Driving to chamonix In the Winter....
Discussion
I'd give it a go...although I'd check the forecast first.
I've driven up to Glenshee, Nevis Range and Cairngorm when I had the Cerbera, and while the distances were shorter, there's no real concept of keeping the roads clear in Scotland. And I've driven (from Scotland) to Tignes in a 911 in one go in the winter, and Tignes is far deeper into the alps than Chamonix. Given Chamonix is just off the road to the Mont Blanc tunnel, I can't see them not keeping the road open; it's a real busy road with traffic and trucks heading into Italy...and I can't see a problem getting to Geneva unless you get caught in a storm.
I've driven up to Glenshee, Nevis Range and Cairngorm when I had the Cerbera, and while the distances were shorter, there's no real concept of keeping the roads clear in Scotland. And I've driven (from Scotland) to Tignes in a 911 in one go in the winter, and Tignes is far deeper into the alps than Chamonix. Given Chamonix is just off the road to the Mont Blanc tunnel, I can't see them not keeping the road open; it's a real busy road with traffic and trucks heading into Italy...and I can't see a problem getting to Geneva unless you get caught in a storm.
haha, so thats 2 votes for "should be fine, go for it" and 2 for "dont do it ya fooking mentalist"
I drove to courcheval last year in my pug 406 coupe thingie no probs at all. did it from basingstoke in a day. (admittedly this was my 2nd attempt, 1st attempt ended in a written off M3)
Ok actually, now I think of it like that I will get a train....
I drove to courcheval last year in my pug 406 coupe thingie no probs at all. did it from basingstoke in a day. (admittedly this was my 2nd attempt, 1st attempt ended in a written off M3)
Ok actually, now I think of it like that I will get a train....
davido140 said:
...admittedly this was my 2nd attempt, 1st attempt ended in a written off M3.
That's 2 BMWs claimed by the alps then - I managed 2 trips and then a write of on the third....That's my reason for the storm comment, I was caught by fresh snow falling and a patch of ice on a hairpin - yes I did have the chains on!
One reason I've now got a 4x4....
Do it.
Took my cerb to Chamonix a few years back and it is well worth the effort.
The drive down to Chamonix is motorway all the way from Calais and so assuming your friend isn't too far off the beaten track in the town you should be ok.
Parking around the town on the other hand might be a problem, snow banks, plenty of traffic and french motorists ...
Oh and watch out for the cameras/gendarmes on the last stretch into Chamonix.
Took my cerb to Chamonix a few years back and it is well worth the effort.
The drive down to Chamonix is motorway all the way from Calais and so assuming your friend isn't too far off the beaten track in the town you should be ok.
Parking around the town on the other hand might be a problem, snow banks, plenty of traffic and french motorists ...
Oh and watch out for the cameras/gendarmes on the last stretch into Chamonix.
Ranger 6 said:
davido140 said:
...admittedly this was my 2nd attempt, 1st attempt ended in a written off M3.
That's 2 BMWs claimed by the alps then - I managed 2 trips and then a write of on the third....That's my reason for the storm comment, I was caught by fresh snow falling and a patch of ice on a hairpin - yes I did have the chains on!
One reason I've now got a 4x4....
davido140 said:
Long story short..... thinking of driving to Chamonix in Jan the see a mate. bad idea to take the TVR? cold weather/ice/snow + TVR = Disaster?
Cheers?
Hi Davido,Cheers?
I used the Griff the first years in the snow for fun.
It handled far better than expected, but I used it with care and
was not the fastest on the road anymore, but that did not matter.
It was just fun going open top and hearing the tires making their way through the snow.
A bit of weight in the boot helps for better grip.
As it is not that common to use wintertires in UK I would not recomend
going to Chamonix without wintertires.
A TVR on summertires is undriveable in snow.
I know, because was caught by a snowstorm in March last year on my way to Italy.
I was on summertires and it nearly ended in disaster.
You have to expect snow in the Alps in winter and winter seems to start already this weekend.
