• CH & IT Roadtrip
    And this is just the beginning of the road to Susten Pass!
    One of the 26 bridges/tunnels on our way up to Susten Pass.Looking back across the valley where we begin our Susten Pass drive.On the way up to Susten Pass.Idyllic alpine scenery on the way up to Susten Pass.Steinmandli Human Nature ... gives a whole new meaning to rock art.One of the many tunnel/bridges on the road up to Susten Pass.Wassen is the east end of the Susten Pass Road.Passing Wassen to begin the climb up to the Susten Pass.Susten Pass Road — Switzerland.Meien is one of the villages on the Susten Pass Road — Switzerland.Susten Pass Road — Switzerland.Susten Pass Road — Switzerland.Sustlibach (Sustli Brook) cascades from the high reaches down to and under a bridge on the road.Sustlibach cascade on Susten Pass Road — Switzerland.I have a feeling that this café is popular with bikers — Susten Pass Road — Switzerland.Taking a break for refreshments at Sustenbrüggli — Susten Pass Road — Switzerland.Mui has coffee; I have a Sanbitter, a non-alcoholic sparking aperitif @ Sustebrüggli.Even up here there is public transport — Susten Pass Road — Switzerland.At Susten Pass ... over 7,400 feet — Susten Pass Road — Switzerland.Alpine cheese anyone? — Susten Pass Road — Switzerland.Steinsee is formed by meltwater from Stein Glacier — Susten Pass Road — Switzerland.Panorama of Steinsee, Stein Glacier, and the Alps — Susten Pass Road — Switzerland.Twin waterfalls streaming down the mountain — Susten Pass Road — Switzerland.Susten Pass Road — Switzerland.Our Susten Pass drive is over ... near Meiringen, Switzerland.

    OtR: Driving Over Susten Pass

    August 5 in Switzerland ⋅ ☁️ 59 °F

    Once we entered Switzerland, we had a decision to make. Which Alpine pass to drive over to get to our overnight stop?

    Our options included the St Gotthard Pass … which we could access by deviating from the highway in Airolo. Or we could continue on the highway to Hospental and go through the Furka Pass (of 007 “Gold Finger” fame). Or go even further north to Wassen and drive over the Susten Pass.

    All afforded spectacular views … if the pictures we’d seen were to be believed. So, that wasn’t a decision factor. In the end, we chose Susten Pass … which would give us a more or less direct shot west to Thunersee … not counting all the hairpin curves zigzagging through the mountains.

    Our route took us from Wassen (at 3,050 feet) to the top of the pass at 7,415 feet above sea level and then down to Innertkirchen (at 2,051 feet). The road — 30-miles long and purpose built for tourism — was constructed between 1938-1945. In service since September 1946, the road consists of 26 bridges and tunnels … many tight, zigzag curves … and a steep gradient that at time reaches 10%.

    The views are simply spectacular … jagged mountains, waterfalls, glaciers, and cute villages (in the valleys). Luckily, there are several places where one can pull over to breathe in the crisp, clean Alpine air, enjoy the scenery, and take a break from the dizzying drive.    Read more