Weather conditions - Alpine passes

[Zed 44]

Does anyone know a good website that gives current conditions of Alpine passes, ie. if they're open or not and possibly current weather?

[London John]

Search the pass you're interested in and add "webcam".

They're pretty much all there. See, for instance, http://www.webcamgalore.com/EN/webcam/Italy/Stelvi...

[don logan]

Google Bison Futé and check Col Status

OR the most reliable way to do it is to phone the Tourist Office closest to the pass you want to check!

[SmilerFTM]

This is quite worrying, a number of the passes I'm (supposed to be) doing in just over a week's time, i.e. Galibier and Iseran are still closed @pooingpants.com. I need to start checking out the others and keep an eye on them all I'm driving the route des grand alps, doing numerous passes in Switzerland and also taking in the Stelvio

[SmilerFTM]

Furka and Susten passes are still closed as well ;(

[Zed 44]

SmilerFTM said:

Furka and Susten passes are still closed as well ;(

Where did you find this out please? Six of us are supposed to be doing the Andermatt loop and the Stelvio in around 2 weeks time.

[SmilerFTM]

http://webmaptcs.trafficmap.ch/default_de.aspx

and

http://www.andermatt.ch/en/news/traffic-conditions...

Still hopeful they will be open reading the second link but it's squeaky bum time

[don logan]

SmilerFTM said:

http://webmaptcs.trafficmap.ch/default_de.aspx

and

http://www.andermatt.ch/en/news/traffic-conditions...

Still hopeful they will be open reading the second link but it's squeaky bum time

If you look at how cold it's been here recently it's relative to how cold it's been there too, which is why nothing has melted much! (Murren has been -6 in the DAY recently)

A friend who lives in Val D'Iser told me that Iseran and Pt St Bernard are due open on the 16th of June but check with Bourg St Maurice Tourist Office and Val D'Isere too!

[OssAndy]

SmilerFTM said:

This is quite worrying, a number of the passes I'm (supposed to be) doing in just over a week's time, i.e. Galibier and Iseran are still closed @pooingpants.com. I need to start checking out the others and keep an eye on them all I'm driving the route des grand alps, doing numerous passes in Switzerland and also taking in the Stelvio

Hugely disappointed here too, although I always knew it was a risk going this early. I'm meant to be driving down the route des grandes alps too, leaving on Friday! Looks like it's time to start planning some alternative routes

[don logan]

OssAndy said:

Hugely disappointed here too, although I always knew it was a risk going this early. I'm meant to be driving down the route des grandes alps too, leaving on Friday! Looks like it's time to start planning some alternative routes

Don't be tempted to use Croix De Fer as a workaround for Galibier if it's closed, it's usually COVERED in tiny gravel stones, I'm talking enough to leave tyre tracks, 15mph max!

[don logan]

don logan said:

Don't be tempted to use Croix De Fer as a workaround for Galibier if it's closed, it's usually COVERED in tiny gravel stones, I'm talking enough to leave tyre tracks, 15mph max!

Check this out, they have started clearing Iseran - http://www.valdisere.com/ete/fr/val_d_isere/webcam...

Pan as far as possible to the right of this cam and zoom in, beyond the chairlift is where the south ramp is, they obviously havn`t got there yet (that cam when pointing furthest to the right is pointing to the top of Iseran)

http://www.valdisere.com/ete/fr/val_d_isere/webcam...

Edited by don logan on Monday 3rd June 13:33

[SmilerFTM]

don logan said:

If you look at how cold it's been here recently it's relative to how cold it's been there too, which is why nothing has melted much! (Murren has been -6 in the DAY recently)

A friend who lives in Val D'Iser told me that Iseran and Pt St Bernard are due open on the 16th of June but check with Bourg St Maurice Tourist Office and Val D'Isere too!

16th is just too late for me, my route has me going over Pt St Bernard on the 10th and Iseran on the 11th. Looks like I might need new routes from Mulhouse to Albertville and Albertville to Briancon.

[don logan]

SmilerFTM said:

16th is just too late for me, my route has me going over Pt St Bernard on the 10th and Iseran on the 11th. Looks like I might need new routes from Mulhouse to Albertville and Albertville to Briancon.

