Cham-Zermatt MTB, day 4

The Queen stage! I know, that term is over used, but this day’s ride really was the best of the entire tour for us. It was also one of the most difficult. We crossed from Evolene to Grimentz by way of the Pas de Lona & Basset de Lona (another pass).
This involved over 6,000 feet of climbing (no lift assistance on this one), 1,000 of which was hike-a-bike & some of the best riding of the trip. 30 minutes out of Evolene found traversing nice, forested single track to the small village of Eison. After an obligatory stop for a shot of espresso, we continued up on steep roads, gaining another few thousand feet to above treeline. More climbing on single track through high, alpine meadows brought us to the steep scree path to gain the Pas de Lona. At 2,800 meters (9,200 feet), this was the highest point yet along the tour and allowed passage into a magnificent, wide hanging basin replete with a small, blue alpine lake. 2 miles of flowing alpine single track through this fairy tale like mountain landscape brought us to another short climb up the Basset de Lona.
We descended on a steep jeep track for over 2,000 feet to the turquoise lac de Moiry, formed by a large dam to generate hydro-electric power. Below the dam & within sight of Grimentz, we hopped on to more technical, rocky yet rideable single track through the forest into town. Grimentz was another beautifully quaint Swiss village that, like many of the others we had already passed through, is off the radar screen for most foreign tourists.
This was a first rate ride in it’s own right & a great part of our tour thus far.

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