Poster: A snowHead
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Anyone done this, easy drive?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I'd like to tell you but the last time I did this our flight (last one on 24 Dec) was delayed by an hour and when we got to the car rental desk they had given our car away and none of the desks had any cars and were reluctant to commit to giving one next day due to holidays so even staying that night in Milan might not have sorted things.
I managed to negotiate a taxi for a fare that was just less than the Italian national debt bit as we drove up the mountain the heavy rain turned to snow and about 50km short of Gressoney we were told that a huge avalanche had shut the road. We managed to find a room in a hotel that really should be a museum. Fortunately the storm abated overnight and about mid morning the road got reopened and we got another taxi driven by a man who thought his clapped out fiat was in fact a Ferrari. The top speed might have been comparable given the highly treacherous road conditions but the braking system certainly wasn't. We eventually were deposited alive at our hotel despite a valiant attempt to slide backwards down a steep slope towards a river.
Nevertheless I have driven this previously and if the weather isn't too bad it's quite a reasonable trip. Just make sure you have chains and if a diesel get the fuel additive as soon as you can and add it as it may not have winter diesel in it when you pick it up
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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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You are not helping
I see a lot of rentals are now including chains which is an improvement over the ridiculous charge levied by some Italian hire companies.
How long does it take on a good day. Is it like say, driving to Mayrhofen (flat, no hairpins) or Tignes (the opposite)?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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@Ghost Dog, The road was fine the few times I have done it. I wouldn't really describe the road up to Tignes as tricky though.
Main problem is likely to be other road users. If you drive at the speed limit in a village an Italian in a little Fiat will overtake then hold you up for the rest of the journey. I think they must get extra points for overtaking at a pedestrian crossing.
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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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We used the transfer service when we went on Gnarbug last season. Our flights were heavily delayed but they waited for us and gave us a door to door transfer. Despite waiting for a flight that landed 20 minutes after our, we still arrived 10 minutes ahead of the folks on our flight who'd rented a car
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Ideally you want Turin rather than Milan as it's a lot closer.
most of the journey is flat motorway/toll road. The drive up the valley to Gressoney isn't too bad. Starts steep but eases a bit. Narrow in a couple of villages and a couple of short hairpin sections but you are following the valley up rather than climbing the mountain so not big drops off the edge.
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Turin about 30 mins closer, no? not a big deal surely...
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If it's a late flight I reckon it's worth staying at a cheap hotel at the airport and then driving in daylight. Much less stressful.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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You do need chains for the odd occasion. Last time i came back (in transfer taxi) we met a Porsche trying to get uphill in a snowstorm but he was just sliding backwards.
I have done it by train and bus , which was fine,and quite adventurous for me, but normally take a transfer company from Turin.
Not really first-hand help to the o/p but I like the Aosta valley and it's nice to recall it.
I might have been on the uphill side of that avalanche mentioned by dsoutar, it was powder from way up the hill and a big cloud of it blew right across the road. They had stopped us so I guess it had been blown for safety purposes.
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No direct flights to Turin from Edinburgh. Malpensa flights out Sat back Sunday are quite good times and (last time I looked for half term, cheap).
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@Ghost Dog, All the times I have skied in Gressoney have been half term. Was really quiet mid week, fairly busy at the weekends.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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I lied, there are direct flights with Jet2 but they are not too cheap.
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