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The Parpaillon saga

3/7/100/1000/2000/2650/ Le compte est bon - Roger Colombo CC n° 4205 Chambéry (Savoie) - revue n° 29, 2001

This is not a parody of a television programme and these numbers require some explanation.

• 100: like the ”100 Passes” Club”
• 2000: like this year’s vintage
• 1000: like the thousandth pass
• 100: the 100th pass over 2,000 metres
• 3: the number of attempts to cross this pass
• 7: the number of participants on this expedition
• 2650: the altitude of the … PARPAILLON.

The Parpaillon, a mythical pass whose ascent has been chronicled several times in the magazine and in specialist magazines, had long been chosen by Régis Paraz as his 1000^e col. To really add it all up, it was also the 100^e a pass at over 2,000 metres climbed by our ‘100-pass’ climber, who pushed hard so as not to have to wait until 2001!

After a failed attempt on 26 August, when the trip was cancelled due to a pessimistic weather forecast, we made a second attempt and headed for Embrun, only to spend a mild evening there and endure a heavy morning thunderstorm. The mountain bikes returned wet to Chambéry with frustrated riders: we'd all been looking forward to this climb and came home terribly disappointed.

The third attempt proved successful for our group of seven on Sunday 10 September, on a magnificent late-summer’s day. We set off very early from Chambéry so we could start from Embrun at a reasonable hour. We enjoyed the long climb up to Crévoux, where we regained some strength and signed the guest book of this legendary climb. Our mountain bikes suffered afterwards… and so did we! The many hunters we encountered did little to encourage us on this gruelling climb. There were far too many motorists taking risks on this track: just as cyclists were making the ascent on narrow tyres, “normal” cars were competing with the 4x4s. The cows and horses, indifferent to our efforts, provided us with better company during the final stretch of this magnificent ascent. We finally arrived at the entrance to this mysterious tunnel. Our headlamps, too dim, failed to reveal the secrets of this dark passage. Back in the open air, we lightened our rucksacks to celebrate the occasion.

A big well done to Régis for his courage, his organisation and his example. It was he who brought us into the Confrérie and enabled us to share some great moments of sporting friendship. He received his fine medal at the last AGM and will now feature in the first three pages of the magazine's Roll of Honour.