When we finally managed to negotiate our way out of Merano, Mr R suggested that we take the fastest route back to Vipeteno (not because we needed to make a fast get away or anything, we had a lovely day in Merano in the end), but because the fastest route, also happened to be the most interesting…
Long term readers will know that we as a family are no strangers to twisting turning, ear popping mountain passes (whether we have ended up on them intentionally or not!!) . The Brenner Pass was a regular haunt of ours, we crossed it many a time on our journeys down through Austria, Italy and beyond (and back again). We also reminisce (although not fondly) about the time we somehow ended up on the very mountain pass we had set out to avoid on the way down to Lake Como – the Splugen Pass (which looks a little like this on a GPS system). It’s now forever known to us as the Spew-gen pass, which I am sure I don’t have to explain much further…
As there aren’t all that many mountain passes (that high and remote at least!) in the UK (and as this was a planned venture on to one!) I jumped at the chance of crossing this, the Jaufen Pass. In all honesty it was probably the real highlight of our Merano trip (for me at least – as the photographer of the family!) with 31 km of stunning alpine scenery to enjoy, and four seasons in one day just about covered…
As we left sunny and warm Merano behind us, we started our winding ascent upwards, surrounded by blue skies and fluffy clouds, passing the geranium covered houses with their colours fading gently in to Autumn…
It soon became clear why this particular mountain pass makes a lot of “top ten drives in the World” lists, when the GPS started to look a little like this! I might have shouted “keep looking out of the window” quite a few times in to the back of the car just in case, especially on a few of the needle thin hair pin bends, but thankfully all was well, as we can no longer take this kind of backdrop for granted, everyone actually did what they were told (for once!)…
There’s something special about this kind of scenery to me anyway, but to think that you are crossing ancient trade routes from country to country that have been used for thousands of years is quite mind-blowing, especially given the wilderness feel to it all, you don’t actually see all that many people (although you might meet a cow or two!).
Of course, there are a few places to stop along the way… At each I shouted “can we stop here” a little too late, hoping to take a stack of pictures whilst not driving (what a surprise!), especially as the cloud was starting to get thicker the higher we climbed (this section of mountains reaches almost 3,000 metres!)…
Finally, I asked Mr R to stop at the next tiny gasthaus so I could record the by now decreasing view… But whilst the views were sadly becoming more enshrouded by cloud by the second now, we did witness a snow flake or two as if to make up for it…
And then around an hour later, with having only seen around four other cars and a couple of motorbikes for the entire duration of our journey, we made our way downwards back through the cloud, and in to the start of Autumn in Vipiteno…
At this time of year, unsurprisingly the Jaufen Pass (the Passo Giovo in Italian) can be closed, so do plan your journey ahead and double-check. It’s also closed in the Winter Months between 6pm and 8am to avoid you driving off the side of a mountain and/or getting stuck in a snow drift (which I wouldn’t worry too much about given the fact that it’s against the law to drive without snow tyres in the Winter months in this part of the world…)… But, if you happen to be here in favourable conditions, this is one of the few places I would tell you to go ahead and take the fastest route, it really has the best views…
Such incredible views and worth all those scary hair raising bends!!!! I bet it was freezing too! Thanks so much for linking up to #MondayEscapes
Thanks so much! x
We too have inadvertently ended up on a few hairy mountain roads on our travels… One we needed to ‘coast’ down as we had run out of petrol and still had 15km to the next petrol station!!
