Switzerland in May

[Sooty09]

Im planning a trip to Switzerland in May this year. I will be staying at Kandersteg above Interlaken and hope to ride a few passes such as the Grimselpass and Furka pass etc. I have ridden these in late June with a clear road but plenty of snow in the hills. Are these passes usually open to bikes by the 10 May? I have seen enough snow these last few weeks to last a life time.

 

[sven]

Have a read here http://www.alpineroads.com/

I would have thought the high passes would still be closed in early May - the Fluella had only just opened when I went in late May 2004 and the Albula was still closed. Don't know about the Furka etc.

 

[majorbumsore]

I used to do this area around the 20th may most years on the way back from the superbikes at Monza. The Monza round was usually the middle weekend in may and this was part of a 8 or 9 day rout home.
I have made it over some of the passes but the barriers can still be down.
i have made it all the way up and then run into a 10 foot wall of snow blocking progress only 1km from the top. i think pot luck is the term. but the views are to die for, end of the day if you dont make it over a pass you turn around and ride down again getting all the views you missed on the way up.
bonus, cos you aint seen a road till you've ridden it both ways anyhow

 

[The Phantom Pieman]

Im planning a trip to Switzerland in May this year. I will be staying at Kandersteg above Interlaken and hope to ride a few passes such as the Grimselpass and Furka pass etc. I have ridden these in late June with a clear road but plenty of snow in the hills. Are these passes usually open to bikes by the 10 May? I have seen enough snow these last few weeks to last a life time.

They won't be open by the 10th of May

They clear them first couple of weeks in June if it hasn't happened naturally

 

[Sooty09]

Thanks for your replies. We have decided to be cautious this trip and stay in Annecy instead of the higher Alps. If the weather is good we can still ride a few lower passes and enjoy the mountain scenery. We don't mind turning back if a road is blocked but fear being caught in a sudden snow storm. We were caught out at the top of Stelvio in July last year, luckily it was only the top few hundred feet and turned to rain as we dropped down, 32C in Trafoi at the bottom.
The picture below was part way up the Grimselpass at the end of June, there was still plenty of snow up to the road edge.

 

[Dave Cr]

I'm going along a similar route to Italy about the same time as you Sooty -and based on past experience most, if not all, of the high passes will be closed. This winter has been a good one for the skiers too.
Hope you enjoy your trip nonetheless.