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I fancy a quick impromptu trip south to the Alps for a few days just because why not, but the options look limited, so not sure if worth the bother. Convince me otherwise!
I posted on here about the Rochers de Naye recently but wondered if there were other options?
I believe Dorenaz and Bex are good to ride, don't quote me though!
How about Bex? Although I haven't been this season yet, so I can't say if it's snow free or not, although its been crazy warm here for a while now. What about Salève near Geneva?
I've heard Bex and Saleve are your go-to places for out of season riding, are they good though?
I read on here a while ago that Dorenaz was open all winter even though there was no snow. I'd be interested to hear that it's open. It looks like a pretty spectacular DH track but it might be overgrown and cack in April. Some of the other all-mountain stuff in the immediate neighbourhood appears rideable but the access roads are closed even for bikes.
I read here the Les Arcs funicular is open too but it's a bit out of range for such a short trip. Northern Alps are do-able, closer than Lakes are to London.
I've only got the hard tail working at the moment so haven't visited the above mentioned yet this year (I hadn't banked on the thaw coming so early) I know some folk that have been over to Dorenaz this season already..... hopefully one of them will advise. Sorry I can't be more helpful.
Mmm. It might actually be just as fun to stay in Belgium and ride the cobbles. Better riding/driving ratio.
The riding on the little hills above Servoz looks bone-dry right now but I don't know if you can get to the good stuff there without having to cross massive snow fields at the top.
A guy made an epic video of a locals-only DH track near Servoz which I bet is dry as it all appears to be beneath the treeline, but I've got zero chance of finding it
Sorely, sorely frustrated after an entire winter with no real mtbing and no skiing - keen to get started!
I believe Dorenaz is good to go. Rochers de Naye also. Someone sent me a pic from the top taken on Saturday and it looked like summer.
Its all good.
Great, thanks - no serious snow even right at the top of Rochers de Naye then? Those look like some serious knife edge trails at the top, I would not want to be on ice there.
Actually, I wanted to ask on here if anyone can recommend the best routes off the RdN (there are three main ones I understand, one down a ridge to the south, one down a gorge to the north, and one in between, starting on some switchbacks straight down the face of the Rochers de Naye down to caux...are there others...which is best?)
Also, where's the best place to stop your descent so you don't have to get the entire hour-long train back to the top (which sounds a drag)?
Do you want just dh?
No, XC's fine! Just good alpine stuff
Emosson descent looks just about clear of snow. Road still formally closed though. Will they stop you? God the skiing looks $hit. What a bummer.
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You can bike up to about 2300m on the South facing stuff round the Vallais 😀
S.McC says that only up to 2250m is permitted until 1st May though Cupid.
Unless of course you get special Valais spring freecross permit from him. I'd watch out because he HAS been checking people lately, ALRIGHT?
He is too busy building a new Alps to be checking permits 😆
You will struggle to go from top top of RdN as there is snow beneath the big face.
I just goto Caux and then climb upto bits and try and time it down to next train. It takes a bit of exploring but there are lots of different trails.
SteveMcD runs the permits on Roche De Naye AWRIGHT
OK - abort - jumping the gun a bit
Surely the Rochers de Naye ridge is now ready to descend from the top, [i]well[/i] above Caux...conditions as of now:
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