It is very sad to hear about the many fatal accidents here caused by people trying their and others luck.
Snow chains are very good to reach a difficult area or needed when by authority requested,
but they are not for use instead of wintertires.
I never use chains and I would not want going out in the cold snowstorm puting them on while having the traffic waiting for me behind me.
I have not tried it, but am quite sure chains will damage the TVR body when used.
Good luck and enjoy your great wintertrip,
Martin
I think you would be fine (no different to UK in winter) until the last 20 miles or so when you turn off the main road and start to head uphill into the mountains and resorts. Every car in a ski resort has either chains or winter tyres. Also as stated earlier parking will be an issue. Unless your mate has good off road parking beware. Snow Ploughs are frequent in these places and take no prisoners.
tvrolet said:
And I've driven (from Scotland) to Tignes in a 911 in one go in the winter, and Tignes is far deeper into the alps than Chamonix.
Was probably OK until Bourg-Saint-Maurice, reasonable to Thuile then snow on road increasing on approach to lake and Val D'Isere fork then snow all over road into Tignes.Edited by over_the_hill on Thursday 18th October 12:09
hugepiece said:
yer mad I tell ya, but it would be a right laugh! I've not driven the cerb in the snow yet but I once took a transit van min-bus to Chamonix and that was frightning. Still wake up in a cold sweat with the memory of sliding sideways down a hill towards someones house!
so long as its not off a cliff!I drive up to ski stations in my Tuscan a lot, but only 4 weekends and if the forecast is fine!
I've had the slow slide downhill towards a car/chalet/cliff
even in my 4WD Cosworth with all its weight, ABS and full-on winter tyres!!! Meanwhile my girlfriend was spinning in her Audi A4 with winter tyres AND chains!
If the weather catches you could be stuck in the resort for days unable to come back to work...
I've had the slow slide downhill towards a car/chalet/cliff
even in my 4WD Cosworth with all its weight, ABS and full-on winter tyres!!! Meanwhile my girlfriend was spinning in her Audi A4 with winter tyres AND chains!If the weather catches you could be stuck in the resort for days unable to come back to work...
Not totally mad....
Chamonix is probably one of the easiest places to drive to in the Alps.
As mentioned its Autoroute all the way from Calais so there's no problem getting there.
here's an idea. Go for it and come the day if there is loads of snow just drive to Geneva aiport and park in a corner of the longstay car park and then hire a shed from Europecar or someone with chains and snowtires to do the last hour to Chamonix and for doing the Cham-Argentiere run each day when you want to go skiing.
I have seen all sorts of appropriately stupid cars in the valley. The best was probably an italian reg diablo SV in Argentiere, of and a few winters ago a really FIT swiss girl in a 993 cab with roof down and her skis propped up in the passenger seat.
You would be REALLY unluckly to come across a mandatory 'you must have chains to drive past here' gendarme road block on the way into Chamonix. With big snow we get it every few days a winter further up the valley but rarely (if ever?) below.
Actually, you'd be really lucky because that much snow on the road means even more up top!
Its nice in summer too...
Chamonix is probably one of the easiest places to drive to in the Alps.
As mentioned its Autoroute all the way from Calais so there's no problem getting there.
here's an idea. Go for it and come the day if there is loads of snow just drive to Geneva aiport and park in a corner of the longstay car park and then hire a shed from Europecar or someone with chains and snowtires to do the last hour to Chamonix and for doing the Cham-Argentiere run each day when you want to go skiing.
I have seen all sorts of appropriately stupid cars in the valley. The best was probably an italian reg diablo SV in Argentiere, of and a few winters ago a really FIT swiss girl in a 993 cab with roof down and her skis propped up in the passenger seat.
You would be REALLY unluckly to come across a mandatory 'you must have chains to drive past here' gendarme road block on the way into Chamonix. With big snow we get it every few days a winter further up the valley but rarely (if ever?) below.
Actually, you'd be really lucky because that much snow on the road means even more up top!
Its nice in summer too...
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