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Col de Marocaz
This pass cuts across the very southern end of the
Massif des Bauges. When following a route in the
valley of the Isere, it is very easy to just bypass
it by following the Maurienne River instead. And so
it makes a nice optional climb at the end of a ride,
because you never know exactly just how you are
going to feel then. In my case the weather was just
too good, and the next day was a rain day, so a long
day in the saddle could be followed by a day of
rest.
From West. (described downwards). This
side is gentler, mostly inside a low valley, and
there are no far views until the lower section. A
possible short detour takes in the lake at La
Thuile. But the profile takes the direct way down
into Challes-les-Eaux. During the lower descent
triangular, massive limestone outcrops seem to
float through the field of view en masse, while
turning the bike in a flurry of curves down to
Challes-les-Eaux. Here the roundabout marks a
definite boundary between suburban traffic of
Chambery, and the more isolated mountain roads,
where we just came from. An alternate descent over
Curienne leads directly into Chambery. History: 1900 is an important date in the
history of this pass. In this year the French
military built the Pont de Crouzat (the bridge in
the narrow part of the eastern approach), so that
the farmers of Cruet and La Thuile could use the
pass more easily. However it never became popular.
It may have been an easier path, but it added
distance to their habitual paths (according to a
local resident).
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