Stelvio Pass, Italy - never again

[dcb]

Recently had an opportunity to take the Jag over
the Stelvio pass in Northern Italy.

Most frightening road I've been on in fifteen years
of driving.

Certainly a lot more difficult than any road I've been on
in Britain.

I have been over Hard Knott Pass in the Lake District,
and the cafe at Hartside, and the highest road in UK, just south
of Braemar, and they were nothing in comparison.

The top of the pass is over nine thousand feet, with the
valley below at about 2000 feet. I had trouble breathing at the top.

Dozens and dozens of hairpin bends. Lorries doing three
point turns half way up. Mad cyclists doing 45 mph
on the way down, in lycra shorts. Locals in Minibuses
shouting obscenities for dropping below 60 mph.

Unless you really know what you are doing, and have a lot of Alpine experience, do not attempt this one.

I'm off to Clacton next week.

[Bodo]

dcb said:

Locals in Minibuses shouting obscenities for dropping below 60 mph.

[agent006]

dcb said:

and the highest road in UK, just south of Braemar,

Would that be over Glenshee? Great road, didn't know it was that high though.

[dcb]

agent006 said:

dcb said: and the highest road in UK, just south of Braemar, Would that be over Glenshee? Great road, didn't know it was that high though.

Yup A93. Couple of thousand feet.

[Don]

This is how I feel about the road by the side of Loch Torridon that goes to Diabaig.

Fresh trousers required after that - thanks Superflid!

[pwig]

Electric Brae!!

[tuffer]

Went over it in a coach a few years back....Luckily I was still pissed from the day/night before so I do not remember much more than the driver having to do 3 point turns on each bend, seem to remember him saying it was no bundle of fun.

[Nacnud]

Twisties Wahey!!!!

One of these years I'm going to treat myself to a trip over the Stelvio Pass. This thread just makes me want to go all the more!

[tuffer]

[Bodo]

... and from the opposite:



dcb, congestion depends on the time/season you're driving. Driving at night is the safest IMHO when you know the road, because you can see oncoming traffic much longer before by their cones of light. The most rewarding experience is driving at sunrise

[beano500]

WHOOOOOOOHOOOOOOO!!!!

When do we go

[Marki]

Bodo said:

... and from the opposite: dcb, congestion depends on the time/season you're driving. Driving at night is the safest IMHO when you know the road, because you can see oncoming traffic much longer before by their cones of light. The most rewarding experience is driving at sunrise

you really do have to say thank you for the effort put into creating something like that,, never again you woosy

>> Edited by Marki on Monday 13th October 09:51

[Bodo]

Marki, everybody can do that: this beautiful image has been created with the serpentine-plugin with TheGimp

Or run from command line with

$ makeroadinteresting -curves -mountains /pictures/stelvio/straightroad.jpg

[dcb]

Bodo said:

... and from the opposite:

This is the picture I have on my wall at home.

For a sense of scale, try to spot any cars
or houses. They are too small to see.

Bodo said:

dcb, congestion depends on the time/season you're driving. Driving at night is the safest IMHO when you know the road, because you can see oncoming traffic much longer before by their cones of light. The most rewarding experience is driving at sunrise

500+ folks at the top when I got there.

Mind bending stuff.

[trackdemon]

beano500 said:

WHOOOOOOOHOOOOOOO!!!! When do we go

HAHA!! Watch this space..... plans for an Alpine raid are afoot, taking in some of the best roads Europe has to offer. I'll be selling places as a package as I should be able to negotiate a hefty hotel discount through the Mrs' company. Nice.

[dcb]

trackdemon said:

HAHA!! Watch this space..... plans for an Alpine raid are afoot, taking in some of the best roads Europe has to offer. I'll be selling places as a package as I should be able to negotiate a hefty hotel discount through the Mrs' company. Nice.

Oh no. Lots of drunken inexperienced Brits
causing trouble.

www.alpineroads.com

[s2ooz]

OK, EXACTLY where is this? Ive been trying to find it on my MS autoroute..

Im planning to get to it next year on my motorbike, and I JUST CANT FIND IT!!!

[burriana500]

Now THAT is a road

If I can't afford to do the Gumball next year, then that looks like a pretty damn good alternative

[FourWheelDrift]

s2ooz said:

OK, EXACTLY where is this? Ive been trying to find it on my MS autoroute.. Im planning to get to it next year on my motorbike, and I JUST CANT FIND IT!!!

Officially called SS 38 "dello Stelvio" the total length from Bormio to Spondinig is 49.5 km.

Here it is on Autoroute - SS38

[s2ooz]

thats brill, thanks mr drift!!
organized bike tours being organized now, que up for tickets, Oi, no pushing in there at the back...