The Mille Miglia is coming to the Alps- Coppa delle Alpi

The Mille Miglia is coming to the Alps- Coppa delle Alpi. Photo: Coppa delle Alpi.

The Mille Miglia is coming to the Alps- Coppa delle Alpi.

The organisers of the Mille Miglia in Italy have announced that the Coppa delle Alpi will take place across 15 of the most spectacular Alpine passes in Italy, Switzerland, Austria and Germany in early December.

The Mille Miglia is coming to the Alps- Coppa delle Alpi.
The Mille Miglia is coming to the Alps- Coppa delle Alpi.

The 2019 edition of the Coppa delle Alpi by 1000 Miglia, the first winter regularity race for vintage cars organised by 1000 Miglia S.r.l., will take place from 4th to 7th December.

The competition, officially included in the Italian Great Events Championship, will consist of four legs through some of the most evocative mountain locations in Italy, Austria, Germany and Switzerland.

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Opening of the Stelvio Glacier-Stelvio Pass- Passo dello Stelvio

Opening of the Stelvio Pass - Passo dello Stelvio.

Opening of the Stevio Glacier-Stelvio Pass. Passo dello Stelvio

LIFTING PLANTS OF THE STELVIO GLACIER (2760 meters – 3450 meters)

From Friday 7 June open facilities from 7 am to 12 am

STREET INFORMATION:

From Thursday 6 June open from 06.00 to 12.00 (reduced time due to avalanche danger) the Stelvio Road on the Bormio side (Bagni Vecchi) – Quarta Cantoniera

Timelapse on Passo dello Stelvio. Photo: Samuele Errico Piccarini- Unsplash. OPENING THE STELVIO GLACIER. Passo dello Stelvio
Timelapse on Passo dello Stelvio. Photo: Samuele Errico Piccarini- Unsplash. OPENING THE STELVIO GLACIER. Passo dello Stelvio


From Thursday, June 6, open from 14.00 from Switzerland, the Umbrail road. 

From Thursday 6 June open all the time the Quarta Cantoniera Road – Passo dello Stelvio. 

The Bolzano side road remains CLOSED until further notice.

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The Gran San Bernardo pass has reopened

The Gran San Bernardo pass has reopened. Photo: AostaSera

The Gran San Bernardo pass has reopened

From AostaSera

Today the Gran San Bernardo Pass has reopened to the public. The pass, at 2,450 meters links Valais in Switzerland to the Aosta Valley in Italy. Lots of people came to the open ceremony. The opening works started by Anas personnel in April. Snow has accumulated on the sides of State Road 27 up to 12 meters of height.

The Gran San Bernardo pass has reopened. Photo: AostaSera.
The Gran San Bernardo pass has reopened. Photo: AostaSera.

Anas personnel started opening a gap in the snow reaching a stretch about 4 km from the state border. As the road was cleaned, the side barriers and vertical signs were also restored, removed before closing and stored to avoid damage due to possible avalanches.

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Due to a year of lots of avalanches, summer operations might be delayed as digging out will take time.

Country Road 2, north of Silverton, is buried under 80 to 120 feet of snow. Photo: Will Tookey. Durango Herald. Due to a year of lots of avalanches, summer operations might be delayed as digging out will take time.

Due to a year of lots of avalanches, summer operations might be delayed as digging out will take time.

Story from Durango Herald

Heavy snowpack could affect summer recreation near Silverton.

While spring is in full swing in most of Southwest Colorado, impacts of heavy snowfall and unprecedented avalanche activity this winter are expected to be felt for months.

“It’s more than just lingering issues,” said Pete Maisel, a former Silverton town trustee. “It’s part of our life now.”

Silverton Officials are worried that ATV riders, hikers and mountain bikers will not be able to use the terrain until later in the summer. Photo: Rutsy Melcher. - Durango Herald. Due to a year of lots of avalanches, summer operations might be delayed as digging out will take time.
Silverton Officials are worried that ATV riders, hikers and mountain bikers will not be able to use the terrain until later in the summer. Photo: Rutsy Melcher. – Durango Herald. Due to a year of lots of avalanches, summer operations might be delayed as digging out will take time.

The snowpack was epic.

When Southwest Colorado’s snowpack peaked April 5, it became the third-biggest snow year since 1986, falling just behind 1993 and 2005.

And with the heavy snow, an untold number of avalanches came down across Colorado. In the southwest corner alone, Colorado Avalanche Information Center data show nearly 230 slides were recorded since Nov. 1 – and that’s just avalanches reported to the center.

Now comes the aftermath, and the cleanup, of all that snowfall and avalanche activity.

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A drive through the Nufenenpass (Passo della Novena) and Grimsel Pass in Switzerland

Nufenen pass on a cloudy and foggy day. Photo: The-Ski-Guru. A drive through the Nufenenpass (Passo della Novena) and Grimsel Pass in Switzerland

A drive through the Nufenenpass (Passo della Novena) and Grimsel Pass in Switzerland.

