The AMA Alps Challenge Part I is, unfortunately, over. Our riders from Utah, Tennessee, Arizona, and Washington had the ultimate blast while riding across two dozen passes in three countries, covering about 1,200 miles. They enjoyed switchbacks and sweepers and pizza and pasta (and pineapples) as they made their way across some of the highest mountain passes of the Alps. Memories were made and new friends were found and now everybody is waiting impatiently for next year when the AMA Alps Challenge Part II will take participants across Switzerland and all the way to the French Alps.
Cameraman Dieter is already busy working his way through 500 GB of video footage so you can look forward to some great entertainment later this year on the Edelweiss Youtube channel!
Motorcycle enthusiasts from around the US put their AMA membership to good use and descended on the Alps for a very special tour: The AMA Alps Challenge, part I.
This is the first of a series of three tours that feature the 40 highest paved mountain passes in the Alps over the course of three years. Part I covers the northern and central Alps from the Großglockner High Alpine Road all the way to the Swiss passes Albula and Flüela. In between, well-known pass jewels like Stelvio, Gavia, Sella, Giau, and many more are waiting for our eleven riders from Utah, Tennessee, Washington, and Arizona. Three days are behind us now and they absolutely LOVE the trip!
The members of the American Motorcyclist Association have arrived, the bikes are ready... let the games begin!
From the flat area of Munich, passing by the beautiful Chiemsee (the biggest lake of Bavaria), we went straight into the austrian Alps today, and there is no better way to begin this AMA Alps Challenge than facing the Grossglockner high alpine road! The quiet and beautiful little town of Lienz, on the other side of the Grossglocker, was our destination for today! Well done guys!
King Ludwig II guarding the Chiemsee, Bavarias biggest lake
A first glimpse of the mountains!
Rich passing on the Großglockner High Alpine Road
Teresa and Paul on the Edelweisspitze
A tour in the Alps is not complete if you don't ride in the Dolomites area, and that's what we did today! Leaving Lienz, we soon reached the border to Italy and, thanks to the beautiful weather, we enjoied a great ride on the most beautiful mountain passes of the area, Giau, Falzarego, Pordoi, Sella, Gardena... just to mention the most famous! Time passed by very quickly as we were amazed by the stunning landscapes, and finally we reached our beautiful hotel in Klobenstein, just above Bolzano, with its breathtaking view!
A few options for today: go for a long ride until the Timmelsjoch, go for a shorter ride around the Ritter mountains, or just rest and go for a walk in Bolzano. The important thing is that everybody had a good day! Enjoy the pictures!
We drove up to Passo del Rombo...yiehaa! .what a great ride Paul! ..
Day 5 is the longest, highest, and hardest of the tour. We covered no less than 7 passes were on our menu today, with Gavia and Stelvio being the highest ones. Everybody had a blast!
Terasa being mad at Paul for riding all these passes! :-) Especially this one, Passo Gavia, without guard rail, single lane, tight hairpins...
But the reconciliation followed soon! :-))
Breathtaking views of the Morteratsch Glacier at Piz Bernina
Eric enjoys his cigar...
Here the icecream micro AMA interview starts :-))
...and now Mitch being interviewed...Super!
Teresa helping Domenico for his once in a lifetime best super picnic :-)
Thank you very much Teresa for letting it happen! Great food at a great location!
Mitch and Eric at the Garcher view... Wow, a shear drop down here with views on the upper Inn valley
Our last days briefing...taking the challenge again. Most taking the way up to Timmelsjoch to take it from the bucket list which Paul did not need to do because he was already up there from the southern side.
Reed posing :-))
Arrival for all of us in Erding...here Teresa and Paul!
What a great tour with great people! Thank you very much for riding with us!
And see you again, latest next year on the AMA Challenge Part 2 !!!
