DAY 1 Evian / Yvorne / Aigle - Mosses pass 69 km / 1935 md+ / 952 md- Suisse 01 Yvorne - Les Mosses.gpx

After crossing the Alps from Lake Geneva to the Mediterranean, here is the great mountain tour of Switzerland by mountain trails from Lake Geneva to Graubünden ... to Léman, a return trip of 1100 kils and a deluxe elevation of 30,000 meters in altitude. 21 days. Is this a world first: the Alpine Bike with saddlebags? After careful consideration: it's really nothing! Finally, there are some who have not tried, there have not been any problems! The others did not succeed ...

The first pedal strokes of Evian are tedious but the real difficulties arrive quickly. The climb after Aigle is very steep, then impracticable on the Corbeyrier trail. The terrain is unstable and slippery ... at the edge of the cliff. All that we like. You have to catch your breath and push the bike. In Leysin, the road becomes rolling again and the view of the mountains of Diablerets / Grimsel gives a boost of energy (even if one is never safe from a climb) to reach the heights of Col des Mosses. The bivouac is done in the mountain pastures after a chase with our supporters who moo at our passage. COW-ment nice Swiss (and too beautiful)!

DAY 2 Mosses pass - Lenk 63 km / 1164 md+ / 1510 md- Suisse 02 Les Mosses - Lenk.gpx

Cleaned by the night rain, the bikes are covered in mud in less than 2 minutes because of the wet soils. The day begins with climbs without any real interest, chopped by the turnstiles for cattle and ... UFOs with mountain bike bags. The calvary ! But the descent on a track dug in the rock for Château d'Oex is extra, 400 md- in the woods without forcing, the foot! Especially since the break is never very far: nothing more wonderful than to stall against a stone near a river, here the Sarine, from Gstaad.

The forest path on the banks of the Sarine is very rolling, ideal when the legs are a bit heavy! The region of Gstaad is ultra beautiful and ... ultra rich: the density of big cars is hallucinating. It stinks of pollution and money! The rest of the program is refreshing with a climb under a light rain at the Saanen Pass, when comes the flood at 1269 meters! The path that leads to Lenk along the Simme is almost flat. The place is magical, the valley sinks into dark mountains towards distant glaciers. The Vaud Alps are moving away.

DAY 3 Lenk - Frutigen 37 km / 1289 md+ / 1558 md- Suisse 03 Lenk - Frutigen.gpx

After the expensive repair of my derailleur, the climb to the Hahnenmoos pass is under a blazing sun on the asphalt, then under the clouds on a steep track to reach the top of the lifts. The route is quite hard, but we stay in the saddle to the top. Encouragements are always good to take, but taken in the effort, it is difficult to stop to discuss. The hikers that we meet are admiring or ... dismayed by us or cycling, to choose. I really like this contrast: riding a bike in unlikely places!

The descent to Adelboden is done on a very nice track, easy to pick up speed without breaking the back! In the distance, the Wildstrubel peaks at 3240 meters and spits water in fury: the Entschigefäll waterfall is visible several miles away, extra. The rest of the route is equally pleasant between country roads and small roads. Little climb, until Frutigen, then comes the time to plant the tent ... crucial moment of the day not to neglect. The bivouac is placed under a tree, with a table and a bench. Ideal to rest the back.

DAY 4 Frutigen - Kleine Scheidegg pass 56 km / 1779 md+ / 749 md- Suisse 04 Frutigen - Kleine Scheidegg.gpx

After a night illuminated by the fireworks and the sounds of firecrackers due to national holiday, we leave the castle of Frutigen to take full north the Entschlige valley then the direction of Aeschi and Interlaken: first passage obliged along a national, horrible! After a short drive in the city, we reach Luterbrunnen following the Jungfrau which stands at 4158 meters. First shampoo along the way: the hair will dry in the wind. Ideal time to ride, some clouds and a little wind. Almost easy!

Lauterbrunnen, 3 pm. For some it's the end of the day, for us the hard part begins! Looking at the map, we see that it will be hard: 650 md + over 1.5 kil. In short, we start fully from the first pedal strokes: 20 laces on a track oscillating between 12 and 15% ... I put the foot at each turn, breathless. In total sweat! ... but I will ride everything on the saddle: the most difficult part of the trip! In Wengen, the rain cools bikes and legs, the road becomes more rolling and majestic in front of the circus of Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. Bivouac sublime.

