Member Since: 07 Nov 2005
Location: Tyrol, Austria
Posts: 387
To the slope
In the middle of February the D3 took a friend and me comfortably to Zermatt and back, for a skiing holiday. Overriding the navigation system, we chose a route through the mountains, past Laax and Flims. I thought that we were going to have to turn back but found, at the last moment that the Lukmanierpass was open. The road was, however, far too well cleared, with only about 10 metres of wind-blown snow right at the top. The drive was very scenic, though. Later we took the car-train from Realp to Oberwald, to get us through to Zermatt/Täsch.
We had a great week in Zermatt, skiing there and over to Breuil-Cervinia in Italy. The weather was fantastic and the Matterhorn ever dominating.
While we were there, I learned that the record for climbing from the Hörnli Hut (the black dot on the ridge just above my helmet) to the summit and back down again (that's 1218 metres height difference) is 2 hours 33 mins. Phew - I get puffed just looking at it! But if you want to see views from the top, I recommend the panoramic photos on Matthias Taugwalder's web-site, http://www.panoramas.dk/fullscreen5/f38-matterhorn.html
Probably the climb is more for mountain goats than me, and we saw some of them right beside the top station of the Gornergrat rack and pinion railway.
After a most enjoyable week, we drove back by a different route, through the Lötschberg Tunnel (by train) and then along the Inn valley. We drove over the Arlberg Pass but there was no snow on the road there either. However, the Disco knew where it wanted to go - to the slope
We settled for some very tasty apfelstrudel.
All in all, a very successful trip and the car behaved perfectly.
Eric
4th Mar 2008 11:37 pm
Bodsy Site Sponsor
Member Since: 06 Nov 2006
Location: In the Clubhouse
Posts: 21361
You lucky, lucky, lucky..... I know it's not considered "kind" to say no these days, but no. Just no, ok? And if it's not ok, still no.
6th Mar 2008 10:16 am
Dexter
Member Since: 21 Sep 2007
Location: Aberdeenshire
Posts: 1391
Excellent post - hope to do something similar next season with our three children.
Zermatt in Zermatt - couldn't be better. Thanks for cheering up my day
Dexter
6th Mar 2008 11:11 am
espri
Member Since: 07 Nov 2005
Location: Tyrol, Austria
Posts: 387
Dexter wrote:
Zermatt in Zermatt
My D3 is actually Arctic Frost. But I did choose the colour because of the snowy connotations! And I'm sure I'd have picked Zermatt, if the colour had been available when I bought the car
6th Mar 2008 7:15 pm
chillisauce
Member Since: 04 Sep 2007
Location: St Cergue
Posts: 32
Did you have winter tyres on or take chains in the back?. I drove to Geneva last week and am going up the hill this weekend on regular 19's. Should I be worried?? The motor ran like a dream! What a beaut...D3 Zermatt Silver TDV6 HSE (have)
Triumph Tiger 800XC (just have)
Defender 110 (did have)
SIII Ex-MoD 109 (did have)
Orange P7 + Specalized Roubaix (still have)
7th Mar 2008 11:53 am
Dexter
Member Since: 21 Sep 2007
Location: Aberdeenshire
Posts: 1391
Apologies Esprit
Your D3 looks almost as good in Artic Frost as it would in Zermatt.
Dexter
7th Mar 2008 3:33 pm
CFB
Member Since: 02 Dec 2005
Location: Bradford, West Yorkshire
Posts: 6100
Beautiful scenery there, I must go skiing again one day. Not been for around 10 years due to the arrival of kids etc 2020 BMW X1 18d XDrive X-Line Auto
7th Mar 2008 3:49 pm
espri
Member Since: 07 Nov 2005
Location: Tyrol, Austria
Posts: 387
chillisauce wrote:
Did you have winter tyres on or take chains in the back?.
I have winter tyres - they're basically required in Germany nowadays. You can be fined, if you are found without them in snowy conditions (though hardly enough to worry about, €20 or €40).
I had chains with me too - two sets! That's probably what kept the snow away
However, I don't think you really need to worry. The only problem might arise if you are caught out in a heavy fall of snow (or drive some road where the authorities require chains or winter equipment). And if the Disco is going to get stuck, there's a 99% chance that someone else will have blocked the road beforehand. Normally the roads are cleared very efficiently in alpine countries and the time when driving conditions are difficult is pretty short. I ski regularly (admittedly mostly in relatively low areas) but haven't used chains in the past 20 years.
Eric
7th Mar 2008 8:03 pm
Nat
Member Since: 07 Mar 2008
Location: Worcestershire
Posts: 40
Aww those photos are fab, we ski every year and drive using the eurotunnel. This year we we have had to put everything on hold due to my pregnancy and having total withdrawal symtoms
For some reason we are noticing that our customers are all going on ski drive holidays and hubby keeps threatening to hide in the rear of their cars.
Looking forward to taking the new D3 over to Chamonix next year though although I am sure it won't be as quick as the Volvo.
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
Thanks for cheering up my day 
