Mont de l'Arpille (27th October)
This ride started with invite from RHS to "ride the best trail in the world ever". How could I refuse? After very very early start for me in Basel, we caught an 8am PostCar up to the Col de la Forclaz.
Arriving at the Forclaz, we already knew we were in for a treat, with the sea of cloud below us in the Rhone Valley, and cristal clear views of all the big boy peaks around. We pushed our bikes northwards for about 40 min onto a ridge, after which we were able to ride to the summit of the Mont d'Arpille, which we reached 15 minutes later.
From here, the view was truly outstanding; we could see as far as the Central Swiss Alps in one direction, and of course Mont Blanc and friends just behind us.
The descent was, at first, pretty steep and rocky... it possibly seemed harder than it really was as we didn't yet have our descending heads on (...and Rob was just back from a lengthy period out due to injury so that really is a fair enough excuse).
After another short climb to the ridge and onto the north facing side of the hill, the really nice bit started: very fast singletrack with really nice fast switchbacks (naturally banked in places!). This seemed to go on for ages, and eventually lead us down into the Trient Gorge, where we stopped to have a good look at the stream and then climbed steadily to reach the final balls out, steep and rocky part of the trail, which spat us out by the Martigny-Chamonix railway depot at Verneyaz.
From here, we took a gentle trail along the base of the hill back to Martigny and found a suitable sun-soaked terrace for well-earned swift half a lager.
So was it the best trail in the world? it was very very good, but there isn't a best trail in the world because it's far too much of a subjective thing... but what this ride did make me realise more than ever before is...
1) (especially in combination from the previous weekend's experience on Mont Jovet) how much amazing terrain there is to
be ridden in the Alps (and elsewhere), and that one lifetime isn't enough
2) how much I love the Valais (especially its weather)
3) as long as it's not raining, Autumn is probably the best season for riding
Arriving at the Forclaz, we already knew we were in for a treat, with the sea of cloud below us in the Rhone Valley, and cristal clear views of all the big boy peaks around. We pushed our bikes northwards for about 40 min onto a ridge, after which we were able to ride to the summit of the Mont d'Arpille, which we reached 15 minutes later.
From here, the view was truly outstanding; we could see as far as the Central Swiss Alps in one direction, and of course Mont Blanc and friends just behind us.
The descent was, at first, pretty steep and rocky... it possibly seemed harder than it really was as we didn't yet have our descending heads on (...and Rob was just back from a lengthy period out due to injury so that really is a fair enough excuse).
After another short climb to the ridge and onto the north facing side of the hill, the really nice bit started: very fast singletrack with really nice fast switchbacks (naturally banked in places!). This seemed to go on for ages, and eventually lead us down into the Trient Gorge, where we stopped to have a good look at the stream and then climbed steadily to reach the final balls out, steep and rocky part of the trail, which spat us out by the Martigny-Chamonix railway depot at Verneyaz.
From here, we took a gentle trail along the base of the hill back to Martigny and found a suitable sun-soaked terrace for well-earned swift half a lager.
So was it the best trail in the world? it was very very good, but there isn't a best trail in the world because it's far too much of a subjective thing... but what this ride did make me realise more than ever before is...
1) (especially in combination from the previous weekend's experience on Mont Jovet) how much amazing terrain there is to
be ridden in the Alps (and elsewhere), and that one lifetime isn't enough
2) how much I love the Valais (especially its weather)
3) as long as it's not raining, Autumn is probably the best season for riding
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