DAY 5 Kleine Scheidegg pass - Innertkirchen 54 km / 1717 md+ / 2734 md- Suisse 05 Kleine Scheidegg - Innertkirschen.gpx

Fantastic breakfast: 1500 meters of vertical wall in front of our eyes. We take to the cool the kleine Scheidegg pass at 2061 m: it's the madness of mass tourism. The mountain trains pour hordes of tourists more preocupés to take a picture of themselves than to watch this natural spectacle. Sad. Fortunately, the descent to Grindelwald is quieter with a beautiful part in the woods. We meet other crazy pedal who make the Transcontinentale ... a journey combining itinerancy, orientation and choice of course to reach Istanbul. Causette with the champions.

After having filled the saddlebags, the following of the aprèm is quite simple: another climb under the sun for the Grosse Scheidegg (after the Petit ... le Grand) at 1962 meters ... 900 m + to add! In Meiringen, we push the bike on a hill (as steep as useless): going up to go down ... it's a little bit the purpose of the trip but there is no point in reaching Innertkirchen! If in addition, the horseflies attack, it does not sting that the legs! After an integral toilet at the edge of the road, the tent is calmly placed far from the road. A little rest before the sequel!

DAY 6 Innertkirchen - Andermatt 55 km / 2227 md+ / 1622 md- Suisse 06 Innertkirchen - Andermatt.gpx

On this anniversary day, Val releases the nice gifts: a handle of popote and 2 freeze-dried sachets ... rabbit and beef (a real treat, nooon it's delicious!). We quickly leave the path for the Susten Pass road at 2300 m: a real alpine pass, as we like them. Sun, laces, sight, and especially legs that turn alone. I even have the time to do laundry during the ascent: the drying clothes is almost immediate! Val lands 20 minutes after me ... ideal for a well-deserved break in a field of small flowers, facing the glaciers.

And it is left for a descent of madness with a vertical drop of 1400 meters without forcing first on the road and then on a track ... and there you say to yourself "saw the slope, I prefer to be in this direction!" Easy to Wassen. We leave for 10 km and 400 md +: with experience, it's 2 hours ... except that we do not advance between the portage on the stairs and the passage of the tracks! We are a little cooked in Göschenen when a miracle occurs: the Andermatt road is closed to bicycles. The last part is all comfort in a train, first class. Bivouac on the heights: the bad weather is preparing!

DAY 7 Andermatt - Sezner pass 70 km / 1952 md+ / 1517 md- Suisse 07 Andermatt - Alp Sezner.gpx

The breakfast is plentiful and the Olympic form came back to climb the laces of the Oberalp pass. Fortunately it is summer because the weather is really rotten: discontinuous drizzle, fog and wind at over 2000 m. Panchos give a little color to those dull days. The weather improves with the descent, we pass Disentis Munstér without stopping ... except when there are raspberries that call us at the edge of the road. A little dart makes us go down a little too low. Do not panic, the legs are sharp and ready to go back!

We go back through Obersaxen and the lunch break is needed on a bench ... and say that a few years ago I took this route in the other direction to join the Rhine to the Rhone! The climb for the Sezner is grueling and the stops are multiplying. Once on the heights, the trail is rolling ... before of course to cross a field broken by the cows. Inroulable! The tent is planted facing the mountains to climb the next day: oh, oh, it's going strong! It is 18 hours and we finally enjoy a real quiet evening! Serenity !

DAY 8 Sezner pass - Tomül pass 42 km / 1835 md+ / 1367 md- Suisse 08 Alp Sezner -Tomül.gpx

The descent of the Sezner starts with a single in the tall grass, it rolls without problem with the saddlebags to the bottom of the valley of Lumbrein, Vrin and Surin to recover a track in the forest. To reach the spa town of Vals, we take the road ... without forcing too much! But the concern of the day is to find something to eat because it's Sunday and the grocery stores are closed and our bags are almost empty. We find our happiness in a snack bar that offers huge home-made country breads ... we will take 2 kilos, just to keep up the hill.

After a quick break, the serious things begin with a climb on a track overlooking Vals ... then a path ... and of course, we push! Lucky v'tistes who come down take us for crazy, when they learn that we go to S.Moritz is the total joke! We ride on the saddle a few hundred meters, and rebelote, big portage to a sheepfold where 4 yahourts are engulfed in 4 minutes! After a last effort, we reach the Tomül pass to put the tent a little lower, the place is perfect. A trickle of water allows us to do a bit of toilet.

