Travel: A journey over ‘Death To The Left’!
What drives us to ride trails where even a small error would mean certain death? These are not the sort of trails where you race your mates, or try and pop over rocks, they are probably not even fun! These are the trails where your mind is locked on the task at hand, eye balls on stalks, heart in mouth, ever conscious of the chasm that awaits the over confident. Some may consider the act of riding these trails foolhardy, but we all make our own choices and just like those who enjoy base jumping, wingsuit flying and free-climbing, riding a bike on a trail where mistakes cannot happen is simply intoxicating.
I got to ride one such trail last summer, a trail that is now burnt into my mind! This trail is an incredibly exposed route that hangs 1300m high over Lake Garda in Italy, an area notorious for its network of challenging trails that snake through the high mountains, infamous for being steep and very exposed. In fact, one trail in the Alto Garda, the Pasubio trail, was a classic pilgrimage for many years, luring in adventure seeking German bikers looking to test their nerve! Unfortunately it has now been closed due to a number of riders plunging over the side. Many riders still ignore the signs at their own risk, but face healthy fines if caught by the local authorities.
We were not here to ride the Pasubio trail, but another equally exposed but less well known trail. It is certainly not for everyone, so I will not be naming it here, but a good look on a map and some investigative work will reward those who seek exposure. For now I will just call it by the name that one of our group came up with, ‘Death to the left’, it seemed fitting at the time!
As part of a long loop, Death to the left is an exhilarating traverse, over 2km of easy flowing trail that clings perilously close to an airy plummet. I have seen a few videos on YouTube and heard a few tales of folk riding it, so it was time to head up there myself and have a look. And so it began, after an epic lung busting 1300m climb from the lake shore, we arrived at the dramatic start to the highlight of the day. And what a trail-head it was, a tiny tunnel hung open like a mouth, marking the point of no return and the inauspicious start to the 2km exposed traverse! A traverse that would see us riding along a narrow track, with a perilous 500m drop just a wheel length away!
If someone told you to ride down some singletrack without wandering off the narrow trail, it would be easy right? Well it’s a whole different story when there is effectively a bottomless drop in your peripheral vision, you simply CANNOT make a mistake. I will happily admit to being totally freaked out as we started across the traverse, it felt like I was riding on the edge of the earth! After the initial shock of being so exposed, we started to grow in confidence and enjoy the riding more, pure exhilaration. The beauty of the mountains all around was sometimes distracting, but any slight skid or mistake would jolt us back to reality with a hammer blow of adrenalin.
Upon reaching the end of the traverse the drop started to fade away, nerves settled and knuckles relaxed as the trail became more flowing! Exhilarated and free from the burden of doom it was hoots and hollers all the way to the refugio, we opened the taps and gave it full-gas on the rooty, rocky descents!
Arriving back for a cold beer in the bustling Piazza of Riva del Garda, it was time for reflection; our bikes can now take us almost anywhere, climbing the biggest mountains while capable of the toughest downs! But should we really be riding where an over-the-bars or slide would result in a certain game changing fall? Our bikes have unlocked a huge new playground, pushing us further than ever before! With trails like these now on our radars, even though with good skills we could, we have to decide if we should! For me, it was just another one of those great memorable moments that define why I love this sport, so much so that I rode the trail a further 6 times that summer!
Words and photos: Trev Worsey
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