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Grenoble to Serre Chevalier
Hi, I plan to drive from Grenoble to Villeneuve in 2 weeks and have been
told that the highest point of the journey over the Col du Lautaret is 2000m. Is this often a problem passing or is the road usually clear. Do you think chains are advised. I arrive 10.00pm so would have little chance to raid the supermarket for chains. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks |
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#2
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Grenoble to Serre Chevalier
Snorer wrote:
Hi, I plan to drive from Grenoble to Villeneuve in 2 weeks and have been told that the highest point of the journey over the Col du Lautaret is 2000m. Is this often a problem passing or is the road usually clear. Do you think chains are advised. I arrive 10.00pm so would have little chance to raid the supermarket for chains. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks They endevour to keep the pass open, but that does not mean that it will be free of snow. You may need snow chains. There is no way of knowing this far in advance. You could risk it without buying chains in advance and if the road has snow on it then go via Gap. I once came over the Lautaret when it was covered with snow witout chains and it took over 3 very careful hours. John |
#3
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Grenoble to Serre Chevalier
I did the same journey on the 24th January. The pass was closed, so chains
were irrelevant. We had to take the motorway and go round the Frejus tunnel and then via Cesana and Montgenevre. We did that without chains but it was very a very close run thing. Coming back last Saturday the Col was completely clear. We wasted £55 on hiring chains with the car, but it would have been bloody silly not to have had them. Unless you can guarantee the road conditions you really must have chains. Rob PS snow conditions were awesome - evidently the best since 1972!! "Snorer" wrote in message ... Hi, I plan to drive from Grenoble to Villeneuve in 2 weeks and have been told that the highest point of the journey over the Col du Lautaret is 2000m. Is this often a problem passing or is the road usually clear. Do you think chains are advised. I arrive 10.00pm so would have little chance to raid the supermarket for chains. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks |
#4
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Grenoble to Serre Chevalier
Thanks Rob, That is what concerns me. I was in Chamonix on the 24th and
couldn't get up a mild slope to my hotel in Les Houches which is quite low. I hadn't prebooked chains and couldn't get any added to the hire at Geneva.I don't know the southern alps At what stage did you find the col was closed and do you have to go back north of Grenoble to pick up the tunnel road? Thabks for your help, peter "Rob White" wrote in message ... I did the same journey on the 24th January. The pass was closed, so chains were irrelevant. We had to take the motorway and go round the Frejus tunnel and then via Cesana and Montgenevre. We did that without chains but it was very a very close run thing. Coming back last Saturday the Col was completely clear. We wasted £55 on hiring chains with the car, but it would have been bloody silly not to have had them. Unless you can guarantee the road conditions you really must have chains. Rob PS snow conditions were awesome - evidently the best since 1972!! "Snorer" wrote in message ... Hi, I plan to drive from Grenoble to Villeneuve in 2 weeks and have been told that the highest point of the journey over the Col du Lautaret is 2000m. Is this often a problem passing or is the road usually clear. Do you think chains are advised. I arrive 10.00pm so would have little chance to raid the supermarket for chains. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks |
#5
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Grenoble to Serre Chevalier
Hi John thanks for the advice, is the road via Gap a good option anyway? It
looks like it could be a faster road. I don't know southern alps peter "john elgy" wrote in message ... Snorer wrote: Hi, I plan to drive from Grenoble to Villeneuve in 2 weeks and have been told that the highest point of the journey over the Col du Lautaret is 2000m. Is this often a problem passing or is the road usually clear. Do you think chains are advised. I arrive 10.00pm so would have little chance to raid the supermarket for chains. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks They endevour to keep the pass open, but that does not mean that it will be free of snow. You may need snow chains. There is no way of knowing this far in advance. You could risk it without buying chains in advance and if the road has snow on it then go via Gap. I once came over the Lautaret when it was covered with snow witout chains and it took over 3 very careful hours. John |
#6
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Grenoble to Serre Chevalier
On Feb 3, 5:51*pm, "Snorer" wrote:
