Alpine passes- are they open yet?

[truck71]

Heading over the Col des Saisies, Cormet de Roselend and Col du Petit St Bernard tomorrow, assumed being the start of June they would be open.. Will they?

[XJ Flyer]

www.meteolathuile.com

Global warming bullst.

[AdiT]

Don't forget to stop at the "Italian Job" tunnel on the way down the Petit StBernard below LaThiule.

[truck71]

XJ Flyer said:

www.meteolathuile.com

Global warming bullst.

Thanks for that, so "yes" but go easy over the top by the looks of it.

[truck71]

AdiT said:

Don't forget to stop at the "Italian Job" tunnel on the way down the Petit StBernard below LaThiule.

Ah hadn't realised that, might have some Matt Munro in the car as it happens. I'll look out for erratically driven heavy plant.

[truck71]

Update- petit st bernard all open but the section from the summit down to La Thuile is being rebuilt and resembles a gravel track. Col d'Isran closed.

[XJ Flyer]

truck71 said:

Update- petit st bernard all open but the section from the summit down to La Thuile is being rebuilt and resembles a gravel track. Col d'Isran closed.

The Cenis is another good option.

[truck71]

Indeed, probably better than either of the other two. Just planning tomorrows route to Vence from Aosta, long day.

[johnbear]

Did the Susten pass 2 days ago. Road clear, but snow on sides. Bloody cold at the summit.
Avoid the Gothard pass - queues for miles into the tunnel going south and long queues up the Gothard pass going south to italy. Ok on tunnel going north.

[don logan]

truck71 said:

Indeed, probably better than either of the other two. Just planning tomorrows route to Vence from Aosta, long day.

Check if Galibier is open then do Galibier, Lauteret to Briancon, Bonette (open from 10 am to 20:00 4 days ago) then all the way down to Nice, along the A8 for a couple of junctions and to Vence!

If Galibier is still closed you can do Montgenevre to Briancon from the Italian side of the Frejus tunnel!

Lauteret has super fast curves, col de Vars norh to south is fantastic and Bonette is spectacular, the drive from Bonette to Nice is also fantastic

[hopeydaze]

I drove the Furka Pass on Friday (30-May), it opened just two days before. Huge snow banks and the temperature was down to 2 degrees, however I didn't encounter any ice so it was fine.

[truck71]

Thanks for the suggestions. Trundled down the SS26 to Turin, Autostrada to Cuneo and then took the SS20 over the Col de Tende, not fast but scenic and only 10 mins wait for the tunnel. Just past Saorge took the D2204 to Sospel- absolutely epic! Well made road, empty, straights are relatively short so speeds sensible(ish) and stunning scenery. Then dropped down to the motorway via the D2566, a bit more traffic but easily dealt with and again stunning.

[AdiT]

truck71 said:

Thanks for the suggestions. Trundled down the SS26 to Turin, Autostrada to Cuneo and then took the SS20 over the Col de Tende, not fast but scenic and only 10 mins wait for the tunnel. Just past Saorge took the D2204 to Sospel- absolutely epic! Well made road, empty, straights are relatively short so speeds sensible(ish) and stunning scenery. Then dropped down to the motorway via the D2566, a bit more traffic but easily dealt with and again stunning.

SHHHH! Don't tell everyone about the D2204 We found it by accident a few years ago and you're right it is epic. Did you detour up the Turini and back at Sospel? The D2204 after Sospel is just as good (better) as the bit before and better than the D2566.

[truck71]

AdiT said:

SHHHH! Don't tell everyone about the D2204 We found it by accident a few years ago and you're right it is epic. Did you detour up the Turini and back at Sospel? The D2204 after Sospel is just as good (better) as the bit before and better than the D2566.

Haha, I did wonder whether there comes a point that you have to make your own way in the wild and also let others seek for themselves. Didn't do any detours, been on the road for 5 days and had 8 hours in the saddle today so destination prevailed. Having a week off then back on it for the return.

[AdiT]

There's some great roads around the Verdon Gorge if you get bored of resting.

[ea1x]

you can check here
http://www.sport-passion.fr/parcours/etat-cols.php

or more precisely here:
http://savoie-route.fr/

Don't forget that there is "one day, one pass" "1 jour, 1 col" in french
that one day a pass could be blocked to let only the cyclist

http://www.savoie-mont-blanc.com/Magazine/1-jour-1...

cheers
http://www.pass-hunters.co.uk/