The Jaiden Pass looks stunning, and you got some amazing pictures
Thanks for linking up to #MondayEscapes
Oh my gosh, I will be checking our petrol levels next time now! :D Thank you! :) x
Loving your pics and the idea of the drive through such scenery and pass but surely my stomach would not agree with that itinerary ! And kids seem to be just like me, so we will content ourselves with reading your adventures ;) #culturedkids
Thanks so much! :D x
I love following ancient paths, thinking about the stories that the stones could tell! #CulturedKids
Oh me too, the history that has trecked over routes like this! Thanks Catherine! :) x
Sounds like a fantastic pass to travel and love that those few snowflakes gave you your 4 seasons! I love the Tyrol in summer and winter. In my teens I went once in both seasons and it’s high on the list to take Caroliney soon. Sorry for the comment delay! #CulturedKids
No problem! I love Tyrol whatever the season too, it’s just beautiful! Thank you! :)
What a wonderful drive…and the views are amazing. We did quite a few of these mountain drives in Norway this summer #CulturedKids
I would love to do that in Norway, I only visited lakes last time! :D x
I love the mountains – at any time of year. Those hairpin bends though! I’d be looking for the horizon while Mr P drives. My constitution has got worse with age unfortunately. #mondayescapes
Thanks so much, thankfully it doesn’t effect me just yet! :D
Not sure if my comment went through so writing another – I absolutely love the mountains so can imagine what a beautiful place this must be! With all sorts of dramatic weather changes too. Thanks for linking up with #farawayfiles
Thanks so much Corey! :) x
Oh I’m not sure about this. I think my main feeling would be that of impending doom! I love the mountains on foot but those sheer drops when driving just panic me. I’ll enjoy them through your photos instead! x #culturedkids
Yep, I try to ignore those feelings Trish! There are times I cannot look out of that sheer drop side of the car! :D Thank you for joining in with #CulturedKids
I love a mountain drive and how amazing experience all those weather conditions in one day #CulturedKids
Thanks so much Sima! (:
Hairpin bends! No Thank you. I would have to get somebody else to drive me there. But the views look absolutely amazing!!
The view makes it all worth it! Thanks Natasha! :)
Must have been spectacular views all the way! I’m not great on windy roads unless I’m actually driving – so I get torn between the views vs the queasiness if we’re planning a route!
They really were! I know what you mean, although I am too busy concentrating on anyone else who might be feeling queasy to take much notice on how I am feeling! :D
Amazing photographs! I love a good mountain pass and it’s anazingbto think you can drive in and out of cloud like that.
So beautiful to see! Thanks Rachael! :)
This looks amazing. This reminds me so much (and looks like!) a road trip I took to transfagarasan in Romania – the views at the top were amazing but driving to/up it we’d pass all this little towns filled with cabins that almost looked like ski towns you’d find in France or something! x
Romania is somewhere I would really love to explore, I will be asking you a lot of questions when I do eventually go! :D x
Oh, wow. It must be amazing to experience 4 seasons in one day! I’d never heard of the Jaufen Pass before but I’ll definitely be looking to find out more now :)
Louise x
Thanks Louise! (:
My husband would love this. I always accuse him of taking me to the coldest i.e. highest place in a country/island where the views are either excellent or covered in mist. When it works, it’s amazing. #CulturedKids
He would definitely love this route I reckon! :D
Oh wow what an amazing drive and the views are stunning! Pretty amazing to experience four seasons in one drive too!
Thanks so much Jess! (:
Mountain drives are my favourite around 11 years ago I drove myself over the Atlas mountains in Morocco the stars were amazing out there with no one for miles.
My husband moans when I want to take endless photo stops he is all about ploughing on I am all about the journey.
I adore your shots of buildings in low lying cloud
Thanks Nicolette, jealous of your drive through the Atlas Mountains, that must have been incredible! :)
Stunning views, the mist, the child’s and mountains it makes it look mystical. #culturekids
Thanks so much Usha! (:
It really is four seasons in one drive! You’ve reminded me of the time I treated my daughter to an enormous banana split, just before we ended up on windy mountain roads in the Haute Alps. I bet you can guess how that ended! It looks like an amazing drive, I’ll just avoid giving the kids treats before hand #CulturedKids
Yes, I can well imagine! :D I was so glad I found febreze when it happened to us in Lake Como, not the first thing I would have bought typically! :D
Looks like a fun drive! My husband has convinced me to build a summer holiday around the Stelvio Pass so that’s where we’re headed this year… #culturedkids
I think we have done that one too, keep looking out the window!! Thank you Annabel! :)
Yikes. The only time I drove a mountain pass, I was having palpitations! I wish being behind the wheel on one didn’t terrify me so much, as the scenery’s beautiful. Great account of your ascent – and I never knew law required snow tyres. Makes sense! #CulturedKids
I have to admit I have only ever been a passenger. Mr R is a much more confident driver than me! :D And yes, don’t ever let a car hire company make you pay extra for winter tyres in DE or Austria particular as its legally required they have them anyway in the winter! xx
Gosh, that looks spectacular, if a little hair-raising! How long was the drive?
Around an hour and a half including photography breaks! :D Thanks Scarlett! :)
I love visiting picturesque places there are so many gorgeous places to be seen. It must have been pretty cold if you saw some snow!
It was pretty cold at the top! Thanks Melanie! :)
How magical to be up above the clouds! And what stunning views. It sounds like a wonderful adventure.
Thank you Kate. I do love a mountain! :D