Expedition Report
The aim for the two College undergraduates was to complete a 12-day cycle in July 2017 from Zurich in Switzerland to Lyon in France, through navigating the Seen Cycle Route 9 (Lakes Route) and the Rhone Cycle Route 1. During the trip 5 days would involve swimming in 4 lakes (Zurich, Zug, Lucerne and Geneva) and 5 days would involve trail running.
The journey commenced with a cycle from Zurich, almost up and over the Burglen mountain peak, with gradients of up to 22%, to Luzern. This was followed the next day by a hike in the area on Pilatus. Then came a 93km cycle with a 2,034m climb to Interlakken, which was made even more difficult by the 30oC heat. The elevation changes were quite dramatic between Luzern and Interlakken but this was also an area of unforgettable mountain scenery and great beauty. The pair were then able to take the funicular up Harder Kulm to get amazing views of the 2 major lakes encompassing Interlaken, Brienzersee and Thunsee, as well as great views of Jungfrau and the other surrounding mountains. This was followed by a fast hike down 1,300m the Harder Kulm, taking just under 1.5 hours.
The 60km cycle to Bern enabled the two to swim in the fast-flowing River Aare past the Houses of Parliament. This was followed the next day by a 105km cycle to Lausanne which involved some very steep climbs, and then the following day onto Geneva cycling along Lake Leman. The final 178km stage to Lyon in France was the expedition’s longest cycle in a day, and again the temperature was hot. As well as having to contend with difficult drivers, Lyon also greeted them with a huge thunderstorm.
Further highlights of the trip included visiting the Entlebuch UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, which is a protected area with forests and highland marshes, and also passing under the Jet D’Eau in Geneva, which ejects water at 500l/s, where they were able to witness a full circle rainbow. In addition, most of the lakes swam were warm, whilst accommodation was provided by a cycling backpacking website called Warmshowers which allowed the pair to stay with other cyclists.