 Poster: A snowHead
|
Hi,
I’m looking for some advice. I’m hiring a car in Grenoble to drive to Montgenevre on Sunday morning.
I have driven in Europe a number of times but have never driven to a ski resort or been to Montgenevre before.
Can anyone advise on any of the following:
1. I’ll be on main roads but are there any mountain passes or hairy mountain roads to encounter?
2. Will I need snow chains?
3. Will Montgenevre be snow on roads or will they be cleared?
4. How do I confirm if winter tyres will be fitted on the rental car before I book?
I’m not an anxious driver and normally just wing these things but with wife and son in tow getting stuck on some mountain road would be a nightmare!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
If you haven't booked a car with winter tyres they probably won't be fitted.
I don't know what the weather forecast is.
You can go over the col du lautaret and through serre chevalier, or through the frejus tunnel which would be pricier.
The latter will be easier if the weather is bad but you still have to get up to Montgenevre. I've driven up many times in winter and never needed chains but it's not impossible if it's very snowy I guess.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
https://inforoute.hautes-alpes.fr/www/index.html .
drive this route all the time, take D1091 to Briancon then Montgenevre . On above link make sure you tick the camera box then you can view live road conditions . You need chains by law until end of this month. Roads are all dry and snow free at the moment . Off to Turin via Montgenevre today , coming back Saturday so will repost when viewed with my own eyes
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
@petedavoski, has been a bit gnarly over the Lautaret a few times this week but has quickly melted, probably the lack of viz making it worse.
If you book Winter tyres you check before driving off, they will have a snowflake on the tyre walls, if not make sure the car has chains, as @petedavoski, says it's the law now.
The forecasts this week have been all over the place, and some have Sunday showing light precipitation and the FL's are circa 1600m so Col might be icy, but there again they salt the roads, the big issue with getting over the Lautaret is the wind, if it's howling then that's when the problems start, though winds are light for Sunday.
Look here and you can see the Lautaret webcam
https://www.skaping.com/serrechevalier/coldulautaret
Once over the Lautaret you drive down through the valley of Serre Chevalier to Briancon and the road up to Montgenvre should be clear, I went up there on Wednesday after we had snow down to 1600 and it was clear.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
Thank you all for your help. Followed the maps and ended up going over the Col Sarenne which wasn’t for the faint hearted. My wife is begging me to find another route back but I thoroughly enjoyed it so the jury is out.
Thankfully the roads were clear and there was no drama.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
I'm also driving from Grenoble to Val Cents with Budget tomorrow. In Italy chains are supplied with all hires I've had in winter. Are Budget obliged to provide chains of it is the law without charging extra?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| LeLanternVert wrote: |
Thank you all for your help. Followed the maps and ended up going over the Col Sarenne which wasn’t for the faint hearted. My wife is begging me to find another route back but I thoroughly enjoyed it so the jury is out.
Thankfully the roads were clear and there was no drama. |
You can go the long way via Gap.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Peter Ross wrote: |
| I'm also driving from Grenoble to Val Cents with Budget tomorrow. In Italy chains are supplied with all hires I've had in winter. Are Budget obliged to provide chains of it is the law without charging extra? |
I ordered one car and had requested confirmation it had winter tyres which I never received. I arrived and it ended up not having winter tyres so I had to get an upgrade. Now have the tyres, a shovel and socks in the boot.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
| LeLanternVert wrote: |
Thank you all for your help. Followed the maps and ended up going over the Col Sarenne which wasn’t for the faint hearted. My wife is begging me to find another route back but I thoroughly enjoyed it so the jury is out.
Thankfully the roads were clear and there was no drama. |
Sorry but how the feck did you get over the Col Sarenne at 2000m which I'm pretty sure is a piste in the winter and is not an open road to traffic?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Maybe meant Col du Lautaret?
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
| Weathercam wrote: |
| LeLanternVert wrote: |
Thank you all for your help. Followed the maps and ended up going over the Col Sarenne which wasn’t for the faint hearted. My wife is begging me to find another route back but I thoroughly enjoyed it so the jury is out.
Thankfully the roads were clear and there was no drama. |
Sorry but how the feck did you get over the Col Sarenne at 2000m which I'm pretty sure is a piste in the winter and is not an open road to traffic? |
Why do you think his wife wanted to go a different way...
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
| MAthert wrote: |
| Maybe meant Col du Lautaret? |
Correct I meant Col Lauraret, there were so many signs for Sarenne and Galibier I thought I was in Tour de France.
Due to drive back to Grenoble in the morning and it’s hammering down in Montgenèvre as we finish skiing this afternoon. Could be a trip through Freida tunnel if this continues.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
We did col out and tunnel back few years ago. It made a nice return journey and made it in one go to Calais that way. Still loads of great scenery 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