I like having our summer holidays, whenever possible, near the mountains. And each trip, we need to try a new mountain pass. That is part of the adventure!

A couple of years ago, the idea was to stop by at Interlaken, on our way back from Lago di Como. Looking online, the best way to go was via the Nufenenpass (Passo della Novena) and the Grimsel Pass. The Grimsel Pass is very well known by everyone I’ve asked about, but the Nufenenpass, not so much. Some friends of us that have a house in Moltrasio, and whom their father lives in Lago di Como and knows ‘all the mountain passes’, have not heard of the Nufenenpass, but we’ve checked it out online and he suggested me that it should be fine as it was paved.

The view towards Valais from the top rifugio of the Nufenenpass. Photo: The-Ski-Guru. A drive through the Nufenenpass (Passo della Novena) and Grimsel Pass in Switzerland.
The view towards Valais from the top rifugio of the Nufenenpass. Photo: The-Ski-Guru. A drive through the Nufenenpass (Passo della Novena) and Grimsel Pass in Switzerland.

Looking in Google Maps, the pass seemed pretty wide enough for two cars – which was what I wanted to see, but I did not see too much of a guardrail on the side. Another option was to go towards Airolo and then Andermatt and take either the St Gotthard Tunnel, or the St Gothard pass. The St Gothard Tunnel was not an option, as this was a Saturday, where you can be stuck for hours. On our way from Engelberg to Lago di Como, we did the St Gothard Pass, which was very nice. It is very busy too, but at least the traffic goes through.

Panorama of Nufenenpass on a nice day. Photo: Alexander Hoernigk. A drive through the Nufenenpass (Passo della Novena) and Grimsel Pass in Switzerland.
Panorama of Nufenenpass on a nice day. Photo: Alexander Hoernigk. A drive through the Nufenenpass (Passo della Novena) and Grimsel Pass in Switzerland.

Going back this way, we should have taken afterwards the Furkapass, which is a very renown way to go – mostly for bikers and cyclists alike!

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South Tyrolean passes with 12 meters of snow

Passo del Rombo, Timmelsjoch, Sudtirol. South Tyrolean passes with 12 meters of snow.

South Tyrolean passes with 12 meters of snow

The clearing work is continuing ahead of the summer opening

From AltoAdige.it

The exceptional snowfall, even out of season, forced us to postpone the opening of the main passes in Alto Adige, after a particularly rainy winter. These days the clearing crew is working on the Rombo Pass, on the border with Austria, on the Stelvio Pass, Passo Stalle and Passo Pennes. The snow is able to form walls of 10-12 meters. On the Rombo pass, at an altitude of 2,500 meters, the snow mass accumulated by wind and landslides reached a height of 21 meters.

Timmelsjoch- Passo del Rombo, Sudtirol. South Tyrolean passes with 12 meters of snow.
Timmelsjoch- Passo del Rombo, Sudtirol. South Tyrolean passes with 12 meters of snow.

“Every year mountains of snow are removed. Our road service does its utmost to prepare our mountain roads for the summer season. It is a difficult job but also dangerous because of the risk of avalanches,” stresses councillor Daniel Alfreider . The experts are however confident of opening the passage to transit by the end of May, at the latest in the first days of June.

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Our Route des Grandes Alpes to cross from France into Italy

A stop for lunch at Notre Dame de Bellecombe. Our Route des Grandes Alpes to cross from France into Italy.

Our Route des Grandes Alpes to cross from France into Italy

This past summer we went to have a holiday in the mountains. From Chamonix we were off onto Courmayeur. But it was a Saturday – what is considered here in the mountains as a Samedi Noir or Sabato Nero, meaning very long queues to cross the Mont Blanc Tunnel.

This past summer was ridiculously hot – even in the mountains – with the temperature being 31 C in Chamonix in the morning – imagine staying a couple of hours in line to cross the Mont Blanc Tunnel did not seem too much fun at the time.

How adventures start - with a good map. The IGN Route des Grandes Alpes. Our Route des Grandes Alpes to cross from France into Italy.
How adventures start – with a good map. The IGN Route des Grandes Alpes. Our Route des Grandes Alpes to cross from France into Italy.

I’ve asked the evening before some friends I have in Chamonix on how other way we could go – and how about taking the Petit St Bernard Pass. Arnaud Jamson, the deputy director of the Chamonix Tourism Office suggested me to go all around and stop in Megève for lunch, then go to the Lac du Roselend and from there go up to La Rosière to cross into La Thuile through the Petit St Bernard. This is a typical road for motorcyclists and bikers alike – many of these roads have been used by the Tour de France!

As I have a memory of a mosquito, I’ve asked at the hotel’s reception where I could get a good map, and I was told to go into the main street in Chamonix. There is a wonderful books and magazine store – that I could stayed for hours just looking around, where I bought the IGN Map of Route des Grandes Alpes. I love maps and this one was a great addition to my collection.

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A Hike for your Bucket List: The Via Alpina crosses 14 of the most beautiful Alpine Passes in Switzerland.

