Swiss Giants: Nufenen Pass and Furka Pass
By Will • Aug 26th, 2008 • Category: Climbs, Cycling, FavoritesA pretty epic day!
There are loads of truly great climbs in central Switzerland which I have yet to explore. But today I rode two of the highest - amazing.
I started with the Nufenenpass - 2478 metres (over 8,100 feet). It’s pretty steep throughout, and just keeps getting more interesting. Hairpins galore! The other side goes into the Italian part of Switzerland so there was an Italian Col sign (Passo dell Novena) on the other side along with the German Col sign. Lots of cyclotourists on the road - English, Dutch, German, Italians and a few Swiss.
I descended back down and after a close inspection of my puny legs decided I had enough energy to also do the Furka Pass.
This is a pretty famous climb (2436 metres and just under 8000 feet) and was thoroughly enjoyable. It’s a fair bit easier then Nufenen - which suited me fine.
Part way up the road splits with the route to the Gimsel Pass on the left. Unbelievable views of Gimsel - (a future project?!).
Nearing the top of Furka is the Rhone Glacier. This is the source of the Rhone river - that goes through Geneva and all the way to the Mediterranean. Just beautiful!
Above the glacier, clouds started rolling in so I got out of the saddle and rushed to the Pass. A quick photo and back down again - a very fast descent (even for wimpy me)!
I have ridden a lot of great climbs - and both of these rank right up there - a great day.
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Will is Happiest while cycling uphill. More enthusiastic than talented, his 2008 Challenge is to (again) cycle 160,000 metres of vertical ascent.
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Now that is an amazing view. It must have been very gratifying (and maybe a little bit frightening) to look back on that climb and be met with that vista.
Keep up the climbing!
Mark
Okay - rub it in… Holland in 2 weeks. Where are the hills?
I am inspired Will!
So, what’s your day job?
Riding in Central Switzerland has to be among the highlights of my cycling, although, oddly enough, I have not ridden these two passes. Many more wonderful rides await, and you can even practice your time trialling skills on some of them with a punch clock at the bottom.
Excellent photos, by the way. I guess Eric was not with you.
Easy, easy sprocketboy! lol
Sure I wished I could have joined you on that one Will. And I would have kept my hands on the handlebar and off the camera.
Hi Will, I was there on 28th, let me say: you missed the best, that is the 3rd Pass (round trip 100km ) that Pass is the old Gothard called La Tremola ,one of the last cobbelstone road in the Alps : astonishing ( it’s better to climb it than descend ). A next time you can try also that other 3 Passes round trip in the same area ( but harder, 130km & more elevation ) From Meiringen you climb the Grimsel and after the Furka and back by the Susten. Good luck
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