Won't be getting any higher, at least not on this trip. On the Cime de la Bonette.
Riding mountains gives me a crazy high, the combination of exercise and the views that come up. There are places where you can get similar views "for free", without the work, but for me the feeling does not really compare.
Drying my tent halfway up, eating some pain au chocolats in the mean time.You can see the road of the Cime (*edit: contour in the snow) in the background, i did not even realize while i was there.
Yeah, you absolutely should, or col de la cayolle, also beautiful, less high but mellow climb from Barcelonette.
Cayolle
Or col d'allos, it is currently closed so you get to cycle it traffic free, apart some other cyclists (construction is only between the pass and La Foux, but it is ridable with care).
Oh man, i am envious of your location, what a place the mercantour is.
Thank you for the photo! Yeah, the mercantour is amazing, but I'm far too weak to go there by bike. No, let me rephrase that: i could go there, but I wouldnt have the force to come back in the same day! I could make a short 2 days trip, but im still quite dubious about bikepacking. What if there's some wild animals that during the night come bother me? What if it rains? And so on..