Stelvio or San Bernardino?
Discussion
On the way back from Italy and will only have time to do one.
Planning on starting from either Bormio for Stelvio or around Lake Maggiore for San Bernardino on my way home.
I'm leaning towards San Bernardino but wondering if I should really just do Stelvio for the sake of doing Stelvio. I can then head towards Davos with Interlaken being my night stopover.
Both routes would meet on Oberalpstrasse towards Andermatt and then Furka Pass and Grimsel Pass. Whilst I'm not 100% sure about Stelvio I've heard good things about the run to Davos and on to Andermatt.
Suggestions?
Planning on starting from either Bormio for Stelvio or around Lake Maggiore for San Bernardino on my way home.
I'm leaning towards San Bernardino but wondering if I should really just do Stelvio for the sake of doing Stelvio. I can then head towards Davos with Interlaken being my night stopover.
Both routes would meet on Oberalpstrasse towards Andermatt and then Furka Pass and Grimsel Pass. Whilst I'm not 100% sure about Stelvio I've heard good things about the run to Davos and on to Andermatt.
Suggestions?
If you have never "done" the Stelvio as a PH'er its high on the tick box of credibility, but be there early or late in a car before the buses and campervans clog it on particularly on the weekend.
The Stelvio is best for bikes, the Gavia is really good too ..
THe Andersmatt loop is great, the Furka and Oberalp is my fav, at the top taking the single lane to the glazier is bound to terrify the passengers with scheer 1000m drops and no barrier.
The Stelvio is best for bikes, the Gavia is really good too ..
THe Andersmatt loop is great, the Furka and Oberalp is my fav, at the top taking the single lane to the glazier is bound to terrify the passengers with scheer 1000m drops and no barrier.
That's what I was thinking. As much as Stelvio probably isn't a 'great' drive I probably just have to go and do it to tick off the box. The plan was to stay in Bormio to get an early run at it. How early is early? I was thinking leave Bormio around 8-ish or should I plan for earlier than that? I don't mind getting out closer to sunrise if it means it will be all to myself 
8 should be pretty empty in my experience (Sept or June.) If you want to be sure 7.30 should suffice - most people will still be having breakfast.
You know Stelvio to San Bernardino (via say Livigno and the Bernina pass, St. Moritz and the Julier pass) and on to near Andermatt (say stopping @ Airolo at the base of the San Gottardo (the old cobbled pass through the Tremola valley is a must) is do-able in a day, particularly if starting out early. From there you could compromise your outward leg slightly but taking in the passes @ Andermatt first....
You know Stelvio to San Bernardino (via say Livigno and the Bernina pass, St. Moritz and the Julier pass) and on to near Andermatt (say stopping @ Airolo at the base of the San Gottardo (the old cobbled pass through the Tremola valley is a must) is do-able in a day, particularly if starting out early. From there you could compromise your outward leg slightly but taking in the passes @ Andermatt first....
Ok, provisional route starting at Bormio, Stelvio, Umbrail, Bernina, Splugen, San Bernardino, Tremelo, Furka and Grimsel to finish at Interlaken.
Autoroute has it down as 6 hours driving time so, allowing for stoppages and the odd hold up I reckon it's do-able. I'll come up Gavia on the way to Bormio fom Tuscany the day before.
Autoroute has it down as 6 hours driving time so, allowing for stoppages and the odd hold up I reckon it's do-able. I'll come up Gavia on the way to Bormio fom Tuscany the day before.
Pre 9am is OK for the Stelvio, watch out for us fast riding motorbikes which will be much quicker than you ...
Check out the where to stay in Bormio thread, see the link and pic for what I recommended cost me Euro 50 1/2 board
I have done that route in a day, its a very long 6 hrs on a hard charging bike
We have a good B&B 15 mins from the Grimsel which is where we stay before an early morning charge over the pass
Check out the where to stay in Bormio thread, see the link and pic for what I recommended cost me Euro 50 1/2 board
I have done that route in a day, its a very long 6 hrs on a hard charging bike
We have a good B&B 15 mins from the Grimsel which is where we stay before an early morning charge over the pass
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