Description

This ride starts at Col du Grand Saint Bernard so you'll need to shuttle a car up there, leaving a car in Orsières, or use a shuttle service such as trailtaxi.ch ! After the obligatory coffee in the restaurant on the Italian side of the col, roll down the road to the 'Lo Baou' Alpage.

Here you'll start a 300-meter climb, a mix pushing, pedalling and carrying up to the Col Fenêtre de Ferret.

Frothing at the view of the blue lakes below you'll be quickly into downhill mode and enjoy a flowing freeride style trail with optional tech sections.

After the lakes, the trail continues down to the valley floor with a perfect mix of tech and flow.

Get back into climbing mode for a 4x4 track climb up to 'La Peule' Refuge/restaurant where you should have a 'Croute Fromage 4 Etages' and hope that you survive the cheese coma before carrying on up the fairly gentle but long climb to the Grand Col Ferret.

( this trail is part of the TMB so you'll get really good at saying Bonjour ) When at the col, enjoy the views of the Mt Blanc Massif and his huge hanging glaciers.

Traverse along to the Petit Col Ferret.

There are some exposed sections so be careful! The final descent begins - hold on tight for a super fun, natural single track down to La Fouly, again, a nice combination of challenges and flow. After La Fouly, keep left of the river and head down stream.

Definitely take the balcony trail, a small climb with a good reward that will drop you down to the road in Praz-de-Fort.

It's road from here on back to Orsieres.

Enjoy !