Good evening from Baden-Baden.
We ended yesterday’s pass odyssey with a good Wiener schnitzel and spent a really good night in our “emergency accommodation”. This small inn is strategically located. Right at the nasty red traffic light. They probably often have guests at such short notice… But the surrounding mountains are also impressive, so we were already in pole position in the morning. After a good breakfast, we set off to finally ride the Timmelsjoch. And what can I say? It really was a great experience. The pass winds its way up the mountain in at least 15 hairpin bends and down again with around 11 hairpin bends on the Austrian side.
We’ve been thinking the whole time about whether we can put the routes we’ve ridden into some kind of ranking. But that doesn’t really make sense. These roads are not comparable with each other and even if we are constantly throwing superlatives around, each one is extremely impressive in its own way.
All in all, it was really good that we were able to ride the Timmelsjoch so early this morning. It was still relatively quiet and not so crowded. We were able to take in the stunning nature and mountain massifs in peace and quiet. This pass is popular with everyone. Lots of cyclists tirelessly work their way up the meters, always in line with a number of motorcycles. But many hikers and mountaineers also find their destination or starting point here.
The Timmelsjoch lies at 2474 meters above sea level. For a one-way trip, you pay a toll of 19 euros for a car.
The rest of the journey took us through Obergurgl and Sölden towards Garmisch, past the Zugspitze. Unfortunately, there was always slow-moving traffic and many a traffic jam. This continued after the border with Germany. Nevertheless, we loved the highway towards our destination for today: the Schwarzwaldhochstraße – or Black Forest Panorama Road.
At the beginning, the expectation dragged on a little, a long construction site clouded the view, at a slightly larger parking lot at 1000 meters above sea level, the Black Forest Nature Park invites you to hike and on a small viewing platform you have a first all-round view of the beautiful panorama.
The highest point is at 1035 meters at Mummelsee and here you have a magnificent panoramic view in almost all directions.
Conclusion: Overall, the day was characterized by breathtaking landscapes and impressive pass roads, which allowed us to experience the diversity and beauty of the Alps and the Black Forest up close. Despite a few challenges along the way, every effort was worthwhile. Today will remain in our memories as an unforgettable experience and is the crowning glory of our Balkan trip 2024.
