'Summer in the Alps' - Day 39 - Baita Luleta to Scuol

Yesterday: was Day 38, not Day 37 (that was Friday)
The missing statistics - Sta Maria to Luleta: 39 km, 1300 metres ascent, 7 hours including stops

Today's statistics, in case I forget later:
63 km, 1300 metres ascent, 7.7 hours including stops

We had a lie in today as Luleta doesn't serve breakfast until 8.30. It wasn't raining!

However, having set off in dry weather at 9.45, it was something of a disappointment when the rain arrived at 10 o'clock. Frustrating after having received a message from Markus suggesting it would be sunny. The drizzle lasted until about 2 pm.

Luleta, for all its quirkyness (for example our breakfast coffees were served in a Moka pot clearly designed for one person's expresso), was on the 444 cycle route out of Livigno. As we set off, a large group made its way past us. We caught up with six of them at lunchtime. They turned out to be the now fragmented group of 21 sanitary ware company employees on their annual bonding trip. I can understand why they split into several groups - had there been more people in our own group Richard would have been in the fast set and I would have been at the back. As there were just the two of us, Richard was obliged to wait for me at regular intervals. To his credit, he never complained despite getting a bit cold.

After a couple of easy kilometres past curious marmots we reached the start of the 700 metre ascent to Pass Chaschauna (2694 metres), the high point of route 444. The climb is achieved in the space of about three kilometres. Very few mountain bikers can ride up that gradient. We walked. It's quite hard work pushing a mountain bike up such a steep path. The cloud didn't help. It engulfed us in wetness from about 2100 to 2500 metres, at which point we emerged from that cloud below the ugly concrete of Rifugio di Cassana, which we knew from previous signs would be shut. It looked as if it had been boarded up for some time. A grey place on a grey day. Having exited one cloud we were still subjected to drizzle from the next one up. Above 2600 metres there was a thin covering of snow, but not enough to affect our progress.

A final push to the col revealed more greyness, but as it was our high point we managed a few pictures before Richard's cold hands forced us down to Margun. Neither of us was confident of controlling our bike on the steep slithery surface, so we walked down most of the first 300 metres of descent.

After that it was relatively easy despite some thick cloying claymud and a herd of cattle that refused to budge even after I crashed into the back end of one of them. It just gave me a blank stare and stood its ground. My bike is still covered in mud from this section of the ride.

We soon reached Alp Chaschauna, from where a dirt road led towards S-Chanf. Shortly before reaching a turn to the east of S-Chanf, which can be easily by-passed, a small trackside café served us drinks and goulash soup with fries for lunch. We had come 15 km and had covered less than a quarter of the day's route in about three hours. Richard was worried. He might not get to the bike shop in time for them to be open when he returns his bike...

We sped on down the valley. The track to Zernez was interspersed with small uphill sections and was scenic despite the low cloud. And it had finally stopped raining!

A few other cyclists and walkers were encountered as we made our way around Zernez and along the cycle route through Susch and Lavin, before a long 250 metre ascent to Guarda. This was a lovely ride at a good pace. Richard saw red squirrels and I saw more goldfinches.

The final section to Scuol is completed high above the Inn valley, culminating in an exciting descent from Ftan-. Here I missed a Route 444 sign and inadvertently finished the trip with a 6 km road descent. Richard was ahead of me and saw the sign. My 6 km took ten minutes or so. Exciting around the hairpin bends. I was back at the apartment at 5.15. Richard made it to the bike shop by 5.29, one minute before they closed. They were impressed by his itinerary - apparently most of the bikes they hire are e-bikes.

Sue had returned from her Tuoi adventures in mid afternoon. We celebrated with beers and enjoyed winding down (hot bath was great) before adjourning for a fine meal at Uje Traube restaurant. Thanks for the wine, Richard.

Despite the unfortunate weather this was a trip I found most enjoyable. Richard was an ideal (if a bit quick) companion and everything turned out successfully. Credit also goes to Richard's Trek hire bike, which now needs a service, and my old Specialised Stumpjumper that was serviced by Luke at BikeShak in Altrincham in preparation for the 140 km trip with around 4000 metres of ascent. 

Today's pictures:
Leaving Luleta
At Pass Chaschauna
Zernez
A tractor for Alan
Top team