J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by ise

Dave Mac wrote:WE have discussed this on a previous thread, and I recall the conclusions were that during the winter months winter tyres are mandatary in Austria, (probably Switzerland also?), but not in Germany.

:-) :-) quite possibly, that's the internet for you. Winter tyres are not mandatory in Switzerland. In Germany and Austria they're not mandatory either but they are recommended. The only European country that makes winter tyres compulsory is Finland I believe.

Ian Wickham wrote:
ise, where are you off to ????

just the seasonal migration :D during the winter I live in Zinal full-time, in the summer we're down on the plateau as it's more convenient for Mrs Ise's work and & my summer commitments are a bit farther afield typically. It's just during the summer loads of stuff ends up drifting between the two places, there's a lot of kit I need, a surprising amount of books and maps and obviously clothing. One more round trip to fetch the cat and I can relax for a few weeks until the next trip )

Some interesting commentary from Swissinfo about current snow levels and the outlook:

Avalanche danger mounts across Alps

Wanderer wrote:
While it also mentions the possibility of using chains with Summer tires, I assume that this would only apply outside of the specified winter period. Furthermore, it seems to be the case that it is actually against the law to use chains unless the road is completely covered in snow or ice. (This is to prevent damage to the road surface.)

worth pointing out, that really annoys me when I see it as well :) that and people in UK registered Cherokee Jeeps who don't understand they're supposed to pull over if the vehicle behind's moving quicker than they are to pick an entirely random example )

Ian Wickham wrote:

ise wrote:

Ian Wickham wrote:In most countries in Europe it is a legal requirement to carry snow cans, if your traveling by car they are a must. :lol:

It's not a legal requirement in any European country to carry snow chains that I'm aware of, other than people living in remote areas or going into remote areas no one would particularly carry them. Some roads can be closed to traffic without snow chains though. Basically, you're not going to get pulled up and fined for not having chains but you can be turned back from a road. That also means your hire car company aren't obliged to provide them of course.

ise, I stand corrected it's not a legal requirement, but still you have to be daft not to carry them.

Power to the "snow can" popular front :D

mostly it doesn't make any real difference whether it's the law or not, apart from it lets the hire company charge extra.

Winter tires I think will increasingly become required either legally or just practically, I was just driving up the road and without you'd have a dilemma, it's packed snow, slush or ice in various proportions which the winter tyres make short work of but chains would be OTT.

Places are going to stop or reduce salting as it's not very green which will make winter tires more essential maybe.

bandit wrote:Just back from a morning earning my turns. 520 metres vertical in 1 hour 55 mins.

well done! 260m/hr is pretty good, around guidebook time

Tony_H wrote:So the pink top and boots are ok then? )

back in the 80's it was pretty much uniform :lol:

Tony_H wrote:
Ise, we are talking about snow cans here, if you dont mind....

the snow can someone's opened up over the alpes recently you mean?