles, and everybody’s moving cuz, you know, folks are just enjoying themselves. So, good opportunity and I’m glad I did it. I’m going to try to see if I can hit a local town that’s not too far from here. Look like it has some pretty good views. I’ll see how that goes. See you guys in a little bit. On my way back to the local town, I took a moment to check out the alt grims of pastasa, giving you a few more views of the landscape with a different perspective. It was just amazing in its own way. [Music] Making our way out of the passes, I stopped by the town of Maringen. Maring is famous for the nearby Rikenbach Falls that was included in the fictional Sherlock Holmes short story. [Music] [Music] [Music] Now there are a number of well-known rivers in the area but the most memorable thing about me in this town were the amazing views of all the mountain passes. You had the Brunick Sarna, the Susten Pass, of course, the Grimsel Pass, just to name a few. One of my goals for this trip was just to try to get amazing shots. And I got to say, being here was probably some of the best shots of the trip. [Music] This ride was the most challenging I’ve ever experienced since starting this channel. I recommend advanced training and preparation to ensure you’re able to tackle the famous climbs. Even with the difficulty, you are still rewarded with amazing views during the experience. Depending on the time of year, you will encounter traffic of all types. Do your best to stay viligent and visible while sharing the road with others. The central Swiss op region provides some of the best cycling experiences with views that are unlike anything in the world. Some might find it hard to believe, including myself, until I experienced it in person. You can’t go wrong with any ride in Switzerland, but this one should definitely be at the top of your list. Thanks for watching the third video of this series. Be sure to like, share, and subscribe. Stay tuned for more amazing rides on the way. See you all soon. Be safe and take care.