DAY 9 Tomül pass - Tiefencastel 62 km / 1651 md+ / 3053 md- Suisse 09 Tomül - Tiefencastel.gpx

The morning is sunny, almost too hot. The stony path becomes a wide stony path that descends into the valley: hard to pick up speed without breaking your back! Down below, the sun has not arrived yet: the icy air, forced to take out the jackets. To see the trail (vertical) and contours of the map, we will make a more rolling loop by bike to avoid a pass at 1850 meters! We go on a track dug in the rock with very picturesque tunnels: the detour is worth it and we keep some strength for the next to come.

Although I miss a section of road on my GPS, everything makes me think that we can connect a forest track leading directly to the valley of Cazis / Thusis. We discover a path of 20 cm necessarily impractical bike ... Joy of adventure! To know how to force a little and save for the rest of the day: this is what drives us to pass these mountains inaccessible but so beautiful! After a pass at 1700 m, the valleys of Cazis and Albula are splendid. We leave the Alpine bike for a trail almost as hard technically, we put the mountain bikes at night. Exhausted!

DAY 10 Tiefencastel - Bivio 34 km / 1449 md+ / 320 md- Suisse 10 Tiefencastel - Bivio.gpx

This morning, the sky goes through 50 shades of gray, nothing good that is worth! But we go between the big drops, which allows at least refresh the calves! We alternate between road and road depending on the profile of the mountain: a little tired of getting burned for nothing! And then the weather threatens, it is easier to take shelter along a RN in the middle of the forest: it is the deluge at Mulegns. A good hour break under the roof terrace of a hotel with Romanian bikers: we are in the open but at least the rest dry. We start on a soggy road to Marmomera.

After the dam of Marmorera, it is the last straight before Bivio. The sky always threatens a little more then the visit of the center is ultra fast ... Nobody in the streets, everything is gray, wet and cold. We decide to continue in the pastures in search of a flat ground to put the tent. First drop: cottages are placed every hundred meters, we are "too" visible. Second drop: we are always higher. The storm: I tent the emergency in a relative flat, between pebbles and ... water holes. The place is marshy: it will wet!

DAY 11 Bivio - Bever 44 km / 938 md+ / 1308 md- Suisse 11 Bivio - Bever.gpx

Despite the rain, the 16 hours spent in the tent were good and ... miracle, the wind has (almost) dried the canvas! Crossed the day before, hikers greet us "So, you slept well?" ... :) Yep! The temperature is icy, I am obliged to put a pair of socks as gloves! Access to the Septimer Pass is easy, but the South Trail that runs south into the Orlegna Valley alternates between holes and rocks. Breaking ground, backache! We come across mountain bikers: for once, we are in the right direction, but we had to climb to get here!

And still a real mountain itinerary as we like them: the 14 laces of Maloja spice up the end of the morning and allow access to the top of the valley of St Moritz and its many lakes with turquoise colors. The time of a break, the business dries in the wind and one rolls without forcing on small roads and singles very accessible. Flash passage in St Moritz. The path that runs right North is ultra rolling with the beautiful colors of a summer evening. It's the foot. The tent is set off the path on the heights of the Flax River ... with a sweet smell of larches!

DAY 12 Bever - Muldain 54 km / 1062 md+ / 1637 md- Suisse 12 Bever - Muldain.gpx

We discover the charming villages of the valley, like Bever where the walls of the houses are painted and richly decorated. Always wanting to privilege paths, I spot on the map a path that joins the road to the Albula ... but very quickly, you have to push the bike up and down ... down! A small kilometer is transformed into 1 hour portage painful and without interest! Hard! The climb to the pass is much more interesting with a succession of alpine landscapes. We finish at the collar in down jacket: the icy wind blows from the front; it is so strong that one is braked on the plane.

The descent of the Albula is genialissime, few cars; we even race with the Alpine classic Pullman Express, a mountain train that winds between bridges and tunnels. We find the route 6 mountain bike tour of the Oberalp, single very nice even with our heavy bags that takes us back to Tiefencastle. Great moment on mountain bike! The climb for Muldain is exhausting but all the ingredients are together for a fantastic evening: sun facing, filled cans, pedaling in t-shirt, raspberry along the way, bivouac with table, bench, grill, 180 degree panorama. Great luxury.

DAY 13 Muldain - Mels 64 km / 1505 md+ / 2040 md- Suisse 13 Muldain - Mels.gpx

Mountain paths in Switzerland are out of the ordinary: in the middle of nowhere, the tunnels are lit automatically at the entrance ... and powered by solar panels! The trail crosses impassable cliffs where each passage of torrent is arranged for our greatest happiness. We return to the Aldi Cazis to refuel bags at a mini price, with the bonus of wifi. Satisfaction guarantee! We descend the lower Rhine as far as the Chur valley with a forbidden bicycles passage ... by a quarry, oh yeah! Break already on the place of Tamins.

