Swiss Alps driving advice needed

[travel4B]

I'm picking up in Munich next week and traveling down to Bellagio via the Brenner Pass and Dolomites. The plan was to work our way back to Munich via St. Moritz, Davos and the Otz Valley in Austria. Unfortunately, the weather is not cooperating. :cry: I'm not sure that it will be possible, or advisable, especially as I will be on summer performance tires. I know that the Fluelapass is closed but that the Vereina tunnel is the winter alternative. How about the rest of the route, e.g. between Lake Como and St. Moritz, or over to the Otz Valley? I haven't been to that area before and don't even know where to check regarding driving conditions.

Can anyone suggest any alternative routes in that general area without snow/driving issues? Are my concerns valid or am I just being overly nervous? I've really looked forward to driving in that area but if the conditions are dicey it will just be stressful instead of enjoyable. BTW, we have two days to get back to Munich from Bellagio and were planning on spending the night in Davos.

Any and all advice is greatly appreciated!

[L Seca]

Can anyone suggest any alternative routes in that general area without snow/driving issues?
Any and all advice is greatly appreciated!
Here is a link to Alpine pass conditions: http://www.alpen-journal.de/alpenpaesse.html
As you said, all the passes north out of St Moritz are closed, and there appears to be snow on the Bernina Pass.

From Como, you can go north through Lugano and take the San Bernardino tunnel, if the passes are still closed or questionable, then cut over to Davos via Tiefencastel, or continue on to Chur and loop around that way to Davos.

[APJ]

We are also picking up next week and planning on driving from Zurich to Nice around the beginning of May. This is our first ED and the only experience we have on the Alps is through this forum and google map Google map route from Zurich to Nice crosses the Alps via A-2 motor way. How do we find out more information on the road conditions related to A-2, ie what mountain passes and tunnels are part of A-2. Is A-2 open year round?


If Alps crossing is not possible, we're thinking of taking a longer route that will detour around the Alps.

Thanks,

[travel4B]

Here is a link to Alpine pass conditions: http://www.alpen-journal.de/alpenpaesse.html
As you said, all the passes north out of St Moritz are closed, and there appears to be snow on the Bernina Pass.

From Como, you can go north through Lugano and take the San Bernardino tunnel, if the passes are still closed or questionable, then cut over to Davos via Tiefencastel, or continue on to Chur and loop around that way to Davos.

Thanks for the link! So it looks like a safe bet would be up through the S. Bernardino tunnel the over via Tiefencastel and up to Davos, bypassing S. Moritz. I'm still not sure about the route from Davos over to the Otztal Valley. I understand the Vereina tunnel (which looks pretty cool to do anyway!) will bypass the Fluelapass that is closed but I can't tell if there are passes beyond that to worry about.

[L Seca]

How do we find out more information on the road conditions related to A-2, ie what mountain passes and tunnels are part of A-2. Is A-2 open year round?

The A2 uses the famous St Gotthard tunnel to go under the highest Alps, so you should have no problems on that route. In early May, some passes may be open, and I would highly recommend some Alpine side trips if you have the time, and depending on which passes are open. Also, you will go by Lugano on this route, which is a wonderful stopover.

Thanks for the link! So it looks like a safe bet would be up through the S. Bernardino tunnel the over via Tiefencastel and up to Davos, bypassing S. Moritz. I'm still not sure about the route from Davos over to the Otztal Valley. I understand the Vereina tunnel (which looks pretty cool to do anyway!) will bypass the Fluelapass that is closed but I can't tell if there are passes beyond that to worry about.

If you can get through the Vereina Tunnel, that will put you in the Engadin Valley, which is beautiful. Just head east toward Scuol. This part of Switzerland is largely Romansch-speaking, so watch for some interesting signs. Continue on down toward Innsbruck, and you'll be good to go - no passes to speak of.

[travel4B]

Thanks a million L Seca - that's exactly the information I was looking for. The Engadin Valley was highly recommended, as well as the Otztal Valley in Austria.

[Gran Turismo]

The pass between St. Moritz and Lake Como would be the Maloja, but its 1815m elevation is the same as in St. Moritz (basically the Engadin valley drops down towards Italy at the Maloja pass just west of St. Moritz) In other words, the conditions on the Maloja are very likely to be the same as in St. Moritz.
The weather this weekend was quite warm, so there's probably no more snow left on the Maloja road while I'm typing this. But bad weather is expected the next 2 days with snowfall limits between 1300 and 1800m, which means potential trouble with summer tyres at those elevations. Just watch the reports and also webcams of tourist resorts where you plan to go for a rough idea of the current local conditions.

[joe7670]

Can someone help with what this means?

zw. Heiligenblut und Mautstelle Ferleiten in beiden Richtungen Wintersperre.

[ucdbiendog]

http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.alpen-journal.de%2Falpenpaesse.html&langpair=de%7Cen&hl=en&ie=UTF-8

[Gran Turismo]

Can someone help with what this means?

zw. Heiligenblut und Mautstelle Ferleiten in beiden Richtungen Wintersperre.
Winter closure in both directions between Heiligenblut and the Ferleiten toll station.

[b-y]

You have to love Google translations... For

zw. Heiligenblut und Mautstelle Ferleiten in beiden Richtungen Wintersperre.

You get:
Zw Holy Blood and tollbooth Ferleiten in both directions winter lock.:thumbdwn:

when what you really need is:
Winter closure in both directions between Heiligenblut and the Ferleiten toll station.:thumbup: