We’ve driven a lot of Alpine passes but never the Stelvio. Moving south to the Italian lakes gave us a great excuse to drive it on Tuesday. Stelvio has a very recognisable set of hairpins that feature in many photographs taken of those final bends, on the approach from the east.
Leaving Prutz and heading south we soon hit a road closed sign. This was our way to the pass and as we hesitated in the middle of the carriageway, an Austrian guy assured us it was a ten minute detour into Switzerland. So we left the roadworks, where they were working to strengthen the tunnel / galleries along the side of the rockface and we made the detour which was certainly not ten minutes longer. Maybe Austria Man meant ten minutes driving in Switzerland and then you’ll be back into Italy.
So it was up and over a small local pass. By the time we got down to the valley we were ready for a stop and came across this reservoir under which are the remains of several villages but with one landmark remaining, a bell tower. We also got the first views of the glaciers high above the pass, although we didn’t realise that at the time.
We fought with the Italian coaches trying to drop passengers, before they moved to where they should have parked and had a nice chat with some Dutch travellers about the Stelvio.
The top is at 2,760m so a little lower but what makes it different from the other highest pass in Europe, Col de l’Iseran (2,764m), is that it starts at a lower altitude. Stelvio is a heck of an ascent. In preparation I had another good look around the engine bay. I know which pipes and joints to check for leaks and everything looked good.
There’s something like 148 bends on the eastern side, of which approaching 50 are tight hairpins. It’s very narrow and steep and the twists come quickly. With the limited turning circle of the 110 and many cars and bikers descending, driving through these bends was quite taxing. One missed line or a descending driver or biker not stopping, meant that I had to ‘do a double’ to get round.
An early view does not show what is to come.
If the downhill car doesn’t stop before the bend, I can’t position correctly to take the bend in one.
This is tight to the offside wall on exit.
We got to the top with a hot engine but temperatures and pressures all normal and we joined the throngs, as they are always many at the top. We looked on with wonder at the views and the cyclists who just ascended.
I don’t think we’ve ever walked around at 2,760 m wearing T-shirts and shorts. It was a warm day.
The descent on the west side is much more forgiving, but it’s still a long drive down, with lots of tight turns. Thank the Lord for new hub bearings and ball joints.
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