Opening of the passes

[krallicious]

Good evening to you all.

As the snow subsides and the days grow longer I'm sure all of our thoughts are now turning from the glorious winter we have just experienced to the delights of summer and dry, open roads.

Does anyone know when the Swiss authorities will be opening some of their glorious driving roads? I have no desire to wait until July when the hords of campervans ascend to the summits just to coo at the views and block everyone else!

Thanks,

Pete

[abels]

Hi Pete, there is no real date when the passes are open as such. The passes are just opened when the weather is good enough. I know how you feel, I have just ordered some summer tyres in anticipation.

Abels

[UltimaCH]

Hi!

Guess you will have to wait some time more. With the quantity of snow in the mountains this winter, I imagine that the passes will only open in June earliest. Just as an example, I travel to Ticino from the Lausanne region every 2-3 weeks. Last time, 2 weeks ago, I took the Simplon pass. I normally put my car on the shuttle train under the mountains from Brig to Iselle which takes a 20 minutes ride. The Simplon is kept open all winter long for the transit of international traffic. Well most of the way, the walls of snow lining the road where at least between 3 to 5 meters high!! So until all that lot has melted, its going to take some warm temperatures and strong sunshine. Will look for more details and a link to post which monitors the passes.

Cheers.
Daniel

[krallicious]

I popped over to Chamonix last week and the snow on the way up was just silly for this time of year. Virtually all of it has gone from around the Bern area below 800m

[marcusjames]

http://www.swissinfo.org/ger/verkehrsinfo/index.ht...

This is updated regularly. I think you'll be able to follow the language fairly easily.

[krallicious]

Most kind. If I get hopelessly lost I can always check with the better half!

Cheers,

Pete

[UltimaCH]

Hi everyone!

Was reading this morning in the papers that the Gothard pass could open around May 27, if it doesn't snow too much in between. An impressive photo of a snow plow with 8-9 meter high snow walls

[UltimaCH]

Just heard that the Simplon region has been dumped with close to 1 meter of fresh snow during the night. Some passes may take some extra work before opening this year....
Regards
Daniel

[RainerM]

...same here if I look at Berninapass et al....

getting cold here in "my" valley

Rainer-CH

[AndrewD]

That's bad news: we were hoping to do a few days hooning round there soon!

[UltimaCH]

Found this for webcam pictures in Switzerland: http://www.swisswebcams.ch/english/

[RainerM]

Andrew and Gilly

Give us a shout when you are screaming on "our" roads with your beautiful
beast.

Regards to ZG from GR

Rainer and Dot

Edited by RainerM on Tuesday 5th May 17:24

[DavidCane]

I kinda have the opposite question. I'm looking to do a road trip with a day or two spent on the swiss passes. it'll either be in mid august or around the 5th or 6th of October.

Will the October date be too late for the passes? I'm hoping to take in Grimsel, Furka, Oberal, Fluela and Stelvio, maybe with an overnight stop in Davos.

Cheers,

DC

[UltimaCH]

October date for the Swiss passes? You can find them either open or already closed depending on weather conditions (early snow or not). Recommend you plan to do them and if some are closed you can find replacement routes.

[RainerM]

Have a look just before you leave and give the hoteliers a call, they might know about the forecast. It is always a gamble, but generally
beginning to mid even to end of October there are beautiful autumn-days.
Enjoy your trip anyway.I am living around 20 miles down the valley from Davos, you can give us a shout.
I found this website rather useful:

http://www.meteoswiss.admin.ch/web/en/weather.html

Rainer-CH

[rt911]

http://www.jungfrau-zeitung.ch/artikel/?cq_*4f85e2...


Good little article, dates at the bottom for the last 10 years opening/closing dates

[UltimaCH]

Hi everyone!

Just heard and saw pictures on the evening news that the Gotthard pass opened today (seemed very foggy). Here is the usual link which is updated on a regular basis.
http://www.swissinfo.ch/ger/verkehrsinfo/index.htm...

Cheers.

[UltimaCH]

Furka opens today. Four more to open still: Grimsel, Nufenen, Pragel and Susten.

Enjoy!

[krallicious]

Wonderful. Seem the warm weather has done its work. Can't wait for the new car to arrive now

[AndrewD]

Klausen also open, just come back Quite misty up top