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You get two inches of snow on a mountain road, in winter, and what happens? Utter gridlock as every local driver gets stuck for lack of driving skills.
Is this Britain?, nope, The Three Valleys Ski resort in France and the 200 stuck drivers, completely blocking the only road in and out of the resort are all French. Our 90 minute coach transfer turned into a 12 hour ordeal to cover the 15 miles up the hills to Val Thorens, all caused by wheel spinning incompetent French locals totally unstuck by white fluffy stuff falling on a road in a ski resort.
Anyway, at least it's not just the British who can't drive in winter......
Oh how awful for you.
First World Problems?
That's why I always insist on helicopter transfers. Bloody riff-raff!
😉
It's a myth that it's only the uk that struggles with snow and Europe somehow gets on regardless. It's true that they're better prepared and experienced on the continent, but I know that fir the first couple or so days after fresh snow fall the have very similar problems and experience the same chaos as us. My brother lived in Norway for 5 years and it happened there, I used to travel to Moscow a lot and they similarly struggled. It seems to me that the biggest difference is that in a lot of these countries they suffer the chaos only once per season. For us in the uk with our variable climate we'll see snow come and go and come again a number of times through the winter so we suffer this multiple times per season.
Though having said that, when I've travelled to the three valleys when it's snowing they tend to stop vehicles close to the bottom and only let those with either 4-wheel drive or snow chains continue up the mountain.
rarely any issues here in Norway. better prepared and everyone on winter or studded tyres.
[i]It's a myth that it's only the uk that struggles with snow and Europe somehow gets on regardless. It's true that they're better prepared and experienced on the continent, but I know that fir the first couple or so days after fresh snow fall the have very similar problems and experience the same chaos as us. My brother lived in Norway for 5 years and it happened there,[/i]
+1
Seen the same in Oslo too.
It's all David Cameron's fault. I read it on here.
Though having said that, when I've travelled to the three valleys when it's snowing they tend to stop vehicles close to the bottom and only let those with either 4-wheel drive or snow chains continue up the mountain.
They were doing this, but somehow 200+ FWD cars with no chains and summer tyres had been allowed past.....
At various points we had to get off the coach to push stuck vehicles off the road....
Please tell me you all pushed them over the edge of the road into the pass below and got pics...
I always say this whenever people start moaning threads.
The real difference between the UK and the rest of the world is that whenever there's a problem of any kind we just bitterly moan and whine about it and how shite we are and no other country has these problems oh whinge moan we are so shit and pathetic etc etc.
Other countries have problems too.
"we" - the UK?...or stw? 😉
UK - "we" moan that when it snows we cannot get to work/shops/other end of the country because the council don't clear the roads, the government don't plan or provide for road clearance, it's just not good enough in this day and age, etc., etc..
STW - "we" moan about all the other idiots who are incompetent and unable to drive in snow and therefore getting in our way as we drive about without effort.
It's all David Cameron's fault. I read it on here.
Not everything is his fault. He's still a tosser though.
the 200 stuck drivers, completely blocking the only road in and out of the resort are all French.
I'm impressed by your dedication in checking every car. Very thorough.
Should have booked into Les Allues anyway, far nicer than Val Thorens and wouldn't have had any problems getting there 😉
And all of the above is why I don't buy into the whole "winter tyre" faff. All it takes over here is one lorry/car/bus who hasn't bothered and you may as well be in an f1 car.
However thought it was law on the continent to have chains or snow socks etc?
I'm weeping bitter tears here that your skiiing holiday has been cut a few hours short. I hope you get through the tough ordeal. Please let us all know that it's going ok and that you get food and wine this evening. A post in the morning to let us know you've all survived would be helpful too. Have you started a twitter feed so we can follow progress tonight?
To be fair, traffic into the Alps over Christmas and half term is a nightmare anyway. Doesn't really need snow for it to be gridlock.
Ooo darcey you bitch!
The first big dump in a while, combined with transfer day for the New Year week - was never going to be pretty. Not a nice way to start your holiday.
