Update on the Stelvio and others in the area
Discussion
It's been years since I did the Stelvio pass at 2760 meters
in the Italian Alps.
I didn't like it at all - lousy tarmac, too many cyclists
and locals too keen on blind bends.
I did it again last week and was pleasantly surprised
how much money the local Italian road service has spent
on it. Lovely smooth tarmac all the way now.
There's a bus stop at the top, so it's not
that tricky to drive over, but as I found out, you
need to be watchful of snow and ice on the road, even in July
temperatures of +1C.
Dozens of Brit tourists there, so Clarkson has something
to answer for, publicising it on Brit TV.
Others in the area I would recommend include the Umbrial
2505m, including the off-road section at about 2300m.
The Reschen pass at 1510m is pretty straightforward.
Lorries go over that.
The Pitztal was pretty good, at 1740m and the Pillertal
at 1349m is a tiddler, but nice & twisty.
The star find was, however, the Kaunertal. At 2750m, it's
as high as the Stelvio, but so much better.
20 Euro entrance fee to the valley could be an issue for some.
Also, I got 140 mph a couple of times on the way
there and 145 mph on the way back. I would have gone
faster but the old girl is on 104K now, so some of the
horses seem to be missing.
in the Italian Alps.
I didn't like it at all - lousy tarmac, too many cyclists
and locals too keen on blind bends.
I did it again last week and was pleasantly surprised
how much money the local Italian road service has spent
on it. Lovely smooth tarmac all the way now.
There's a bus stop at the top, so it's not
that tricky to drive over, but as I found out, you
need to be watchful of snow and ice on the road, even in July
temperatures of +1C.
Dozens of Brit tourists there, so Clarkson has something
to answer for, publicising it on Brit TV.
Others in the area I would recommend include the Umbrial
2505m, including the off-road section at about 2300m.
The Reschen pass at 1510m is pretty straightforward.
Lorries go over that.
The Pitztal was pretty good, at 1740m and the Pillertal
at 1349m is a tiddler, but nice & twisty.
The star find was, however, the Kaunertal. At 2750m, it's
as high as the Stelvio, but so much better.
20 Euro entrance fee to the valley could be an issue for some.
Also, I got 140 mph a couple of times on the way
there and 145 mph on the way back. I would have gone
faster but the old girl is on 104K now, so some of the
horses seem to be missing.
Jack Butcher said:
Where abouts is the Kaunertal Pass? haven't heard of it. Is it in Switzerland?
It's not a pass, it's a dead end valley with a loadof ski lifts at the top.
It's in Austria, south east from Landeck.
http://www.multimap.com/maps/?qs=feichten&coun...
Chris71 said:
Off road section? Do tell...
You drive up this Alpine pass in the pouring rainwith the temperature dropping enough to make snow
and ice likely. The car is wobbling a bit
on the hair pin bends.
Her indoors is complaining that she hasn't seen any
shops yet.
You stop for a cuppa at a pub a long way up the valley.
Luckily, they take Euros, as you've only just
realised you've driven into Switzerland, and you've
got no Swiss Francs.
100 meters after the pub, the tarmac stops and it's a
dirt track for a few miles of hairpin bends, until the tarmac
starts again and there's a bus stop at the top of the Umbrial
pass, so not that much aggro.
Actually, the dirt road is in very good nick for
a dirt road, but not quite up to usual tarmac standards.
dcb said:
Jack Butcher said:
Where abouts is the Kaunertal Pass? haven't heard of it. Is it in Switzerland?
It's not a pass, it's a dead end valley with a loadof ski lifts at the top.
It's in Austria, south east from Landeck.
http://www.multimap.com/maps/?qs=feichten&coun...
Edited by Jack Butcher on Friday 10th July 10:41
dcb said:
Jack Butcher said:
Where abouts is the Kaunertal Pass? haven't heard of it. Is it in Switzerland?
It's not a pass, it's a dead end valley with a loadof ski lifts at the top.
It's in Austria, south east from Landeck.
http://www.multimap.com/maps/?qs=feichten&coun...
The gravel section on the other one sounds rather entertaining. I suspect any enthusiastic driving would have you shot on sight if it was Switzerland though?
dcb said:
It's been years since I did the Stelvio pass at 2760 meters
in the Italian Alps.
I didn't like it at all - lousy tarmac, too many cyclists
and locals too keen on blind bends.
I did it again last week and was pleasantly surprised
how much money the local Italian road service has spent
on it. Lovely smooth tarmac all the way now.
Neglected to mention that in all your recent "Stelvio bin the Italian Alps.
I didn't like it at all - lousy tarmac, too many cyclists
and locals too keen on blind bends.
I did it again last week and was pleasantly surprised
how much money the local Italian road service has spent
on it. Lovely smooth tarmac all the way now.
hing" replies on this forum didn't you. 
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... European places to visit&mid=15912
Edited by dom180 on Friday 10th July 19:49
Hi there
the mentioned UMBRAIL pass which joins the Stelvio is a rather good dirt road getting slippery if it rains, but you do not need
any off-road-experience or off-road-car. Old 911s or EscortRS will know, it is a sideways-paradise :-)) (Beware of stone-chips!
Enjoy your drives
Rainer-CH
the mentioned UMBRAIL pass which joins the Stelvio is a rather good dirt road getting slippery if it rains, but you do not need
any off-road-experience or off-road-car. Old 911s or EscortRS will know, it is a sideways-paradise :-)) (Beware of stone-chips!
Enjoy your drives
Rainer-CH
RainerM said:
Hi there
the mentioned UMBRAIL pass which joins the Stelvio is a rather good dirt road getting slippery if it rains, but you do not need
any off-road-experience or off-road-car. Old 911s or EscortRS will know, it is a sideways-paradise :-)) (Beware of stone-chips!
Enjoy your drives
Rainer-CH
I cam down this pass last month to see a load of caterham's and some other strange RwD cars. the mentioned UMBRAIL pass which joins the Stelvio is a rather good dirt road getting slippery if it rains, but you do not need
any off-road-experience or off-road-car. Old 911s or EscortRS will know, it is a sideways-paradise :-)) (Beware of stone-chips!
Enjoy your drives
Rainer-CH
Good fun with RWD and no traction control and a change of pants, had fun even with my oil burner
Edited by Stu_00 on Wednesday 15th July 11:19
RainerM said:
...today 18.7. we have got SNOW :-(((((((((((( for the moment, BUT it should get
better soon hopefully
Enjoy your week-end.
Rainer-CH
Hope the damn stuff goes pronto!
Chris71 said:
Off road section? Do tell...
7.50 into the video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ap6nfc_nS4M also webcams on top of Stelvio http://webcam.popso.it/stelvio.php?CAMERE_PASSOskodamanpat said:
4" of snow overnight in July doesn't bode well for September
It would rather depend on which end of September. First week,probably ok, last week I suspect it might be touch & go
if it is open at all.
Winter tyres would be a good bet in any case and a Plan B
if it is shut / not accessable.
I do remember red & white striped poles than can be lowered
to block access, so it is possibly the case that the
local Polizei might have some input.
Gassing Station | Roads | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff