After not having enough snow in the Alps now utter chaos on the roads up to the big French resorts on  moving day. Looks like about 30-40 cms has fallen along with freezing rain at low levels just to add to the fun. Add in the lack of chains and winter tyres and you get an estimated 29000 cars stuck at various places around Albertville and Moutiers  and an emergency plan to accommodate everyone at people's homes is being implemented.

 

http://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?t=115242&start=80

 

 

I'm just outside Aime at the moment and can confirm that today has indeed been chaotic on the roads between Bourg St Maurice and Moutiers. Heavy snow has fallen all the way to valley level with around 40 cms on lower ground and more higher up - the snow drought has certainly come to an end. Most of the problems were caused by unprepared vehicles and by late afternoon Gendarmes were stopping any vehicles heading for ski resorts without chains or proper snow tyres. For an area in which this sort of snowfall is not unusual the disruption has been surprising but it's one of the busiest days of the year traffic wise and stuck and abandoned vehicles were preventing the snowploughs from doing their normal efficient job.

Should be great skiing tomorrow though!

The sheer volume of traffic to the resorts on a changeover day is the problem, coupled with the lack of properly equipped vehicles and drivers inexperienced in the conditions - largely Brits I'm ashamed to say. I've encountered similar conditions several times on the way to/from skiing holidays and it is a very unpleasant way to the start or end of a holiday - particularly at the end and you've had a snowless week. If you're heading there, at least you know you will get there in the end and have a chance of some great skiing.

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Well if it's any consolation Rob there was a fairly disparate bunch stuck today - plenty of Belgians and Dutch as well as the usual offenders from the home country!

At least you are heading in the right direction! Hope you get there soon in one piece and enjoy the snow  Have a great ski!

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I actually arrived on Friday Rob - we have a place over here and try our best to avoid travelling on Saturdays at all costs although they are normally good quiet days to be on the slopes. Still snowing lightly here so probably another 5cm over the last 3 or 4 hours and there were problems on some of the lesser known routes today - SatNav has a lot to answer for! As you say though - once I've got to the slopes tomorrow it should be a great day