Have a good trip - looks like yesterday's snow will make a nice difference!
looks like yesterday's snow will make a nice difference!
Ok, so I'm a little less sniffly now that I've heard that. 🙂
I'm weeping bitter tears here that your skiiing holiday has been cut a few hours short. I hope you get through the tough ordeal. Please let us all know that it's going ok and that you get food and wine this evening. A post in the morning to let us know you've all survived would be helpful too. Have you started a twitter feed so we can follow progress tonight?
You jelly, Darcy?
You jelly, Darcy?
Yep.
But I'm also feeling his pain. Like a stake through my cold heart.
But I'm also feeling his pain. Like a stake through my cold heart.
...and by pain, he means [b][NOPE!-MODS][/b]
I mean, pain like you cannot describe. I've read stories of people having it tough this Christmas...tough like you've never felt. But this harrowing story has put it all into perspective. 😐
Sorry for not reading all the above, but when I hear folk telling me how great their massive luxury 4WD SUVs are in the snow I ask them how far they are going to get if some menopausal female with the spatial awareness of a small insect has caused a massive pileup and completely blocked the road!
menopausal female with the spatial awareness of a small insect
I don't usually take such obvious bait, but that description could easily be exchanged for "Male mid life crisis knob head who wants to wave his massive cock extension around"
I mean, pain like you cannot describe. I've read stories of people having it tough this Christmas...tough like you've never felt. But this harrowing story has put it all into perspective.
Indeed. Hold me.
[i]some menopausal female with the spatial awareness of a small insect has caused a massive pileup and completely blocked the road![/i]
Oh isn't he butch.
all caused by wheel spinning incompetent French locals totally unstuck by white fluffy stuff falling on a road in a ski resort.
Don't forget that at the moment there are many people from the south of England on holiday in the French Alps with hire cars.
Sounds to me like they were headed for the Three Valleys Ski resort today.
Not Footflaps though - he was on a coach 😉
And all of the above is why I don't buy into the whole "winter tyre" faff. All it takes over here is one lorry/car/bus who hasn't bothered and you may as well be in an f1 car
Except that most of the time (ok not in the OP's valley situation) you can turn round and take a different route, which is what I did when faced with a blocked mountain road last year 🙂
Alternative route? No, you go and pull them out / dig / push etc until sorted. Or drive round smugly giggling at the grip you have and they did not... 😉
As nealglover says, you would have been thankful if the bus had never made it to Val Thorens. Ugliest ski resort I've ever been to.
Also, now I know you're away I'll burgle you and nick your bikes.
Have fun! 😛
deadlydarcy - Member
I'm weeping bitter tears here that your skiiing holiday has been cut a few hours short. I hope you get through the tough ordeal. Please let us all know that it's going ok and that you get food and wine this evening. A post in the morning to let us know you've all survived would be helpful too. Have you started a twitter feed so we can follow progress tonight?
So that's a saucer of milk to go, then?
For getting into French ski resorts:
[img] 
[/img]
Just to reassure deadly that everything is now OK, I can report perfect conditions and that we are having a great time.
Awesome. 😀
I didn't get a wink last night worrying about it. It very nearly ruined 2013 for me. Enjoy the rest of your stay.
(I realise I'm invoking the Edinburgh Defence but I do hope you know I was only taking the mick.)
when I hear folk telling me how great their massive luxury 4WD SUVs are in the snow I ask them how far they are going to get if some menopausal female with the spatial awareness of a small insect has caused a massive pileup and completely blocked the road!
Insects have fantastic spatial awareness. Compound eyes you see.....
I mean, literally brilliant spatial awareness.
That was your point right ? 🙂
Also, now I know you're away I'll burgle you and nick your bikes.
No it's time to occupy his [s]nuclear bunker[/s] man cave.
Also, now I know you're away I'll burgle you and nick your bikes.
Fortunately we have friends who double up as cat sitters and look after the bikes, cats, man bunker etc whilst we are away. Works out well for both as they used to live 2 doors down for us, so spend the week catching up with old friends / neighbours etc, when we are away.