gautama108

Sorry, but it was not a Stumpy Evo...

I know this area quite well. I rode some fantastic trails there. And I do agree that sharing experiences is great. But this article is not helping the riders' community. I am not judging the facts, because honestly it happens to me more than once to ride some forbidden trails. So nice for you, you cheat, you win and get a splendid ride. But why to share that? Why to give politics and authorities another reason to close or regulate trails? In French we have this saying "Vivez cachez, vivez heureux", something such as "live hidden, live happy". I think riders should apply it if there want to protect their playground.

Pioneering is a spirit, not a prize. So for the one who still have this SPIRIT of pioneer, and that prefer to discover than to follow, here are some tips: - Most of the trails (at least under 2000m-2500m) are riddable with modern trail bike. - Free 1:25000 map: http://map.schweizmobil.ch/?lang=en - Train take bikes: www.cff.ch - Postal bus take bike and go high in the mountain: http://www.carpostal.ch/en/ - Weather forecast is quite reliable: http://www.meteosuisse.admin.ch/web/en/weather.html This is all you need to have real fun. See you on trails...

Yes, Switzerland is a true paradise for MTB: Incredible topography, Incredible trail and path network, Incredible public transportation network, Incredible maps to prepare your next adventure. And I promise I will give you some hints to prepare yours at the end of this post. But come on man, your words are so dramatic. You should write novels for Hollywood. "At the time, it didn't seem right", "We were some of the very first to hit...", "And at the time we knew it". "We were pioneers, pirates almost, hoarding singletrack gold in an entirely foreign land - right from under teir noses.", "They are virgin, fresh, unspoiled. Yes, Panchard is a lone sailor on a sea of gold." I am 45, had my first MTB at 20. At this time, terms such as freeride, riders or even baggy short were not existing, or at least not used in our sport. Suspension forks and disk brake manifest themselves in our secret dreams only. But trails were already there. And we were not so idiot to ignore the fun that they can offer us. I remember riding Les Rochers-de-Naye (probably in 1987) with 1:25000 map, selecting the steepest section. I remember pushing to Fenestral Hut, going down to a trail which is still seldom ridden. I remember going Chanrion Hut, climbing and going back thru any single we found. Yes 20 years ago. I was always very keen to share my discoveries and I did. But I think that there is a BIG difference between sharing and monetizing !!! And maybe this is what you are talking about. Being pioneer in monetizing the trails. For you to know: some part of Switzerland have already prohibit MTB and Valais is thinking about. So yes, Switzerland is a paradise for MTB, but please respect its fragile nature, and apprehend it with humility. Take the crowds to bike parks, give them riding lesson, have beer, sex, smoke and money there. There are the leisure park of 21th century...