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     photos by: Francis     
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Tunnel du Parpaillon
2645 metres
 
This is a fabulous unsurfaced pass in the southern French Alps.

It is an old military road with a tunnel at the very top.
You just have to hope that someone's left the doors open - the pass was marked 'closed' when we took these photos.

From the west it is one of the longest climbs in the Alps, about 1950 metres from bottom to top. The west is also the more scenic side, and rideable all the way.

The east is a bit rougher but still rideable with care if descending.

The tunnel is likely to have ice in it at any time of year. Allow a full day for this crossing.