Hi, I plan to drive from Grenoble to Villeneuve in 2 weeks and have been told that the highest *point of the journey over the Col du Lautaret is 2000m. Is this often a problem passing or is the road usually clear. Do you think chains are advised. I arrive 10.00pm so would have little chance to raid the supermarket for chains. Any thoughts would be appreciated. *Thanks The Col du Lautaret can indeed be closed from time to time although I would not say it is a regular occurence. When it is closed it will be indicated on the road from Grenoble - around Vizile is the first live road sign if my memory is right. There are further live road signs along the way so it is easy to change route. Gap is indeed the best option - our local taxi company systematically use that alternative if required - allow an extra 45 mins on your journey. The col du Lautaret is an important access route and if it has to close the local authorities make it a top priority to re-open it quickly. On the day you can check on http://www.cg05.fr/527-etat-des-cols...d-altitude.htm (Ouvert means open just in case) or http://www.isere.equipement.gouv.fr/...c/routes38.htm or http://www.inforoute05.fr/cg05en.html Equally the Col de Montgenevre could be closed too although very rare. Chains are always advised - when there is snow on any mountain road the police will often be parked at the bottom and will prevent any car who haven't got any from continuing their journey (quite right I will add - it is most frustrating when idiots who have ignored road signs and common sense proceeding with no chains and no experience are stuck half way through a resort road blocking the way for all other traffic) - in those cases it is actually a legal requirement to have them (snow tyres allowed). If you don't have chains you may also find it difficult to get our of your parking space at the end of your stay if it has snowed. The roads in resorts are always cleared pretty quickly but sometimes private areas are more difficult to do. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ XS Peak Retreats http://www.peakretreats.co.uk Ski Collection http://www.skicollection.co.uk |
#7
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Grenoble to Serre Chevalier
If you go on the Serre Chev website there is a link to the Col traffic
conditions, I could see from there that it was no no-hoper and my son (already there) called to confirm. I think you could also get traffic info from the info desk or car hire desk at the airport. Its 96 miles through the Col and 151 via the motorway and the Frejus Tunnel. OK it's an extra 60 miles, but if the motorway is OK you'll bash round to Cesana in no time. It's likely to only be tricky from Cesana where you turn off the motorway and start going up the mountains on the A road, but they tend to keep it clear as it is the main way in from Turin. We were there in the evening and did not need to use the chains as all the earlier traffic had compacted the snow for us, but from what I heard chains were essential earlier on. BTW the tunnel toll is 33.30e, for a car and 44e for a mini-bus Have a good time Rob "Snorer" wrote in message ... Thanks Rob, That is what concerns me. I was in Chamonix on the 24th and couldn't get up a mild slope to my hotel in Les Houches which is quite low. I hadn't prebooked chains and couldn't get any added to the hire at Geneva.I don't know the southern alps At what stage did you find the col was closed and do you have to go back north of Grenoble to pick up the tunnel road? Thabks for your help, peter "Rob White" wrote in message ... I did the same journey on the 24th January. The pass was closed, so chains were irrelevant. We had to take the motorway and go round the Frejus tunnel and then via Cesana and Montgenevre. We did that without chains but it was very a very close run thing. Coming back last Saturday the Col was completely clear. We wasted £55 on hiring chains with the car, but it would have been bloody silly not to have had them. Unless you can guarantee the road conditions you really must have chains. Rob PS snow conditions were awesome - evidently the best since 1972!! "Snorer" wrote in message ... Hi, I plan to drive from Grenoble to Villeneuve in 2 weeks and have been told that the highest point of the journey over the Col du Lautaret is 2000m. Is this often a problem passing or is the road usually clear. Do you think chains are advised. I arrive 10.00pm so would have little chance to raid the supermarket for chains. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks |
#8
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Grenoble to Serre Chevalier
In message , Rob White