Via Alpina. A Hike for your Bucket List: The Via Alpina crosses 14 of the most beautiful Alpine Passes in Switzerland.

A Hike for your Bucket List: The Via Alpina crosses 14 of the most beautiful Alpine Passes in Switzerland.

The passes of the Via Alpina

The Via Alpina crosses 14 of the most beautiful Alpine passes and six cantons of Switzerland, with a great variety of cultures, geology and topography. Broad roads give way to exposed ridge paths. The variety of flora and fauna along the route is among the most diverse in the world.

The Via Alpina goes from Vaduz to Montreux in 20 stages, staying north of the Swiss Alps. Over 390 km, hikers enjoy the many highlights that Switzerland has to offer.

Vertical drops from the Via Alpina trek. A Hike for your Bucket List: The Via Alpina crosses 14 of the most beautiful Alpine Passes in Switzerland.
Vertical drops from the Via Alpina trek. A Hike for your Bucket List: The Via Alpina crosses 14 of the most beautiful Alpine Passes in Switzerland.

While the sections initially pass through relatively flat terrain in St. Gallen, the altitude being climbed increases quite steadily in the Glarnerland. When it comes to that Alpine feeling, the highlight of the route can be found in the Bernese Alps.

Day by day, hikers work their way through majestic mountain landscapes, with each pass crossed opening up a new world. This trail covers a total of 14 passes in six cantons and involves 23’600 m of ascent and 24’800 m of descent.

A Hike for your Bucket List: The Via Alpina crosses 14 of the most beautiful Alpine Passes in Switzerland.
A Hike for your Bucket List: The Via Alpina crosses 14 of the most beautiful Alpine Passes in Switzerland.

The route takes hikers to the secluded Surenen Pass, the famous Grindelwald, the Kleine Scheidegg pass with views of the Eiger, Mönch und Jungfrau mountains, the well-visited Blüemlisalp hut, perhaps one of Switzerland’s most beautiful lakes in Lake Oeschinen, the enchanting Bunderchrinde Pass and the sleepy Rochers de Naye mountains with unique views of Lake Geneva, to name but a few highlights.

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THREE HURT: Cars swept away by Swiss alpine pass avalanche

An avalanche has swept two cars while crossing the Klausen Pass in Switzerland. THREE HURT: Cars swept away by Swiss alpine pass avalanche. Photo of an avalanche by Caspar Rubin - Unsplash.

Three hurt: Cars swept away by Swiss alpine pass avalanche.  “Three people have been hurt after an avalanche swept away two cars attempting to cross an alpine pass in Switzerland on Sunday. All three were taken to hospital where their condition is described as non-life threatening.
The incident took place at around 2pm on the Klausen Pass that connects cantons Uri and Glarus in central Switzerland. At nearly 2,000 meters high, the mountain pass is still affected by snow and had only opened for road traffic earlier in the week”, reports Swissinfo.ch.



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“Canton Uri police report that the avalanche struck 200 metres from the top of the pass, sweeping about 100 metres down the road. The injured car occupants were airlifted to hospital and a fourth passenger escaped from the incident unhurt.

Klaussen pass, where the avalanche struck two cars and pushed them away 200 meters from the top of the pass. THREE HURT: Cars swept away by Swiss alpine pass avalanche
Klaussen pass, where the avalanche struck two cars and pushed them away 200 meters from the top of the pass. THREE HURT: Cars swept away by Swiss alpine pass avalanche. Photo: Worldradio.ch

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GOTTHARD TAILBACKS: San Bernardino Alpine tunnel closure causes major holiday traffic disruption

Gothard tunnel traffic - Uri Bilder- GOTTHARD TAILBACKS: Alpine tunnel closure causes major holiday traffic disruption

Gotthard Tailbacks: Alpine San Bernardino tunnel closure causes major holiday traffic disruption. 

Traffic queues of up to 28 kilometres were reported at the northern entrance to the Gotthard tunnel on Saturday, owing to a long weekend and the closure of another major Alpine road tunnel because of a fire.

San Bernardino tunnel at the east of Switzerland was closed due to a fire, which brought massive queues at the Gotthard tunnel this past weekend. GOTTHARD TAILBACKS: Alpine tunnel closure causes major holiday traffic disruption.
San Bernardino tunnel at the east of Switzerland was closed due to a fire, which brought massive queues at the Gotthard tunnel this past weekend. GOTTHARD TAILBACKS: San Bernardino Alpine tunnel closure causes major holiday traffic disruption.

Saturday has seen the longest tailbacks at the Gotthard tunnel since Pentecost 1999, entailing waits of some five-hours.

As well as being a holiday weekend, the San Bernadino tunnel in southeast Switzerland was closed on Friday afternoon after a German tourist bus caught fire in the tunnel, leaving two people with minor injuries. It is expected to remain closed over this Pentecost weekend, since the tunnel needs to cool down and be checked for any infrastructure damage.

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