Higher Ground Tour 2022 - an ultimate experience for machine and mind

[dutchm2]

Located in the heart of the Swiss Alps, Andermatt🏔🇨🇭 is the perfect destination for our (Day 2) overnight!

[dutchm2]

Day 3. Driving the Susten Pass🇨🇭. In 1818 the first stretch was opened and only 100 years later the entire pass was complete.. Driving this pass makes it crystal clear why the Swiss Alps are a paradise for driving enthusiast from all over the world. The road reaches peak on 2260m🏔

[mjn77]

The fact there are 5 great passes all within a few miles of each is fantastic! That is a whole day of fun right there.

[dutchm2]

Originally Posted by mjn77

The fact there are 5 great passes all within a few miles of each is fantastic! That is a whole day of fun right there.

Absolutely! Perhaps will worth a longer stay Anyway we should be good here with the plan we've made!

[dutchm2]

Obviously that Switzerland🇨🇭 ain't all about mountains driving and near Grimsel Pass stands the stunning 'The Gelmersee', one of the reservoirs above Guttannen. And for those who are tempted for some extra adrenaline they can always give a try to the "Alpine Rollercoaster" ...

[dutchm2]

Day 3 - Grimsel Pass🏔🇨🇭 /// The breathtakingly beautiful mountain road in this pristine landscapes with quaint villages and deep valleys make it an absolute drivers paradise that goes up to 2164 meters above sea level. We can't wait to step on it.

[dutchm2]

70 kilometers of outstanding drive! No wonder scenes of the 007 Goldfinger movie were shot here, the Furka Pass🏔 is one of the most impressive Alpine crossings in Switzerland🇨🇭, if not the world. 2431 meters / 7975 ft above sea level

[mjn77]

Love the Furka pass!! Gets super narrow near the top.

[dutchm2]

Here at Bellinzona🇨🇭 we'll be at the foot of the Alps ending in style our Day 3

[dutchm2]

Day 4 - San Bernardino Pass🇨🇭 /// The San Bernardino Pass is one of the highest paved roads in the world, but sweeps smoothly over the Swiss Alps. There is reason to believe that the pass was already in use in prehistoric times. Originally called the Via Mala – which literally means “bad path”. The San Bernardino was finally named after a mountain village in the fifteens century. It was during that time when the pass gained importance as a mule track and trading route. Gleaming glacier rocks dominate the scenery of the pass wriggling trough a moor up to the top on 2066 metres with the mountain lake of Lago Moesola. The mix of bogs and pine trees create a unique atmosphere and boasts the largest number of species in the southern part of the Alps.🏔

[M8Bimmer]

Wow...wow....wow.
You guys in Europe are so lucky to have that accessible to you. A little far from Canada for me to partake.
Anyone who gets to drive those roads is one lucky person. I did consider picking my new BMW M8 up in Europe but with the pandemic it just didn't seem possible.
Wonderful pics and dreams though.
Thanks

[dutchm2]

Originally Posted by M8Bimmer

Wow...wow....wow.
You guys in Europe are so lucky to have that accessible to you. A little far from Canada for me to partake.
Anyone who gets to drive those roads is one lucky person. I did consider picking my new BMW up in Europe but with the pandemic it just didn't possible.
Wonderful pics and dreams though.
Thanks

Thanks M8Bimmer! I've opportunity to drive in some of the roads we're planning our tour and indeed it's a unique experience! Back in 2015 when I was in Canada I had the lucky to drive between Niagara Falls, Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal and found stunning scenery as well! In the coming years i'm planning to drive towards the Vancouver route! I hear from some people that is a incredible and pleasant journey. If you've ever come to Germany let me know who knows we can meet.