To join the Kunkel pass, it is 700 md + which must be assured without flinching. The slope is very steep but softens at the top: the landscapes go from mineral to plant with green valleys covered with fir trees. Once again, we love 550 grams of cow's cheese: a true delight. As often, we take out the jackets. But the sports trail after Lake Mapragg above Bad-Ragaz gives color again because we favor a few steep climbs to enjoy the views. In Mels, the evening is serene and beautiful with the pink colors of the sunset. Top !

DAY 14 Mels - Refuge of Mettmen 50 km / 1724 md+ / 1077 md- Suisse 14 Mels - Ref. Mettmen.gpx

The mountain range of Churfirsten shows us the right direction: full West. The day begins with a big difficulty, I cut (slightly) the ordeal because to go up to 1800 m of altitude will blow us up in flight! Basta the slopes at 20% where we skid with trail shoes ... The bike (too) heavy brakes us in our progress. Not simple every day! We find a small road to 1000 m: we literally revive, especially that an integral cleaning with icy water invigorates the body and mind! We take the opportunity to wash our frigues. All fresh, all beautiful, all clean.

The single of the aprèm was too much (I confess) ... impossible to roll! But the approach to Lake Walen is splendid with this intense turquoise in an alpine universe. At the same time, we recover a bike path without (too much) difficulty on the shores of the lake! Heaven on earth. After a break "ice" (because it's summer, if, if ...) in Weesen, we leave for the valley Niederurner. Once again, we go from 400 to 1200 m alt. in a few minutes of sweat under a scorching heat and under a small cable car of 4 places. It could give us ideas for next time ...

DAY 15 Refuge of Mettmen - Schwitz 45 km / 1369 md+ / 1421 md- Suisse 15 Ref. Mettmen - Schwyz.gpx

The ascent to the Flüewald Pass is peaceful, but the descent is much more dangerous, it will take us 30 minutes to a few hundred meters and cross a wet area on wooden pontoons. We do not risk it with our panniers ... Not crazy! The path continues in yoyo always under the sun. Big sweats. All means are good to stop: religious service in the open air, crossing a refreshment bar installed on the way, photos and videos, filling cans at the inhabitant. We take advantage of all these moments, savoring the idea of ??being there only by the strength of our calves.

We pass the Sattelegg pass and its Harley's cloud, Willerzell, its lake and Einsiedeln and its abbey. Stroll along the Alp River to Alpthal where you tackle the last difficulty of the day: 500 md + which leads us to the Haggenegg Pass, at 1414 m. Easy ! Hikers advise us on a bivouac on the heights and a breathtaking view of Lake Schwyz, but the portage is uninviting at the end of the day. After a technical descent, even acrobatic with saddlebags, we sleep lower in a field of raspberries. Yum, yum!

DAY 16 Schwitz - Grossteil 60 km / 484 md+ / 1014 md- Suisse 16 Schwyz - Grossteil.gpx

Like every Sunday, it's a struggle to find an open shop; like every day, we are constantly hungry. It is haphazardly the chance that a grocery store or a sheepfold cross our path, which makes all the charm of bike roaming. After Brunnen and Gersau, we cross the Lake Lucerne by ferry ... me who thought that Autofähre was a highway, good surprise! Lunch at the lake side Buochs ??among a swarm of tourists in shorts and effervescence: profusion of grilled sausages and beer cans! We had forgotten mass tourism ...

DAY 17 Grossteil - Unterlangenegg 62 km / 1730 md+ / 1398 md- Suisse 17 Grossteil - Unterlangenegg.gpx

Just awake, we attack in the hard: 2:30 for 1100 m + climb on a panoramic RN with asphalt smooth (that happiness) to the Glaubenbielen pass. Why take the path? While the clouds disappear, the last kil of the pass is a billiard almost flat where a cheese seller is waiting for us: 750 gr more in the saddlebags! A delight ! The landscapes become more alpine until Sörenberg: the orange juice replaces the EPO, it bombards in the rise. Then, the path plunges into a mysterious and radiant valley ... the sun comes back!

Behind us, the sky is completely black and seems to catch us despite our frantic pedaling. The course is on the paper "down" but there are always qq rises well used for legs and morals! Difficult to constantly restart the machine after 17 days. From the Schallenberg Pass, let yourself be carried to our bivouac on the heights of Thun. The end of the day is peaceful despite the lightning that is never far away. We will finish our pasta "3 minutes" in the shelter in the tent, the wind rises and the rain gets closer. Patience.

