The definition of a pass or gap is a crossing point between a mountain range that divides two distinct watersheds..... What they mean to me is a place to ride your bike uphill for hours which I love to do!!
I am a proud member of an international club called The Club des Cent Cols (Club of 100 mountain pases). You can gain access to this club by having documented at least 100 mountain passes that you have biked up. I currently have 185 cols on record......
This weekend we're going Col Chasing up in the White Mountains. To do that we study maps in advance looking for the identified mountain passes that are rideable (many are not near a road or trail).
Then we plan our strategy about how to get as many as possible during the time period we'll be there. Generally this involves taking our bikes on the car and riding to the base of the 1st pass. We then ride up and back down down then load the bikes and move to the base of the 2nd pass. We do this all day or until we pass out!! This weekend I hope to add 4-5 passes to my list. It may be difficult because some of these climbs may take several hours. Got to start EARLY in the dark.....
I'll let you know how it goes.... Oh, BTW here's the site to the Club des Cent Cols and below are some pics of me on some of the world's famous Cols....
TCOPE
"
"
"
