Stelvio/Umbrail alternate
 

Ingo, I bet you knew this was me before you even clicked on it! :)

Anyway, the Stelvio drive was supposed to be May 30 - 18 days. Miracles could happen, but based on the webcams I just cannot see all that snow disappearing.

Leaving Ortisei/Pufels, on to Guarda - what would be a good alternative? Thanks!

LOL, yep, I knew it :-)

I bet both passes will be open. I wouldn't worry too much. In case it is closed you'll see red signs in Spondigna (Val Venosta/Vinschagau) where you would turn left to get on the Stelvio pass road. If that really happens you could easily just skip Stelvio/Umbrail and head on via Schluderns - Glurns - Müstair and via Ofen Pass/Pass del Fuorn to Zernez and Guarda.

What about concentrating on the cultural sights along the way? Churburg castle in Schluderns and/or convent Müstair (UNESCO world heritage site) are well worth to see and spend a couple of hours there!

Ingo

Thanks Ingo!

I have already printed out the various UNESCO sites that will be near our path, so if we can make a detour I know where to go.

Fingers crossed on the openings... if the Stelvio is open but the Umbrail is closed, would they have a sign before you enter the Stelvio?

Huh, tough question. I am not sure, actually. I think so, but maybe you should check the internet the day before in Ortisei/Pufels?

If all else fails you could still drive down to Bormio and via Livigno (but that means two more passes!) to Zernez. Caution: the tunnel Livigno - Zernez is only open till 8 pm and costs a fee of 15 Sfr. per car.

Ingo

Hi Flygirl,

I posted on another thread of yours the following message. Maybe it will help:

Author: schuler
Date: 05/11/2008, 09:08 am
There's still tons of snow in the mountains. Some passes have opened but most remain closed.

I just returned from a fantastic week in Locarno. Because we decided to see the medieval celebration in Bellinzona, we got stuck in a 2.5 hour traffic jam before the Gotthard. We would have gone over it but it was still closed.

Latest update:

Expected opening of:^

Lukmanier: open

The Gotthardpass: May 21
Klausen: May 24
Furka: May 30
Susten: June 13
Nufenen, Grimsel and Flüela: end of May

Albulapass : hopefully May 30

Flüelapass: open

Forcola di Livigno: hopefully on May 30

Furkapass: closed

Grimselpass: end of May

Klausenpass: closed
Nufenenpass: closed

Oberalppass: Open on May 9

Splügenpass: Open since May 9

Umbrailpass: Beginning of June

Opening times may change due to weather conditions.

Ingo and Schuler, thanks!

It looks like the Umbrail may well be closed. If it is, I gather I shouldn't try to drive the Stelvio?

Because Umbrail is lower than Stilfserjoch (Stelvio), I would think it should it open first.

Have you thought about driving over Reschenpass and then to the lower Engadin? Or drive through Mustair Valley, over the Ofenpass and on to your destination?

Alternative 1: Lower Engadin: Beautiful towns. It's almost a fairy tale feeling. Take the high road from Ftan to Guarda.

Alternative 2: Ofenpass: Beautiful scenery and landscapes. The towns are quaint but not as quaint as the lower Engadin.

To keep your hopes up, we've been having some real nice warm weather lately which may speed up the melting process in the mountains.

It's been a long winter although not especially hard. It snowed late in the season which is why there's still so much snow around.

Thanks Schuler! We leave in 9 days and the day of reckoning is 16 days from today... keep on melting, snow!

ps. here is a photo:

http://classictravelling.com/wp-cont...elvio_pass.JPG

Great photo.

My son got sick in our rented cabriolet right after the second curve. We had to slow way down after that.