19 replies to this topic

[Jamesoc]

This year I have been faced with inconvenient task of having to take a four week sabbatical from work!

 

My first thought was to head to the mountains this winter as I love Snowboarding. But how should I travel...

 

Of course! Take that old Mini that you're always tinkering with and keep wrapped up warm in the garage, never seeing the light of day at the sniff of a single rain drop.

 

So my plan is to head from Cambridge to the French Alps, spend a week in Tignes, head over to the Aosta valley in Italy (for a few more days snowboarding), then wind down those Italian Job roads to Turin, then on to the Mediterranean coast where I'll head west back into France, through Monte Carlo and all the what to the Pyrenees (maybe some more... Snowboarding). From there zigzag my way through the mountains north through Andorra (you guessed it SB) and then head back through France to the UK.

 

Given that I've only ever travelled a max of 40 miles in the car on any one journey and I intend to do about 2500 miles on this trip; does anyone have any suggestions for prepping?

 

I'm getting a garage to check over my handy work and get the modified engine tuned up once again on the rollers. But if anyone has any suggestions on decent snow tyres or anything else I should pack or prep it would be much appreciated.

 

And of course, if anyone is at a loose end and wants to start a convoy, they are more than welcome to join! Mid Feb to mid March.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[podifold]

You'll need to carry snow chains with you. If conditions are bad the police pull over vehicles travelling up the mountain and tell them to put them on. If you're not carrying them you can be fined.

 

Had this a few years back when we were on our way up to Tignes. Luckily we had them for our Audi A3.

 

If you get them have a couple of goes putting them on in the dry. Trying to do it for the first time in the cold whilst kneeling in snow isn't nice.

[Jamesoc]

Thanks! On the list with the triangle and flouro jacket... I've seen some cheap 9mm chains on ebay, I hope their up to the job!

[Dzmarc]

You maybe able to find some snocksocks instead of chains, as obviously you'll be a bit limited with space.

They weigh about 1kg, are a lot more compact, and you don't suffer the risk that if you put them on wrong you could rip you front end off.

 

Now, I have heard that some are rubbish, but at the same time I've heard an awful lot of good about them.

I guess As the saying goes you get what you pay for. 

 

Worth a look anyway.

[Jamesoc]

Thanks, I'll definitely take a look at those. I'm quite fond of my front end!

[FlyingScot]

Don't think they count as snow chains....

FS

[Dzmarc]

Don't think they count as snow chains....

FS

 

If I remember rightly (and don't take my word for it) they are and acceptable alternative to chains under EU Law and can be used in all the countries the OP mentioned. 

[Miniminx71]

Remember to take both parts of your driving licence and a copy of your motor and travel/health insurance (just in case - the police may ask for it) and put a GB sticker on the back (if your number plate doesn't have it already). I had to do something with my headlights too but can't remember what it was!

[clubman91]

I would love to do somthing like this!

[Mad Max]

I've done a couple of European tours in the mini now. One trip doing the reverse of yours:

London - Paris - Nice - Monte Carlo - Turin - Stelvio Pass - Munich - Zurich - Nurburgring - Home

 

Grab a European car kit from screwfix - has all the necessary legal stuff in one kit like breathalyzers and bulbs. You'll need to get the snow chains separately.

 

 

Also get ADAC breakdown. You have to get the Plus membership and its about £80 for the year. This will cover you for the whole of Europe. Get your car recovered from anywhere and if you have a breakdown in UK they send the AA out. It also covers you not the car so is great for other excursion you may make.

 

Other than that just take it easy and you'll be fine there are some spectacular driving roads out there and all just waiting to driven.

 

Check out the Alpenstrasse, did this 2 years ago in the minivan.

[lsto]

Beam benders for the wrong side of the road. First aid kit and hi-vis as well as warning triangle. I seem to remember something about breath test kit for French roads? Also get I think its a blue card? Ask about it at the post office, its a card which entitles you to health care abroad in eu states which is paid for on the nhs should you need it. Might even be a green card, can't remember...

Edit... Its a EHIC at the post office. European Health Insurance Card. Once you have it then its valid for 5 years.

Edited by lsto, 29 January 2015 - 06:30 PM.

[Jamesoc]

Excellent, thanks everyone, especially about ADAC. I was looking at other companies who were much more expensive.

[skinnyminny]

Don't think they count as snow chains....

FS

 
If I remember rightly (and don't take my word for it) they are and acceptable alternative to chains under EU Law and can be used in all the countries the OP mentioned. 

Snow socks will not be accepted if it properly snows. I lived just where they'd stop the cars going up to Val or Tignes and the number of pissed off people brandishing snow socks was a sight to behold. They are not the same! They effectively seem to be a substitute for snow tires not for chains (incidentally I would recommend snow tires if you can find them in mini size - not winter tyres but snow tires.)

If you are around Tignes and there is powder (and you are decent at off piste) I cannot recommend more highly making a road trip to a place called Sainte-Foy-Tarentaise. Halfway between bourg and val, you'll drive through SF village to get up to Tignes. The ski resort is a LH turn labelled SF station. (45mins to an hour from Tignes depending on conditions). Hire Alex Rippe or Carole Gauthier for what will likely be one of the best days boarding of your life!!

If you're up for it, www.whiteroomchalet.co.uk does full week backcountry boarding chalet holidays which get rave reviews (used to work as a chef for them).

If you want something cheaper there's a decent campsite in Bourg with hot showers and a kit drying room.

I am unbelievably jealous!

[Jamesoc]

That sounds amazing Skinny! I'll check them out if there's a decent dump, it'll be good prep for Canadian heli-boarding in April.

[skinnyminny]

 image.jpg   30.58K   9 downloads

Hopefully this works as on phone but this is a mate of mine yesterday (half hour hike for this and solid 20mins of powder field...God I miss it!)

Feel free to PM me if you want more details :)