writes If you go on the Serre Chev website there is a link to the Col traffic conditions, I could see from there that it was no no-hoper and my son (already there) called to confirm. I think you could also get traffic info from the info desk or car hire desk at the airport. Its 96 miles through the Col and 151 via the motorway and the Frejus Tunnel. OK it's an extra 60 miles, but if the motorway is OK you'll bash round to Cesana in no time. It's likely to only be tricky from Cesana where you turn off the motorway and start going up the mountains on the A road, but they tend to keep it clear as it is the main way in from Turin. We were there in the evening and did not need to use the chains as all the earlier traffic had compacted the snow for us, but from what I heard chains were essential earlier on. BTW the tunnel toll is 33.30e, for a car and 44e for a mini-bus Have a good time Rob It may be worth mentioning that signs on the A6 and elsewhere have announced that the Frejus Tunnel would be closed either a Monday night or a Sunday night -I cannot recall which it was or what the dates were. I saw them at both ends of January. If it is middle of the night if probably will not affect you but it might be worth doing the homework just in case. In fact just seen that it is closed all day Sundays until April see here top left: http://www.tunneldufrejus.com/web/guest/accueil "Snorer" wrote in message ... Thanks Rob, That is what concerns me. I was in Chamonix on the 24th and couldn't get up a mild slope to my hotel in Les Houches which is quite low. I hadn't prebooked chains and couldn't get any added to the hire at Geneva.I don't know the southern alps At what stage did you find the col was closed and do you have to go back north of Grenoble to pick up the tunnel road? Thabks for your help, peter "Rob White" wrote in message ... I did the same journey on the 24th January. The pass was closed, so chains were irrelevant. We had to take the motorway and go round the Frejus tunnel and then via Cesana and Montgenevre. We did that without chains but it was very a very close run thing. Coming back last Saturday the Col was completely clear. We wasted £55 on hiring chains with the car, but it would have been bloody silly not to have had them. Unless you can guarantee the road conditions you really must have chains. Rob PS snow conditions were awesome - evidently the best since 1972!! "Snorer" wrote in message ... Hi, I plan to drive from Grenoble to Villeneuve in 2 weeks and have been told that the highest point of the journey over the Col du Lautaret is 2000m. Is this often a problem passing or is the road usually clear. Do you think chains are advised. I arrive 10.00pm so would have little chance to raid the supermarket for chains. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks -- PK Remove the xtra y from my name in the e-mail address if replying |
#9
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Grenoble to Serre Chevalier
Thanks to all for your advice. Peter.
"Paul Kelly" wrote in message news:498caadf$0$19492$c5fe31e7@read01-hal... In message , Rob White writes If you go on the Serre Chev website there is a link to the Col traffic conditions, I could see from there that it was no no-hoper and my son (already there) called to confirm. I think you could also get traffic info from the info desk or car hire desk at the airport. Its 96 miles through the Col and 151 via the motorway and the Frejus Tunnel. OK it's an extra 60 miles, but if the motorway is OK you'll bash round to Cesana in no time. It's likely to only be tricky from Cesana where you turn off the motorway and start going up the mountains on the A road, but they tend to keep it clear as it is the main way in from Turin. We were there in the evening and did not need to use the chains as all the earlier traffic had compacted the snow for us, but from what I heard chains were essential earlier on. BTW the tunnel toll is 33.30e, for a car and 44e for a mini-bus Have a good time Rob It may be worth mentioning that signs on the A6 and elsewhere have announced that the Frejus Tunnel would be closed either a Monday night or a Sunday night -I cannot recall which it was or what the dates were. I saw them at both ends of January. If it is middle of the night if probably will not affect you but it might be worth doing the homework just in case. In fact just seen that it is closed all day Sundays until April see here top left: http://www.tunneldufrejus.com/web/guest/accueil "Snorer" wrote in message ... Thanks Rob, That is what concerns me. I was in Chamonix on the 24th and couldn't get up a mild slope to my hotel in Les Houches which is quite low. I hadn't prebooked chains and couldn't get any added to the hire at Geneva.I don't know the southern alps At what stage did you find the col was closed and do you have to go back north of Grenoble to pick up the tunnel road? Thabks for your help, peter "Rob White" wrote in message ... I did the same journey on the 24th January. The pass was closed, so chains were irrelevant. We had to take the motorway and go round the Frejus tunnel and then via Cesana and Montgenevre. We did that without chains but it was very a very close run thing. Coming back last Saturday the Col was completely clear. We wasted £55 on hiring chains with the car, but it would have been bloody silly not to have had them. Unless you can guarantee the road conditions you really must have chains. Rob PS snow conditions were awesome - evidently the best since 1972!! "Snorer" wrote in message ... Hi, I plan to drive from Grenoble to Villeneuve in 2 weeks and have been told that the highest point of the journey over the Col du Lautaret is 2000m. Is this often a problem passing or is the road usually clear. Do you think chains are advised. I arrive 10.00pm so would have little chance to raid the supermarket for chains. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks -- PK Remove the xtra y from my name in the e-mail address if replying |
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