[mjn77]

Originally Posted by joao.toscano

Day 4 - San Bernardino Pass🇨🇭 /// The San Bernardino Pass is one of the highest paved roads in the world, but sweeps smoothly over the Swiss Alps. There is reason to believe that the pass was already in use in prehistoric times. Originally called the Via Mala – which literally means “bad path”. The San Bernardino was finally named after a mountain village in the fifteens century. It was during that time when the pass gained importance as a mule track and trading route. Gleaming glacier rocks dominate the scenery of the pass wriggling trough a moor up to the top on 2066 metres with the mountain lake of Lago Moesola. The mix of bogs and pine trees create a unique atmosphere and boasts the largest number of species in the southern part of the Alps.🏔

Only 125 days to go

[M8Bimmer]

Originally Posted by joao.toscano

Thanks M8Bimmer! I've opportunity to drive in some of the roads we're planning our tour and indeed it's a unique experience! Back in 2015 when I was in Canada I had the lucky to drive between Niagara Falls, Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal and found stunning scenery as well! In the coming years i'm planning to drive towards the Vancouver route! I hear from some people that is a incredible and pleasant journey. If you've ever come to Germany let me know who knows we can meet.

It would be nice to meet you as well. Unfortunately traveling anywhere currently is pretty problematic to say the least. Especially crossing borders. Even between Canada and the USA the border crossing is not easy. I'm only 100km from the USA and very few folks are allowed to cross still.
Being such a young country our highway system is quite undeveloped really. Yes you can cross the county but it's a long mostly boring trip.
The prairie provinces are flat and a yawn to drive. You can see for miles because that's all there is. Miles of nothing.
Northern Ontario is nice but limited in roads. A few highways and nice scenery.
The thing about where I live is that is a long way to get to any decent road. Southern Ontario is very developed and urban. Plus full of cops and laws. In BC they have some gorgeous roads but that's 3500km from me.
Europe is WAY head for great places to go and drive imo.

[dutchm2]

Originally Posted by mjn77

Only 125 days to go

we'll get there buddy

[dutchm2]

Originally Posted by M8Bimmer

It would be nice to meet you as well. Unfortunately traveling anywhere currently is pretty problematic to say the least. Especially crossing borders. Even between Canada and the USA the border crossing is not easy. I'm only 100km from the USA and very few folks are allowed to cross still.
Being such a young country our highway system is quite undeveloped really. Yes you can cross the county but it's a long mostly boring trip.
The prairie provinces are flat and a yawn to drive. You can see for miles because that's all there is. Miles of nothing.
Northern Ontario is nice but limited in roads. A few highways and nice scenery.
The thing about where I live is that is a long way to get to any decent road. Southern Ontario is very developed and urban. Plus full of cops and laws. In BC they have some gorgeous roads but that's 3500km from me.
Europe is WAY head for great places to go and drive imo.

wow! There must be good spots and roads for you guys to drive! I understand that perhaps and considering the geography size of things that isn't that easy to find the ideal road. 3500km is way far but it is what it is.
Anyway if you ever travel or plan to come Europe and ride some of the local roads give a shout and some of us i'm certain will be happy to meet you. I will take the same consideration traveling to US that should happen over the next years. Will be my third time in US soil and for that one I want to run something special.

[dutchm2]

Splugen Pass🇨🇭 ‐ on the Swiss side is hairpin heaven. Not always easy when there's a lot of traffic but if you have
a calm day and good weather it's a rather enjoyable road. We're crossing our fingers the day we'll get there!

[CruzM3]

Can't wait until May!

[mjn77]

Originally Posted by joao.toscano

Splugen Pass🇨🇭 ‐ on the Swiss side is hairpin heaven. Not always easy when there's a lot of traffic but if you have
a calm day and good weather it's a rather enjoyable road. We're crossing our fingers the day we'll get there!

Love that pass! Loads of little tunnels as well.

[dutchm2]

Originally Posted by CruzM3

Can't wait until May!

looking forward to hear the Velocity Edition roar in the mountains

[dutchm2]

Originally Posted by mjn77

Love that pass! Loads of little tunnels as well.

It's a perfect spot for some drone footage

[dutchm2]

Day 4: Maloja Pass🇨🇭 with an elevation of 1.815m (5,955ft) by itself a great road as you go from fast flowing corners to an incredible structure climbing up the mountain to finish in the valley along the Maloja lake.