Fri, 13 October 2023
Minimum altitude: 465 meters
Distance: 71.4 km
Slope Aspect: North-East
Vertical Climbed: 2,208 meters (7,244 feet)
Vertical Descended: 2,206 meters
Rating: 5
Probably my last Grand Col this year. Well I'd not been that active either. The Glandon in freezing conditions at the end of May and then an abortive attempt at the Madeleine in August. Too hot, not fit enough. I've only 25,000 climbing meters this year and I'm really not fit and had been ill on and off for much of September. This showed in my climbing times, 46 minutes for the final 5k whereas my pr is 32 minutes. Not great but made up a bit with a 31minute descent from the Col back to the valley. Ok I knew it was not going to be great but at least I made it over and around in about 4h40.
Cold, 12C on the climb to Montvernier, hot by midday - 30C in the valley. Windy at the Col de la Croix de Fer
