Grossglockner & Nockalmstrasse opening dates

[The Grey One]

I'm afraid posting on here that the road is closed is only ever useful for that day. Sorry to hear about Wednesday, it wasn't a good day anywhere. Thursday was great, I was out with guests crossing into Slovenia, on into Italy and back over the Plöken Pass to Austria. Warm and dry all day. We had a guest go over the Grossglockner yesterday (10th May). Road was open, lots of snow at the side of the road and weather was kind but it does change from day to day. As I have said many times the road can be closed because of snow at any time during the season including July and August Here are a couple of our guest's photos.

 

[The Grey One]

A few photos from today's run over the Glockner. Very warm in the valleys and good enough to have lunch outside at the top.

 

[wreck diver]

And a fantastic day was had by all.thanks very much John.
And 29.5 deg C in the valleys

 

[Tank]

Just back from my annual bike trip with three mates, rode all the way over to do the Gross and they would not let bikes up on the day we arrived as closed due to SNOW that was the 27th May

We tried to convince the ticket office to let us go up as bikes were coming back down while we were waiting so not impressed, would have had a crack snow or not as were told other side was glorious!!! Instead hung around and paid €20 for 4 coffee's Ouch!!

Anyway did manage to do the Stelvio on 28th May so that was a bonus, luckily some dodgy old cycle race had taken place on the 27th so they had opened it up, result! Had a great blat up the the real twisty side and a better ride down, better than the Purdoi a few days earlier where I managed to boil my rear brake so had to wait 30 mins for it to come back enough to use a little!!

Going to have to go back for the Gross some other time

 

[The Grey One]

Just back from my annual bike trip with three mates, rode all the way over to do the Gross and they would not let bikes up on the day we arrived as closed due to SNOW that was the 27th May

We tried to convince the ticket office to let us go up as bikes were coming back down while we were waiting so not impressed, would have had a crack snow or not as were told other side was glorious!!! Instead hung around and paid €20 for 4 coffee's Ouch!!

Anyway did manage to do the Stelvio on 28th May so that was a bonus, luckily some dodgy old cycle race had taken place on the 27th so they had opened it up, result! Had a great blat up the the real twisty side and a better ride down, better than the Purdoi a few days earlier where I managed to boil my rear brake so had to wait 30 mins for it to come back enough to use a little!!

Going to have to go back for the Gross some other time

You really wouldn't want to be on the higher parts of the 'Glockner road in snow! The fact that bikes were coming down has nothing to do with conditions at the top. Things change very quickly and they don't prevent people using the road without good reason. They want the income from the toll but don't want the cost of recovering vehicles ans bodies from the top. I went up there the day after (on the 27th I took a group into Slovenia and Italy-good weather there) and although cold the road was open. We had a group do it yesterday who had a great time and we sent 10 bikes up there today in fine weather.

As I have said many times the Grossglockner can be closed for bad weather at any tine during the summer. If you have just one day to do it it is a lottery. Most of our guests stay several days and can therefore pick a good day for it

Where did you pay so much for coffee? normal price around here is around 2.25 Euros. Anywhere charging much more needs avoiding. When I take groups we stop just before the 'Glockner at a place where coffee is 2 Euros.



John

 

[Tank]

Appreciate your comments about the roads but my guess was those bikes coming down had been at the top to start and rode down but still never know now but gutted as day before was stunning!!

Coffee stop was the one at the toll but on reflection my mate probably ordered the large ones but still €5 a pop is a bit steep!! We came at it from Pfarrwerfen. Really wanted to come and stay with you but just a bit too off our route this time, maybe next time as got to come back and do the Gross and maybe Slovenia, etc!

 

[The Grey One]

Appreciate your comments about the roads but my guess was those bikes coming down had been at the top to start and rode down but still never know now but gutted as day before was stunning!!

Coffee stop was the one at the toll but on reflection my mate probably ordered the large ones but still €5 a pop is a bit steep!! We came at it from Pfarrwerfen. Really wanted to come and stay with you but just a bit too off our route this time, maybe next time as got to come back and do the Gross and maybe Slovenia, etc!

Good idea! hope to see you soon. If you ordered large coffees they would give you double shots, hence the price. Next time ask for a "verlängerter" Its a standard coffee with extra water, coffee in Austria is good and strong so the with extra water option suits a lot of Brits. Would have been 2.50 each then

Remember that the bikes you saw coming down almost certainly started from the other side hours before when the weather was OK. Most people ride the road in one direction, taking a while as people stop several times and have been known to turn around to do some sections again. You were heading south so that explains the comment about good weather on the other side. That will be Carinthia, it's know as the sunny south!

John

PS I hope we can call in at your place some time

 

[Neil W]

Better be bloody good weather on the 18th July as we are stopping a night at the Edelweiss Hutte, been wanting to do it for years r

 

[The Grey One]

Better be bloody good weather on the 18th July as we are stopping a night at the Edelweiss Hutte, been wanting to do it for years r

Always a risk booking in there, the road could be closed on the day so you can't get there or you could find yourself cut off there the next morning if they have snow up on top. Statistically this happens on one ore two days each month during the season. Hopefully all will be well, both sunset and dawn up there can be wonderful if the weather is kind. Fingers crossed!

John