It all varies every year, last year I was over Pt St Bernard on the first day it opened which I think was May the 29th, things change quickly so don`t write your original route off yet!

Albertville to Briancon can be done via Grenoble, Grenoble to Briancon is FANTASTIC, or you can scoot up the Maurienne valley, through the Frejus tunnel and right to Briancon but it`s a last resort because it`s boring (you get one small Col that drops you into Briancon! (speaking of Briancon, I normally stay in a cheap hotel called Auberge De La Paix www.auberge-de-la-paix.com

Like I said, things change VERY quickly, I`ve been told that things are open that aren`t on websites and vice versa which is why I`d say to stick with your plan and call the tourist offices the day before!

(try to do the Col De Bonette)

Edited by don logan on Monday 3rd June 13:48

[don logan]

SmilerFTM said:

16th is just too late for me, my route has me going over Pt St Bernard on the 10th and Iseran on the 11th. Looks like I might need new routes from Mulhouse to Albertville and Albertville to Briancon.

It all varies every year, last year I was over Pt St Bernard on the first day it opened which I think was May the 29th, things change quickly so don`t write your original route off yet!

Albertville to Briancon can be done via Grenoble, Grenoble to Briancon is FANTASTIC, or you can scoot up the Maurienne valley, through the Frejus tunnel and right to Briancon but it`s a last resort because it`s boring (you get one small Col that drops you into Briancon! (speaking of Briancon, I normally stay in a cheap hotel called Auberge De La Paix www.auberge-de-la-paix.com

Like I said, things change VERY quickly, I`ve been told that things are open that aren`t on websites and vice versa which is why I`d say to stick with your plan and call the tourist offices the day before!

(try to do the Col De Bonette)

Edited by don logan on Monday 3rd June 13:48

[SmilerFTM]

I was looking at heading from Jausiers to Barcelonnette and over Col de la Cayolle to Guillaumes and across to St Sauveur sur Tinee as opposed to heading straight south from Jausiers over Col de la Bonette down to St Sauveur sur Tinee. Would you highly recommend the Bonette over Cayolle route, if so why?

[don logan]

SmilerFTM said:

I was looking at heading from Jausiers to Barcelonnette and over Col de la Cayolle to Guillaumes and across to St Sauveur sur Tinee as opposed to heading straight south from Jausiers over Col de la Bonette down to St Sauveur sur Tinee. Would you highly recommend the Bonette over Cayolle route, if so why?

Bonette is VERY dramatic!

It`s also labelled as the highest paved road in Europe but that`s a funny little pointless loop at the very top of the pass that gains the pass a few more feet for the record!

Coming from Vars, turn right for Jausiers and just before entering the town turn left for Nice over Bonette!

[SmilerFTM]

Bonette is still closed according to Bison which could make my choice a bit easier. Have you any idea on alternative routes from Mulhouse to Albertville with it looking likely Grand and Petit St Bernard could both still be closed

[don logan]

SmilerFTM said:

Bonette is still closed according to Bison which could make my choice a bit easier. Have you any idea on alternative routes from Mulhouse to Albertville with it looking likely Grand and Petit St Bernard could both still be closed

Get yourself to Martigny, instead of Gr Bernard go Col De Forclaz (in my top 3) head for Chamonix, after Chamonix head for Megeve/Flumet/Ugine then make your decision about Grenoble to Briancon or Frejus tunnel or whether you can be bothered with Cols Croix De Fer / Glandon

Forclaz and the Megeve road will definitely be open (they always are)

[SmilerFTM]

Thanks for all that, massively appreciated. I might head slightly further into Switzerland before Forclaz to do one or two passes on the way that are already open now. Disappointed about Bernards, Iseran and Galibier but I have a feeling these workarounds will be just as spectacular and fun so thanks again

[Zed 44]

[quote=SmilerFTM]Thanks for all that, massively appreciated. I might head slightly further into Switzerland before Forclaz to do one or two passes on the way that are already open now. Disappointed about Bernards, Iseran and Galibier but I have a feeling these workarounds will be just as spectacular and fun so thanks again[/quote

Our itinerary is for the Andermatt loop and Stelvio between the 12th and 15th. First night (the 12th, we'll be here) if you're around. You'd be welcome to join us.
http://www.booking.com/hotel/ch/restaurant-urweida...