The Big Picture | Adventure in Val Bregaglia, Switzerland

16.12.2014
by

Once in a year, in spite of the fact that time relentlessly moves forward (these days, among other things, falls his birthday – Happy birthday old pal), our friend Mauro has a bright idea…

Understand that his other ideas aren’t worthless, but once a year, and only once he comes up with an idea that takes us by surprise. Given he is a very thoughtful person, the spiteful people would say that the law of large numbers rewards him; others (his mom or his girlfriend) say that he is a misunderstood genius.

You have now the chance to evaluate the result of his quick mind, that gave us an incredible adventure in Val Bregaglia for the summer 2014.
If we hadn’t known him for a long time, we would not have let him talk us into the fact that such steep slopes could hide such amazing trails in such astonishing landscapes.

In the background, one can see the majestic granite walls typical in Val Bregaglia
In the background, one can see the majestic granite walls typical in Val Bregaglia

Who knows! Maybe without its creative flair, we would’ve never been tempted by those valleys and we would have continued remembering them just because of the known trails down the Septimer Pass, the ancient way that connects the north and south Europe already used by the ancient Romans.

Pedaling beyond Casaccia
Pedaling beyond Casaccia

Certainly it would have been a mistake not knowing Val Maroz, giving us high mountains’ colours and scents. Pedaling, we couldn’t tell if it’s the steepness of the road that takes away our breath or if it’s because of what surrounds us: rocks so bright that can daze you and green grass, spiced here and there with coloured flowers and white winter’s souvenirs.

Trying to stay on the saddle
Trying to stay on the saddle

While those and other thoughts crowd under the helmet, the moon bewitches us and guides us up, up to Maroz Dent (2035 m).

A cursed moon appears on the way to Maroz Dent
A cursed moon appears on the way to Maroz Dent
What are we doing in order to defy gravity!
What are we doing in order to defy gravity!
The astonishing Val Maroz is conquered with strain.
The astonishing Val Maroz is conquered with strain.

“Not many bikers go through here”, said the shepherd, that shook his head and went away giggling after we told him our plans for the day.

The same thought is shared by the other life forms that we meet along the way.

Sergio, closely watched.
Sergio, closely watched.
On the Maroz Dent mountain.
On the Maroz Dent mountain.

How could we argue against that? The uphill trail is awaiting us. And it’s far from a bike-friendly trail.

We keep going ahead with the bikes’ weight on our shoulder, we conquer the mountain pass after almost 350 meters that separates us from the Furcela port (2374 mt). Those are intense and hard moments but they give us the time to look around.

Portage on the way to Val da Cam
Portage on the way to Val da Cam

While we are sweating, the surprising views only get better: While the Silvaplana lake appears on the background we become aware of the scale of this incredible landscape!

The stone- men at the Furcela port
The stone- men at the Furcela port

But the surprises are far from being over, as our wheels start again rolling through long and gentle ground.

One of the hidden treasure of the Val da Cam: the Lagh da Cam.
One of the hidden treasure of the Val da Cam: the Lagh da Cam.

But the icing on the cake is still to come. “You will see, you will see” Mauro keeps muttering while he proceeds quickly, overcoming the last hump before the downhill.

Towards the unknown
Towards the unknown.

We clean our glasses and look around thinking that this tour has already become a great summer classic. As usual he was right: the main course, just around the corner, has an incredible view.

The astonishing granite balcony leaves us short of words, just before we go down.
The astonishing granite balcony leaves us short of words, just before we go down.

The Sciore group, the Cengalo and the north-east Pizzo Badile are awaiting us motionless, with their steep and astonishing granite faces surrounded by the glaciers.

Descent with a view
Descent with a view.
Rhythm towards the valley bottom.
Rhythm towards the valley bottom.

Hikers paradise, those spectacular mountains were surely not designed to reward the bikers. Or at least we thought so, until we were in front of them..

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Who knows what kind of terrain will our wheels find along the 1400 meter vertical drop that still separates us from the valley bottom. Fixed stones and technical sections (never too scary) take us down fast, in a climax of exhilaration.

The exciting first part of the descent!
The exciting first part of the descent!
Adrenaline rush!
Adrenaline rush!
Fighting during down-hill
Fighting during down-hill
A first class balcony behind us.
A first class balcony behind us.
Going through the meadows
Going through the meadows
Tight switchbacks before the woods test Sergio’s and Mauro’s skills
Tight switchbacks before the woods test Sergio’s and Mauro’s skills

And then comes the most exciting section: the woods hide a long trail of soft ground and roots, as well as lots of turns. Now we can’t stop anymore. We move forward fastly and without stops, driven by an insatiable will to discover what the downhill has got for us.

The mild last part of the downhill takes us to the valley’s bottom.
The mild last part of the downhill takes us to the valley’s bottom.

We arrive at the bottom with no more breath to talk and we slide through the grass for the last mild meters of the trail. We take a last satisfying look and then it’s Calanda beer and smiles for all! Time to celebrate!

One last satisfying look at the valley’s bottom
One last satisfying look at the valley’s bottom
And now.. Calanda! Already waiting for the next idea!
And now.. Calanda! Already waiting for the next idea!

Well done Mauro: but do we really have to wait for another year to live another adventure like this one?!

Words & Photos: Marzia Fioroni

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