Ancien Fort de Pattacreuse – My Biking Problem

I’m nonetheless right here! I’ve been primarily using regionally or visiting close by larger climbs that I’ve written about endlessly (Joux Airplane, Croix Fry, Colombière, and so on). However thank-you for all the sort emails worrying about me! 🙂

Here’s a new enjoyable journey. An unpaved journey as much as Col du Mont Cenis and its lake then up increased to the Ancien Fort de Pattacreuse (2385m). I began in Lanslebourg precisely at first of the ten km paved climb to Mont Cenis, however instantly jumped onto a very good high quality unpaved highway. It’s at instances fairly steep, however very peaceable and good biking. It’s the identical route that might result in Pas de Beccia (2717 metres) by way of Fort de la Turra

However at roughly 2100 metres I might flip left and briefly be part of the paved highway just under Col du Mont Cenis (2085 metres).

Simply after the col, I might get off the primary highway and head in the direction of Col du Petit Mont Cenis,however shortly get onto the gravel highway that runs alongside the west facet of Lac du Mont Cenis.

I’ve finished a number of big rides to and excessive above Lac du Mont Cenis. Please see the underside of this publish for a map and hyperlink to the three paved routes and a bunch of actually excellent excessive unpaved stuff.

Up till this level it had been a reasonably large journey, however the actual enjoyable was about to start. Approaching the far finish of the lake I turned up onto on previous army highway in OK situation. Hairpins in every single place. Right here let me admit that I had made a mistake. The plan had been to journey to Fort Malamot, one other previous fort however perched at over 2900 metres. I had made a flawed flip however as soon as I realised the error I used to be too thrilled with the views to show round!

Wow!

The previous fort was constructed within the late 1800’s. It’s perched at 2385 metres and primarily ruins. I regarded round at a climbing path past however didn’t see an affordable alternate path to go increased or descend so I doubled again down the way in which I had climbed.

I explored additional south alongside the lake and located the path to Fort Malamot however frankly I used to be drained and determined it was an journey for one more day. 🙁

There was no cellular phone service however I knew my spouse had parked close to the dam and had gone climbing so I rode onto the dam and ran into her. So the route on the map simply has me ending right here. When you wanted to descend, I might recommend avoiding the busy paved east facet of the lake if it’s summer time. My plan if I couldn’t discover my spouse was to principally double again all the way in which to the start.

Extra Mont Cenis Rides

Please go to the article Lac du Mont Cenis: A Detailed Look for a contact of historical past and particulars of the three paved routes (together with a lesser recognized tremendous enjoyable 2nd means up from Italian facet). Additionally a number of of my completely favorite super-high unpaved rides. The pictures beneath are me attempting to persuade you to click on the hyperlink. 🙂