The Indianapolis journal., 1904-06-05
S 1 n Q N D

the summit is reached there is a splendid
run down to Pontresina, with the wind in
variably at ones back.
The beauties of the Julier and Albula
passes render it difficult to decide which
to take. but l think on the whole the lat
ter is more to be recommended. Both ulti-
mately lead to Tiefenkasten and are equal
in respect of roads and gradients. The
scenery is TO my mind more changeful and
awe-inspiring on the Albula. however.
From TiefenkaSten 10 ThuSiS by the
Schwyn road is my favorite pass, although
quite a small one, in Switzerland 1t vies
in engineering skill with the more renowned
Via Mala, but personally / consider it much
its superior as regards scenery. Anyhow
my readers can make the comparison if
they choose, for the latter pass commences
where the former ends namely, at Thusis.
and a morning can be very pleasantly spent
in exploring the Via Mala as far as the
second ridge. beyond which there are not
such remarkable points of view. Thusis to
BonaduZ is due north and good running,
and from here we follow up the Rhine
valley and able to ride nearly the
whole way to Chlamut at the foot of the
Oberalp pass.
Up and over this brings us again to An
dermatt, and we continue right through
this village to Realp, leaving the st. Co
thard road on our left. There is good two
TO three hours walk beyond Realp over the
. second highest carriage road in Europe. the
Furka pass, but a grand zigzag descent
the other side to the world-renowned Rhone
glacier and valley we'll repays the climb.
Down this latter is grand run, and this
is an attractive route to the Simplon and
Tete Noire passes, Zermatt, Champunix,
the Lake of Geneva. ETC., and strongly rec
ommended.
SOME OF THE SCENERY.
1 propose, however. to keep to the Ber-
nese Alps by scaling the newly constructed
Grimsel pass. which ascends the mountain
| sides in long zigzags with magnificent
| sweeping turns at either end.
of the Aar, at Handeck. to within a few
miles of Meiringen (where there is a short
hill to climb is practically a coast Tor
those who approve of this method of rid
| ing, and it really is magnificent and ex-
| hilarating ride
| Meiringen to Lucerne by the Brunig pass
| is child's play after the higher passes. but
| none the less picturesque for that. The
| surface too. resembles a cinder track, es-
/, pecially the Lucerne side. which town
We enter from an opposite side TO that by
| which we left it, after comprehensive AL
| pine tour including in all ten passes.
From Meiringen an alternative route to
| Bale would have been via Interaken foI
| the Jungfrau, Lauterbrunnen valley and
Murren), Thun. Berne Bienne, the Munster
| Thai and Delemont.
All the Bale-Calais or Bale-Paris trains
| stop at Delemont so there is no need what
! ever to ride the few miles separating this
! latter place and Bale and which, owing &c
| the traffic, are badly cut up.
| To give minute details as to distance, alti-
| tudes, gradients, hotels etc. would here
| be out of place, the more especially that
| the capabilities and energies of every rider
differ
| Armed with ones Baedeker and this little
| resume, very jolly, inexpensive and
| health-giving trip of from a fortnight &c
| months duration can be arranged and
| am sure that anyone who loves grand
/ scenery and grand roads (what cyclist does
| notD could not do better than give Switz-
| erland trial this year any time between
| June and September, inclusive.
The earlness lateless of the seasons
vary so much from year to year that one
| cannot say positively, but July and August
can be relied on as the best months for
1 such trips / have outlined.