 Poster: A snowHead
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I have booked 6th-13th March in Tignes, we are flying into Lyon and arrive about 11.40 which I think will be fine for driving up (still in the daylight etc), but the flight back leaves at 8am which means leaving Tignes at 3am!
Is that safe? (I have driven on snow in Wales maybe twice before, so not hugely experienced)
Am I better off booking a minibus transport or driving down the lunchtime before and staying overnight at the airport?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Would you drive in the UK at 3am?
What are the risks that there will be snow on the road?
You can answer one of these - the other is a gamble - so ...?
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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It'll almost certainly be completely fine at that time of year.
If it snows then as long as you specified snow chains / tyres for your hire car then you will also be fine.
Snow tyres would probably cover 95% of any possible situation, with snow chains the get out of jail card ( but they are a pain to put on).
Take it easy, no sharp braking or acceleration and you'll be fine.
I'm pretty convinced that just having snow chains in the car means that it won't snow 
Don't worry about it
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I've certainly driven in the Welsh mountains at 3am (my only problem with it would be all my friends out drinking to 3am and me having to go to bed early!) - but I just wasn't sure about how good the road is to Tignes (ie are snow chains normally required or is it normally clear, is it wide?) and whether night driving is usually warned against in the Alps as I've never driven there before (indeed I've yet to drive on 'the wrong side of the road' - only driven in Ireland and UK before as up until now I've always been too young for the car hire [ie under 25] and travelling with older family).
If the road is good then I have no worries.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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It's a fair question. I've several times had to wait in my garage, with chains on my snow tyres, for the first snowplough of the morning, before being able to leave. This is a minor road and between about 10 pm and 0630 the road is not ploughed. In heavy snow it becomes impassable before the plough has made one pass. So, if faced with an essential start at 3 am and heavy snow forecast I'd be a bit concerned. Unlikely, but it happens, especially at the altitude of Val Claret. If your accommodation is difficult of access I'd ask local advice and consider loading everything possible the night before and leaving the car somewhere with easy access onto a road kept clear 24 hours a day. With chains on. Putting them on whilst clearing a foot of snow off the car, at 2 am, wouldn't be any fun.
And from Lyon you mightn't get snow tyres.
Chances are the roads will be clear and full of stars!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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| Quote: |
| If your accommodation is difficult of access I'd ask local advice and consider loading everything possible the night before and leaving the car somewhere with easy access onto a road kept clear 24 hours a day. With chains on. Putting them on whilst clearing a foot of snow off the car, at 2 am, wouldn't be any fun. |
Just on this there are underground car parks which make the issue of fitting chains for the return journey less problematic.
But I would also add that if the weather is expected to be inclement overnight I would be tempted to just head out mid to late evening rather having a short and probably restless night in your accomodation.
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Follow this thread - I put my view of potential weekend travel conditions on there every week:
http://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?t=120323
Make sure you have booked chains - cars at Lyon don't have them by default. Oh and don't put them on in the lower levels of the car park - it is very difficult/nigh on impossible to drive up a concrete ramp with them on 
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