Col de l'Echelle s(u)
aka Colle de Scala
This pass is an attractive alternative to the
high traffic route over Col
de Montgenevre, between Italy and France. Or you can brave
the traffic and construct a day loop over both of them.
Considering the fact, that this is the lowest pass crossing
between the two countries in the western alps, it is
surprising that this is a remote low traffic route. Apparently
it has none of the historic significance of nearby Col de
Montgenevre. But on a bike, this is clearly the better route.
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1.(500m,00.0km)START-END
EAST: Susa
2.(1050m,22.7km)route goes right; left goes to Col
Montgenevre
3.(1260m,36.5km)Bardonecchia
4.(1762m,48.5km)TOP: Col de l'Echelle
5.(1350m,65.4km)route joins N94 from Col Montgenevre
6.(1250m,69.5km)START-END WEST: Montgenevre
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 Approaches
From East. Below Quix, the Mount Cenis (Frejus)
tunnel traffic separates from the Col de Montgenevre traffic.
This route follows the traffic to the tunnel. But most of the
cars are on the parallel autostrada, while this road follows the
railtracks, and so traffic is light. Meanwhile the border peaks
grow in stature and a train rumbles by now and then.
Bardonecchia seems to have a lot of bicycle traffic. Also
apparent - many buildings featuring non rectangular architecture
- very modern looking in a hip sort of way. Somehow it makes a
very innovative first impression. After leaving Melezet on a
rusty old one way metal bridge, that can be used nicely to frame
photos, the scheme of this road becomes quickly clear. A few zig
zag road cuts become visible, somewhere up there, between the
valley and those tea kettle shaped peaks above. The road crosses
into France, and soon you are on the first zig. The best views
on this ride are (during the particular light conditions that I
had) up the "Right Hand Fork" as this valley is
called. It has a keyhole like mountain standing watch past its
entrance. But gazing down at Bardonechia, cows grazing in front
of town town like specks of dust, the view of 3350m Pta
Sommeiller behind is almost as good. There is a one way bike
route up to a pass in that area.
The Col de l'Echelle road enters a quick succession of two
short tunnels, with an adventurous perch separating them, and
quickly crests at a sign saying "Col de l'Eche. Something
must have happened to the "lle". But as it turns out,
the pass itself is a little lower than the actual summit point,
which comes a little later.
looking back up the Ruisseau de la Valee Edroite, all of which
is located completely in France
From West. The road now rolls along
a fairly narrow high valley, with alpine grasses filling the
space between the loosely spaced needle trees - a very park like
scenery. A gently winding descent through the trees leads
to a grassy valley. In Saint Hypolite, another mountain spur
joins in, to continue downvalley along every curve of the river.
The gentle roll down the Valle de Pres, requires pedaling
downhill. Val des Pres is the last quiet town, clustered around
a solid church steeple before the main road to Briancon. The
last few km on the profile are in common with the high traffic
approach to Col de Montgenevre.
A Dayride with this point as intermediate summit
is on page Col De Montgenevre
^ bottom left: Ruisseau de la
Valee Edroite on the eastern approach
bottom right: looking back to Bardonechia from a
rickety old one lane bridge on SP216
all other: Valee des Pres on the western French
side
V - a one way bike route also
goes up to a pass on the left of the summit of Monte Someiller
(~3300m), seen straight ahead at the back of the valley behind
the villagage Bardonecchia
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