Alpine Passes in May; How closed is closed?

[danpollard]

Forgive me if this is a stupid question, but when using sites like Alpine Portal and similar, when I'm told a pass doesn't open until 1st June, of 1st July, how true is that?

Is it strictly controlled by dates, or is this just a rough guide that varies year on year, depending on the conditions.

Is it a proper metal gate that's locked, or can I drive past the "bad idea" sign until the road is impassable, then turn around and come back?

There's some roads I've done before in the height of summer that I'd like to do bits of again, even if it's just a case of up some of the way and then come back (it's not always the highest parts that are the most spectacular). Most specifically, Furka, Grimsel and San Bernadino.

I'm not very far with planning yet, but just trying to understand the possibilities! I'm actually quite impressed that Google seems to know that you can't drive certain roads at certain times, however I'm not yet sure how much I can rely on just where it stops me!

[danpollard]

Haha, no Unimog. I'm anticipating that I probably won't get all the way across them, but if I know we can get as far up as the problem, it's potentially worth trying. It's the giant metal gates that I'm worried about - from my experience, they're normally at the bottom of the pass to stop you "wasting" your time.

Any ideas how you can find out when each one is actually open - the websites I've found all reference dates, so I don't think they're kept updated.

[danpollard]

I guess it also sort of depends on if anyone lives part way up, as they'd need to be allowed access...

[danpollard]

TooMany2cvs said:

As he said up there...^ - depends on local weather conditions.

If the road is closed, it's because it's impassible. They'll be checking regularly - daily, probably - and if it's clearable, they'll clear it and open it.

And, no, they won't take kindly to "Oooh, I thought I could go and have a look up to the actual blockage", not least because of the risk of touron numpties with 4x4s who think they can take the blockage on, then find out they can't - or, worse, CAN only to find the road doesn't actually go where they thought it did.

Yes, I had wondered that too. I shall be turning around at the first sign of actual snow on the road - I'm fully aware that rear wheel drive and snow don't mix well. Likewise ice! I'm not denying that gate across means impassable - it's more that the views on the way up are often as good as those at the top, where I'd imagine the snow remains.

[danpollard]

danpollard said:

I'm anticipating that I probably won't get all the way across them, but if I know we can get as far up as the problem, it's potentially worth trying.

I've just realised how that read...I didn't mean trying to get through the problem, I meant trying the pass to enjoy the views up to that point! I don't fancy either getting stuck, or dropping into a ravine.

I've since found this site, which seems quite good for live information in Switzerland. It still doesn't answer the element of how far up I could get, but certainly paints a "we're shut right now" image of the alps at the moment!

http://webmaptcs.trafficmap.ch/default_de.aspx

[danpollard]

Geekman said:

In my experience, if it's closed, you can be almost certain it's impassable even in a car with winter tyres, let alone one with summer tyres. I spent a week driving around the French alps a couple of months back, and they left all the roads open unless there was very severe snow or ice on them. Some of the roads that were open were still impassable in my RWD car on summers, although the vast majority were OK provided you drove in a fairly committed manner.

Here's a few pictures of the roads I encountered - as you can see, some are no different to driving in England during the winter, whilst some are rather more tricky.

Thanks Geekman - that's really useful. Photo 1 looks positively great, but 2 and 3 I would not fancy venturing onto with my summer tyres, less still given some of the drops. In something correctly shod and FWD, I'd be well up for it!

I (fairly stupidly) hadn't given a thought for the fact that those open would still be snow covered - of course it makes sense that the road should be open if the majority of cars could manage it. I'd been thinking that if the barrier was open, all would be well...

I think the natural follow up question is which are likely to be the best alpine roads that are clear in May?!

Edited by danpollard on Sunday 19th April 20:20