1st Alps trip

[VittorinoBR]

PPS The Grossglockner is really easy - no skills required other than being able to hold your breath a long time ..........the views are outstanding and literally take your breath away.

AlanI,

On the Grossglockner going south the is a road Grossglockner Hochalpenstr going west to see the Pasterze Glacier

Do you think it's worth to go to see the Pasterze Glacier?

Cheers,

Vittorino

 

[Rasher]

Great site here with video's for viewing / download of most of the Swiss passes and a number of others

http://www.bikecam.ch/karte.htm

A great site

 

[Allan Davies]

AlanI,

On the Grossglockner going south the is a road Grossglockner Hochalpenstr going west to see the Pasterze Glacier

Do you think it's worth to go to see the Pasterze Glacier?

Cheers,

Vittorino

In short Yep, seeing your right there, seeing as its only about 5miles at most, plus you can buy the obligitory cow bell to hang off your bike. I need a new one as I lost my last one on the Strata Florida will get a new one in August

 

[VittorinoBR]

Not familiar with your route, the Alpine Roads guys are great for such questions as some of them having been riding there for decades, or live there.

The book will give a lot of ideas, I just look at where I want to go and cram as many passes as I can into each day.

I covered some of the ground you will be in 2010

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=247181

Rasher,

It looks like you had a blast in your trip!

Congrats for the trip, pics and report. I need to read it again more carefully and take some notes.

You did a great job with your story.

Cheers

Vittorino

 

[AlanI]

On the Grossglockner going south the is a road Grossglockner Hochalpenstr going west to see the Pasterze Glacier

Do you think it's worth to go to see the Pasterze Glacier?

Yes, the names can be a bit confusing. Historically the road begins in the town of Bruck by the junction of Salzburgerstrasse and Glocknerstrasse - N47. 28760, E12. 82431. If you look carefully, the first kilometre marker (stone) is at the junction of the Glocknerstrasse and the B311.
Incidentally, the towns of Bruck and Fusch added an appendum to their names after the road was built and are now know as Bruck an der Glocknerstrasse and Fusch an der Glocknerstrasse respectively. An der = on the.
So, the entire road has the name Glocknerstrasse named after the mountain - the Grossglockner. However, because a section of it is both 'high' and goes over the 'alps' it's commonly referred to (and known as) The Grossglockner High Alpine Road or Hochalpenstrasse.

The Pasterze Glacier at Kaiser Franz Josefs Höhe is well worth a visit. If, after parking the bike (garage or open air) you walk to the wall, looking right into the distance and roughly at the same altitude as where you are standing you will see a small building. Just slightly below this building is the height to which the Glacier was at the time the building was erected. There is also a small train (see image) that you can ride down on. The Glacier was at this level when the train was built. From here you have to walk down to the present level of the Glacier noting the year markers every now and then indicating the Glacier height at that time. Looking at all these indicators - the building in the distance, where the train ends and all the markers leaves you wondering where all that ice went. Global warming is a political subject so I'll let you judge for yourself it's effect on the Planet.

By the way, if you see lots of tourists looking over the wall and below go and have a look at what they are looking at. Very often lovely Alpine creatures known as Marmots in German hang around this area. You may also be lucky and see them in other areas as you are riding the road. If you stop and take a break, and it's all extremely quite around you, then you may here a very high pitched whistle. This is a Marmot call. Here's a link to a English language site showing these creatures http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/life/Himalayan_marmot#p00b6yw8

 

[VittorinoBR]

Fussen to Munchen

I've just updated the route from Fussen to Munchen using part of the Romantischestrasse.

This day was the only one that had no special route (up to now). In my mind I would just ride to Munchen using the quickest route.

The idea is to use the Romantischestrasse up to Landsberg am Lech then turn east to Munchen.

Any recommendation?

Thanks,

Vittorino

 

[AlanI]

Nothing special !!!!! You mean that you hadn't planned a visit to Schloss Neuschwanstein; the castle that inspired Walt Disney for his Sleeping Beauty Castle? http://www.neuschwanstein.de/englisch/tourist/index.htm . Sadly, for renovation work there is quite a lot of scaffolding to be seen but never-the-less well worth seeing as you're in the area. Go early though, as you can imagine it's a tourist trap.
The route seems overall OK but whilst a good road the A96 from Landsberg to Munich can be a bit drawn out. Have you considered turning right at Schongau (N47.80958, E10.88913) and heading off in the direction of Ammersee and/or Starnberger See? You'll cut a big chunk of the corner off and the views will be better.

 

[VittorinoBR]

Nothing special !!!!! You mean that you hadn't planned a visit to Schloss Neuschwanstein; the castle that inspired Walt Disney for his Sleeping Beauty Castle? http://www.neuschwanstein.de/englisch/tourist/index.htm . Sadly, for renovation work there is quite a lot of scaffolding to be seen but never-the-less well worth seeing as you're in the area. Go early though, as you can imagine it's a tourist trap.
The route seems overall OK but whilst a good road the A96 from Landsberg to Munich can be a bit drawn out. Have you considered turning right at Schongau (N47.80958, E10.88913) and heading off in the direction of Ammersee and/or Starnberger See? You'll cut a big chunk of the corner off and the views will be better.

Alani,

I meant no special Route , of course we will visit Schloss Neuschwanstein, that is the reason to sleep in Fussen (sorry I did not mention that )

My concern was regarding the trip and roads after we visit the Castle.

I liked you suggestion and I'll check the route in more details. Once more your are giving great tips.

Thanks a lot!

Vittorino

 

[VittorinoBR]

Great Trip

I'm back home now! I'd just like to tell that it was a great trip.

I 'll post a trip report soon.

I followed most of the plan. I did some last minutes changes due the weather conditions and it end up being a good choice.

We got great days of riding in the sun, one day of rain and one of snow that made the adventure even better.

I'd like to thanks AlanI, Rasher and everybody that helped me with tips and suggestion.

Thanks again,

Vittorino

 

[AlanI]

Glad to hear that you returned safely. I was wondering if we were ever going to hear from you again LOL. Looking forward to the RR and hopefully some pics.

 

[VittorinoBR]

Glad to hear that you returned safely. I was wondering if we were ever going to hear from you again LOL. Looking forward to the RR and hopefully some pics.

Alan,

I still dreaming with the trip! Your tips made a lot of difference, thanks once more.

I'll put some pics, but I'm having a hard time here. Is there a way to post it directly from my hard drive? If i click in the insert Picture icon it ask me for a URL. I tried the forum's FAQ, but it did not help. Do you have another tip?

Thanks,

Vittorino

 

[AlanI]

Vittorino - my understanding is that you actually have to subscribe to this forum in order to post images and send personal messages etc, not just browse the forum as I do if you get my meaning.

The alternative, and the way I posted my image a little way back in this thread, is to upload it to a hosting site (I use photobucket although there are several other) which then provide a link. It is this link that you paste into any reply here at which time it will show as an image.

This is what I got when typing 'posting attachments' into the FAQ's Search box

To get the full functionality of the Forums.... for just £12 annually (3p per day) you will be able to:-

.View full details of items for sale and post in the For Sale and Wanted section.
.Post file attachments for others to download.
.Can Download Attachments.
.Use the site-based personal messaging service to send PMs to other subscribers.
.Use the upload feature which makes uploading your pictures to the site simple.
.Get a 'UKGSer Subscriber' logo under your user name, which is shown in all your posts.
.Start your own online Opinion Polls and survey the views of other members.
.Add signature lines to all your posts via your user control panel.
.Add a custom Avatar (image below your site name).

 

[VittorinoBR]

Thanks Alan!

I'll try to do that.