Martigny depuis Verbier

Today's tour was very downhill oriented and also included a short hike. The train took us to Le Chable and the gondola via Verbier to Les Ruinettes. You reach Croix de Coeur via a mountain path, where the path then climbs to Savoleyres. From there, a trail leads to the Col de Marlene. Then you cross the slope below the Pierre Avoi on a narrow path. The bike is then put on your shoulders and remains there until you reach the saddle below the striking rocks of Pierre Avoi. On foot we climb to the summit of Pierre Avoi, the steep path of which is secured with chains at the top. At the summit you can enjoy an incredible all-round view from the Schilthorn over all the Bernese Alps, into the Rhone Valley, the Dents du Midi, the Mont Blanc massif and the striking glacier-covered Grand Combin. We enjoy the late summer warmth, fortify ourselves with a sandwich, and then climb back down to our bikes, which were waiting for us below the rocks. Then it's time to buckle up. The first part of the descent through the northern flank of Pierre Avoi is not that easy and includes a few tricky key points. The coarse gravel sections are sometimes quite slippery, but the trail becomes increasingly flowy as it descends. You are then forced to go a few meters down a forest road to get to the next trail. This leads through the forest, has roots and is really fun. A short climb to the Col du Lein follows. The last section of the trail begins a little below and doesn't seem to end. In places it is really blatantly exposed, past rocks or through slippery sections. Full concentration is mandatory and this up to the outskirts of Martigny. A short bisse trail leads to the Martigny cemetery. But we definitely don't want to go there yet! The biker life is too beautiful, too exciting and too fulfilling! Instead we treat ourselves to an ice cream in a restaurant near the amphitheater 😋😍

I did today's tour to the striking rock, Pierre Avoi (Pierre, Peter, or rock to look at) two years ago. From Le Chable, I took the gondola via Verbier to Les Ruinettes. A high-altitude trail leads to Croix de Coeur, where the path then climbs to Savoleyres. From there, a trail leads to the Col de Marlene. Then, below Pierre Avoi, I traverse the slope on a narrow path. Then, I carry my bike on my shoulders to reach the saddle below the striking rock of Pierre Avoi. This time, I forego climbing the rock to save my knees. Daniela, however, climbs Pierre Aboi and enjoys the magnificent view. Then it's time to strap on the ski protectors. The first part of the descent through the north flank of Pierre Avoi is not easy and includes a few tricky cruxes. The first snowfall also makes the trails quite muddy, increasing the difficulty. The rough gravel sections are quite slippery in places, but the trail becomes increasingly flowy towards the bottom. After that, you're forced to cover a few meters of ground on a forest road to reach the next trail. This one leads through the forest, is rooty, and really fun. A short climb to the Col du Lein follows. A little further down, the final section of the trail begins, seemingly endless. In places, it leads past rocks and through slippery sections, exposed to extremes. A broken chain and a slightly bent chain break the flow. Probably a rockfall or a branch intermittently. After that, concentration is again a must, all the way to the outskirts of Martigny. A short bisse path leads to the Martigny cemetery. But we definitely don't want to go there yet! The biker life is too good, too exciting, and too fulfilling! Instead, we head to a local bike shop to have the derailleur repaired. The guys at Crosscycle in Martigny are really good at what they do. In 45 minutes, everything is fixed, and even the brake pads are replaced. After that, everything is ready for new adventures! 👍😎

After yesterday's tour, which was quite strenuous, we opted for a route today that's primarily downhill-oriented, starting at 2,400 meters and leading all the way down to Martigny. This way, we'll gain 2,200 meters of vertical drop and be rewarded with a magnificent view. It's not for nothing that the striking peak high above the Rohnen Valley is called "Pierre Avoi"!