Cycling in the Alps

Tomorrow I leave for Germany to visit a great and dear friend of mine. Errol and I had planned to do some cycling this summer in search of adventure, physical challenge, and above all, a good time! We set our sights on the Alps and started to prepare and plan. Unfortunately, two weeks ago, Errol severely injured his knee. It looks as though he will not be able to join me in this summer's episode of cyclotouring (yes the bike-a-thon must go on).

Here is a brief outline of my upcoming trip:

After visiting with Errol in Hamburg, I will head south to the German-Austrian border outside of Munich. There I will hop on my bike and head into the Alps following the Inn river to its source, some 500 km to the west, in Switzerland. I will be following the Innradweg (Inn bicycle path) for this leg of the journey (click for info and map). Once in Switzerland, I will continue through the heart of the Alps visiting small villages and towns. This section of my trip is left mostly unplanned to see where the road and winds take me... the Matterhorn, Northern Italy, Mont Blanc... All of this meandering and wandering will have a direction and goal in mind though: Thonon-les-Bains, France on Lac Leman. This is the northern terminus of La Route Des Grandes Alpes (click for info and map). This route will lead me 684 km through the french Alps on the epic and storied climbs of Le Toure de France, ending at its southern terminus on the Mediterranean in Menton, France. Then I have a choice: east to Italy and Venice, or west to Spain and Barcelona... I'll let you know when I get there. Check back to this blog for updates and of course pictures often.

Now, I must return my tray and seat to its upright position and prepare for take off. I will miss you all! See you in September.

Aaron

Hatcher Pass

On my way up to Hatcher Pass



Summit Lake on Hatcher Pass



Pika on Hatcher Pass




Climbing into the clouds

Alaska's fall colors

Taking a break

Willow Creek

Rainbow

Willow Creek

Last 100 Miles

These mile posts count me down all the way into Anchorage



Denali shows herself



The Alaska Range



Fall is here

Denali National Park

Nanana River

Alaska Highway, CHECK!

Welcome to the YUKON and ALASKA

Welcome to the Yukon



Dry, semi-arid landscapes with beautiful views



Above tree line at the Three Guardsmen Pass



My bike works great also as a tripod



Hardest climb so far. Sea level to 3,511 ft.



Welcome to Alaska!



Lake Kluane. Fall is just around the corner. I hear it lasts for only a week



Woke up to a grizzly outside my tent.



More mountainous views in Alaska



Glacial waters mixing from the Slims River into Lake Kluane



Ernesto and I make camp in Tok, AK. Ernesto is traveling from Uruguay to Alaska by motorcycle

Pictures from Southeast Alaska and the Inside Passage

Sitting on a cool bench in Haines, Alaska



The mouth of the Chilkoot River







Bald eagle in the Haines harbor



Early morning on the ferry



Coming into Haines, AK







On the ferry



On the ferry



Petersburg, AK



The sign at the Cassiar Highway...



...and the reason I had to take the ferry.

The Canadian Rockies to Central BC

The Culps farm



The Culps.



Big tree! Cypress in Ancient Forest



The Culps farm



My bed for the night



The Culps Farm



Mt Robson







The Frasier River



Welcome to BC!!!



Unbroken Ridge



The Columbia Icefields and glacial melt water. Best water I've tasted



On my way up Sunwapta pass



Black bear eating some berries







Athabasca River







Peyto Lake



Bow Lake



Camping near Bow summit on the Icefields Parkway



Crowsfoot Glacier



The Icefields Parkway



The Icefields Parkway



Waterfall in Banff



Just outside of Banff



The Rockies come into view



A great place to take a break in Calgary. Thank you so much!



A sign for my sister. Miss you so much. Wish you were here to see this!