Alps trip

[Marky]

Hi
Could someone give me a bit of advice please?

I am arranging a trip to the French Alps around the middle of May, taking in the Stelvio amounst other things.

Would the passes be open and clear of snow in May??

Thanks in advance and Happy New Year

 

[Wapping]

First bit of advice.

The Stelvio is not in the French Alps. It's some way away.

The main motorway passes will be open, not least as the whole area needs to go to work. Many of the higher 'normal' passes do not start a guaranteed opening until mid-May through to early or even mid-June. The Stelvio will not be open much before 01 June.

Call the local tourist offices in the nearest big towns to the passes for definite local news.

 

[Deleted account 210609001]

You could have a look at Alpine Roads.com - great factual site with a load of information about biking in the Alps.

But bear in mind that the pass opening times will be nothing more than averages. And even if they are open abnormally early, there is still every chance of a brief closure if there are a couple of days of cold weather. Whatever you do, you might want to have a plan B in case that strikes while you're there.

 

[mcinlb]

Just as an example, I did the Route des Grande Alpes in the last week in June this year 2012. One of the passes(Galibier) was not open until mid June, so you have to check on a weekly basis on the run up to your trip.

 

[franco]

Probably not.

Most of the higher Cols in the Alps stay closed until at least mid-May then they tend to do lots of repairs on them ready for the summer. This site is updated frequently, so would be your best bet on a day-to-day basis.

Bon route.../Rob

 

[Shurv]

As others have said, I'd leave it til Mid June.Too risky in May hoping for the higher and more interesting passes to be clear.

 

[The Grey One]

As I have said several times before-the high roads can be closed by snow at any time during the summer months. On average only one or two days a month but if that coincides with your planned trip you could end up disappointed. It is my experience here that May is no worse than any other month for such conditions but I know that the Stelvio does open later than our high roads.

We are lucky in our region that such roads normally manage to open by May1st. This includes the Grossglockner, I have been there in late April before now and had better weather and higher temperatures than on some days in August.

So my advice is always have a plan B if you intend to travel anywhere via the high passes. For guests staying here my usual advice is don't come with fixed plans about which routes on which days. Be flexible and you will enjoy stunning roads where ever you go.

John

 

[Rasher]

I am arranging a trip to the French Alps around the middle of May, taking in the Stelvio amounst other things.

Would the passes be open and clear of snow in May??

Seeing as there are well in excess of 300 passes in the Alps, spread across four countries and an area the size of the UK it may help if you could narrow it down a bit.

I know you mentioned France, but then threw in a Pass the full length of Switzerland away, and far closer to Austria than France.

There is a Garmin Mapsource file floating around the forum somewhere with about 300 passes in it, maybe use that to plan out where you want to go.

This site has many Swiss and Austrian pass video's:-

http://www.bikecam.ch/karte.htm

And there is good info at www.alpineroads.com, although it is not updated much the forum has a load of knowledgeable folk only too happy to answer questions (including locals)

Some good climate info and averages can be found here:-

http://www.weatheronline.co.uk/weat...=euro&LAND=SW&REGION=0001&WMO=06759&LEVEL=160

This is for Andermatt which is bang in the centre of the Alps, but the temperatures can be very different between Andermatt high up on a mountain (2000M) and a town in the valley below (1000M or less)

Oh, and Climate is what happens on average, Weather is what you get on the day - they ain't always the same!


The book "Motorcycle journeys through the Alps and beyond" has about 80 trips and lists 322 passes, and splits up the Alps into 20 regions, each one could provide 3-6 days solid riding to cover all routes and passes.

http://www.voxprof.com/kota/default.html

I normally spend 2-3 nights at 2-3 locations with a few travel days in between, which is what you will need to do to cover some French passes and the Stelvio, I did a similar trip in 2010

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=247181

In 2011 we rode Route Des Grand Alps, which you could probably call the French Alps as it covers most the major / famous French passes. This route spans five chapters of the book if you rund down RDGA and come back up Route Napoleon and whizz around the Vercors, we did it in 9 days (plus a couple of days to and from the UK each way) but could have easily spent twice as long on the trip and not covered all the available routes / passes.

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=279972

 

[Peirre O`Bollox]

The OP could always keep looking HERE to see which French Passes are open

 

[Kenny Rodkiss]

Looks closed today...

http://webcam.popso.it/cm/pages/ServeBLOB.php/L/IT/IDPagina/28#

 

[Marky]

Thanks guys