French Alps advice

[barryd]

We are getting closer to the Alps tomorrow. A few days around Annecy then into the big mountains. Its all weather dependent but I plan to head towards Beaufort and over to Lac de Roselend and over the Cormet de Roselend. Then I might carry on to Val d'Isère and over the col de l'isère ending up eventually at Auris near Alpe de Huez.

Alternatively I might come back from Roselend through Beaufort and Albertville and cross over the Col du Glandon (looks narrow in places).

Anyone done any of these and any advice or what to expect? It will be our first serious Alpine assent and descent in new Hank which is 8.5 metres with the bike on the back but of course in the past we were no strangers to this kind of stuff.

 

[mark61]

I'll put a fiver on, you can expect hills.

 

[Jo001]

I'll take the 'any advice' literally and say that if you need to refuel at altitude (or is it after coming down, my physics is rubbish), the difference in pressure might cause you to get sprayed liberally with diesel when you take the cap off.

 

[Robmac]

I'll take the 'any advice' literally and say that if you need to refuel at altitude (or is it after coming down, my physics is rubbish), the difference in pressure might cause you to get sprayed liberally with diesel when you take the cap off.

Careful with the toilet cassette as well!

 

[barryd]

I know about the toilet cassette. It got me the other day.

 

[Tezza33]

The toilet cassette gets everyone at least once

 

[r4dent]

I'll take the 'any advice' literally and say that if you need to refuel at altitude (or is it after coming down, my physics is rubbish), the difference in pressure might cause you to get sprayed liberally with diesel when you take the cap off.

When you get higher the pile of air on top of you is shorter. i.e. the air pressure decreases.

If you seal a container at seal level and then open if at the top of a mountain it will be at a higher pressure than the surroundings.
However, most fuel tanks are vented which means they automatically are at ambient pressure.

One consequence of this is that water boils at a lower temperature as you get higher.
e.g. On the summit of Everest water boils at 68°C, so you can't have a decent cup of tea.

 

[Budgie]

Just done Austria & German Alps and my wife can vouch for the pressure thingy as I opened a bottle of tomato sauce and wifey got covered

 

[Pudsey Bear]

I'd have loved to do the alps, but Liz can't cope, sadly.

 

[marchie]

Careful with the toilet cassette as well!

Roaming Rog covered himself in glory at altitude during his Italian Trip 2 {? re time] years ago

Steve

 

[r4dent]

Roaming Rog covered himself in glory guano at altitude during his Italian Trip 2 {? re time] years ago

Steve

I've corrected your spelling mistake.

 

[marchie]

I've corrected your spelling mistake.

No spelling mistake; because his travelling companion. Gloria, was sic in [his] transit ...

Steve

 

[barryd]

Does the exploding toilet only work if you go up as nothing happened today? I think we left around 3000ft and are now lower at 1900ft I think so not much difference. According to our altimeter app the highest we got was about 3600ft and lowest about 800ft.

 

[r4dent]

Does the exploding toilet only work if you go up as nothing happened today? I think we left around 3000ft and are now lower at 1900ft I think so not much difference. According to our altimeter app the highest we got was about 3600ft and lowest about 800ft.

Yes. As you descend the pile of air on top of you is longer and weighs more.
It means that when you open the flap air rushes in to the cassette.

Of course they shouldn't explode on ascent because most have a pressure release valve that releases excess pressure caused by gases produced inside the cassette. But sometimes these valves stick and don't open.

 

[Pudsey Bear]

Just open very slowly to avoid a cat has trophy.

 

[barge1914]

Very nice route over the Cormet de Roseland, although most of it was lost to us in mist. Nice free stops next to the Lac de Roseland. And the campsite at Beaufort is good. Off up a side valley is Les Chapieux, basic site with a good view of Mont Blanc range and good walking.

 

[barryd]

Very nice route over the Cormet de Roseland, although most of it was lost to us in mist. Nice free stops next to the Lac de Roseland. And the campsite at Beaufort is good. Off up a side valley is Les Chapieux, basic site with a good view of Mont Blanc range and good walking.View attachment 144437

Thanks very much.

I think I've found that site. Here. Looks ok.

Les Chapieux

Details for Les Chapieux a Overnight parking - with services Bourg-Saint-Maurice, Savoie, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France, 73700

www.searchforsites.co.uk

I've spent a few hours this morning planning and plotting the mountain trips. I had planned to go up to Lac Roselend on Saturday but reading between the lines on some of the recent comments on park 4 night I might give it a swerve. Sounds like its over subscribed, tents and car campers crapping everywhere and its Bastille day weekend. So I found a ski resort which is about 5 miles south of Beaufort and motorhomes are allowed in the summer. Its about 3700ft as appose to over 5000ft at the lake. So My idea currently is to go up there full of water with an empty loo and see Beaufort (Cheese), the pass over the Roselend, possibly beyond and the Col du Pre on the bike. Not sure what to do after that. Either head back down to the Balcony roads near Alpe d'Huez or carry on towards Bourg Saint Maurice on the bike and possibly over the pass into Italy just for a laugh.

 

[Pudsey Bear]

That'll build your biceps up.