St. Gotthard Pass

2018-07-13

Link to MORE PHOTOS:

tremolar (first-person singular present tremolopast participle tremolat)

  1. to tremble; to shake


There are many passes in the alps, one list shows 323 with roads.   There are quite a few around Andermatt Switzerland, where I was today.   I was able to hit all the ones that are considered "around" Andermatt.   Some I did multiple times, as it was the best way to not run in circles or end up on a highway.  I also rode a few very narrow roads for no other reason than they were on my GPS.   230 miles of bliss.   FAST riding in many cases.  Slow in some.   ALL were absolutely awesome.   There is no way to really describe or to photo the awesomeness of the Alps.    I do not believe in bucket lists.  If you are enjoying your days, you have achieved the only bucket list necessary.  BUT, if you are a motorcyclist, and you like curvy roads, and you like awesome scenery, you cannot go wrong taking a trip to the Alps.

One pass today needs mention.   It is an awesome ride as most passes here are, but the key thing is if you try to find this pass it will be easy.   Gotthard pass is on your GPS.  The problem is that the road that takes you there is kind of boring, in an Alps relative way.   The road you want is actually called Tremola S Gottardo.   Tremola makes sense, as you will see in the video below.  If you are coming at the pass from the south, you want to look for the Tremola S Gottardo sign.   Hard to see, but if you look at your GPS, the road you want looks like a bowl of spaghetti, the one you don't want looks like a single strand.   If you are coming from the north, you will likely be on the boring road (in a relative way), as that is the only way up, except for a short bit not really worth worrying about, but when you get to the top, with the lake,  cafe and gift shop, and stellar views, you will want to take the road that heads down behind all the buildings.   If you don't see cobblestones pretty quickly, you missed it.   Look at your GPS.

On your GPS there are two roads.  Rt 2, the road to St. Gottard, and Tremola S Gottard.    That would be the purple one below.   Your choice, choose wisely.

Note that the speed limit on the Purple road is 80 Kilometers per hour, or about 50 MPH. In the US it would be 20 MPH

The long, covered road on top, or the curvy bits below.  Which would you choose?

THIS, or something not even worth photographing?

Personally, I choose this:   See the video below, Note the cobblestone.  And the Cows.   Remember, 50 MPH!!!:

Gotthard Pass Video - On SmugMug

If SmugMug is down, or you want the massive size video: St. Gotthard Pass, Full Size Video