See www.ohm-chamonix.com/pdf/ArreteZonesVTT.pdf. I'm a bit confused because it seems at odds with what I thought was a total ban on mountain biking in the valley in July and August.
Article 3 seems to say you can still ride:-
- on anything on the Swiss side of the Col de Balme, and the trails to get there, and the lift on the French side (great)
- on anything in Les Houches (great)
- on "Itineraire Brevent-Planpraz" and the "Couloir du Brevent" - but what does this mean? Is this saying you can go up the Brevent lift but not actually ride on Brevent?
- the "Couloir de La Flegere" - as above - unclear what this means?
Obviously it's a far-reaching ban but I'm unclear as to it's exact scope. I had thought they simply wouldn't even let you on any of the lifts with a bike at the relevant time but it doesn't seem that simple. I'm wondering because there is lots of good stuff outside the valley, so not within the ban, but which you need to use valley lifts to get to, and which are likely still to be snow-covered in June.
Chamonix is Chamonix. Les Houches is Les Houches. Different communes (the commune border is cuts the valley transversally approximately at Taconnaz). The Chamonix mayor, obviously a total C U Next Tuesday, only has power in his commune.
Les Arcs and Verbier have less anti-mtb fascism, only just though 🙂
EDIT: jhw, I think I've just realised who you are 🙂
Oh no, I'm outed!
It seems like quite an unreasonable/excessive response - never heard of anything like it really. Well Aspen banned snowboarders early on I suppose - look how that worked out...
You will get on any of the lifts at any time over the summer, with the exception of the Midi.
You'll meet surprisingly few hikers with the exception of the TMB trails, most of which aren't great riding anyway.
It does seem difficult to enforce unless they stop riders at the lifts. Not that I'm suggesting breaking the law.
even when you do meet hikers on trails that mtb's shouldn't be on you will not get any hassle unless the walkers are english!
Riding around flegere is now restricted to the new d/h course unless you go off over to the right of the mid station.
That said we road from flegere to to cham via the high level cafe and met a ranger. He told us we shouldn't really be riding this trail anymore but suggested that if we were careful it would be ok.
Imagine that kind of reasonable rationale in the UK? No way!
Yeah - no way! That's reassuring to hear though.
Hope business is good Ash (assuming it's the same Ash!). See you in June...road trip beckons...
Yes it's me, things are good thanks and yes, roadtrip 🙂