DAY 18 Grossteil - Unterlangenegg 62 km / 1730 md+ / 1398 md- Suisse 18 Unterlangenegg - Süftenenegg.gpx

To see the gloomy weather, we hesitate to leave as soon as possible or hang out in the tent. But the space is so small that I have to fold in 4, which does not help to relax my back. We leave to better stop a few minutes further ... in a local trash. The place is ideal because spacious and equipped with electrical outlets to charge the phone. Block batteries! In Thun, we take the time to visit because the legs are heavy, difficult to find the setting while the ground is generally flat. There are days like this but the day is far from over!

Barely stopped for lunch at noon that mosquitoes attack ... surely awake by the smell of the charcutter! We opt for the mountain bike path and find the Gurnigel pass at more than 1600m. After a few painful minutes, we find our legs gradually, first in the forest and then in the pastures. The cans are filled at the altitude restaurant. Extra! Blueberries punctuate the evening, hard to get back in the saddle! We land next to a mini home cross-country skiing: WC, table and bench with a hard roof in case of storm. We wait patiently for the storm in the shelter ...

DAY 19 Süftenenegg - Gruyères 49 km / 1162 md+ / 1927 md- Suisse 19 Süftenenegg - Gruyères.gpx

The storms slammed and shot all night within 3 km ... what luck, we missed! The daylight is beautiful, the contrasts of nature and sky are incredible. Photo stops! We descend on a perfect track without hole or bump until Sangernboden to continue on a deserted road. I eat frenzy (and with Val too) raspberries like a drug addict missing! The weather is spoiling fast and we escape the storm comfortably seated near the stove of the Salzmatt refuge. At noon, we let go: beer and menu of the day. We leave the Swiss Francs! It hurts...

The mist is thick but the rain stops going down to the lake Noir ... what a pleasure to find names in French! A huge climb awaits us before the pass of Baliza: portions to 20% sting our legs ... we push at arm's length the bike. We stop every 10 meters, the breath is cut, the shoes skid, the sweat bead drops. Very difficult ! We find the joys of bitumen and automotive madness around Broc. The wind pushes us to our bivouac location 5 stars: breathtaking views of the castle Gruyères. This luxury is priceless.

DAY 20 Gruyères - Buvette de Jaman 36 km / 1798 md+ / 866 md- Suisse 20 Gruyères - Jaman.gpx

The road never takes too long to meander on the heights, and the freshness of the morning is quickly compensated by intense efforts. To go to Moléson, we go on a steep path then a pretty road leading to the ridges (to go down) while the main road is ... direct. Our way forward may seem strange but it brings great joy. The difficult moments make it possible to pass a pass and to discover new horizons. After Moléson, I'm having fun riding mountain bikes, the guys push hard, I'm screwed on my saddle. Cool !

The terrain becomes more rolling and pleasant towards Gros Plané. Everything is together for this last stage to be memorable: the sun is out and the panorama is divine. At random from a sheepfold, we leave with more than a kilo of cheese, hard not to resist! A true delight. The last difficulty is before our eyes with the Col du Soladier 1576 m. The last meters are stifling, we grow in pain. More than 250 md + after the neck of Jaman, the tent is placed above the train station, breathtaking views of the rocks of Naye and Lake Geneva. Top !

DAY 21 Jaman - Montreux / Evian 58 km / 249 md+ / 1505 md- Suisse 21 Jaman - Evian.gpx

6:15. It was not long to admire the only ray of sunshine of the day. Gray clouds gather to form an impenetrable ceiling. Black, it's black, there's no hope, we'll take the head, especially since we see the rain fall in Lausanne. The pancho is at hand. We return to Jamin pass by a path and we start a crazy descent of 1400 md- in 1:15 to Montreux. I recognize in the distance the curves of the lake, the Dents du Midi, the Rhone valley, the mountain of Aï that we have bypassed at the beginning of this 21-day adventure. What efforts to be here!

In Montreux, we take the bike path by the lake ... in memory of our first crossing of the Alps! Nothing to change, everything is so calm and beautiful. We spend our last Francs at Coop de Villeneuve in beer and cheese ... to keep a holiday taste at home! In the swamps Grangettes, the rain is loose: the panchos are put and I try the plastic bags on the shoes ... The illusion lasts a few minutes, we take buckets of water to Evian along the RN . We are rinsed and the bikes are clean. What a memorable return ...