Awash with glistening peaks, shimmering lakes and picture–postcard villages, Switzerland is a dreamland for those who love mountains and sport. Photographer Victor Lucas and I both thought we knew the country well, yet late last summer we concluded our season of Alpine exploration (Morzine: Out The Arse part 3) with a roadtrip through valleys, vineyards and communities that we had never imagined to exist; a journey led by two of the most passionate bike riders in the Alps…
From Dirt Issue 121 – March 2012
Words by James McKnight. Photos by Victor Lucas
INTRO
In the last issue I finished by describing a Swiss location at the end of Lake Geneva, Les Rochers de Naye, a new experience for myself and Victor and a memorable ride guided by a smiling couple, the Walkers. Our experience of the never ending views, our marathon descent from high in the pastures, to a relaxed conclusion at the water’s edge in Montreux, lit something inside – a desire to search deeper within the country and to find out more about the incredible trails and stunning locations of which Mr and Mrs Walker, Ben and Corinne, had spoken.
That day we retreated to the comfort zone of the Morzine valley as if we were to tour Switzerland, I’d need to earn some money first (the expense of that country is hardly unknown after all). A week later, and a few Euros better off, the convoy was underway; myself in the trusty (well, rusty) Peugeot and Victor in his handy camping van.
Driving east once again along the southern shore of Lake Geneva, we turned right and headed into the wide mouth of a huge and humbling valley, a place not unfamiliar to either of us, yet with a collection of high peaks that neither of us felt we had explored nearly enough. We were due to meet Ben and Corinne the following day and from then on they would show us some of their favourite riding spots that they had come across in their 10 years of hunting Swiss trails. First, though, we had some exploring of our own to do.>>
