Access to Vallorcine remains closed
Since the Col des Montets (the route between Chamonix and Vallorcine) was closed on Friday, two huge avalanches have been released from the surrounding mountainsides, depositing over 7m of snow on the road and railway tracks. With both road and rail access blocked, Vallorcine residents remain completely cut off from the rest of France. For those locals that work in Chamonix, there's only one way out and that's via Switzerland! Some have had no choice but to take the 3 hour detour through Switzerland in order to get to work.
Yesterday a fleet of snow ploughs and lorries commenced the enormous task of clearing away the snow, rocks and trees that the avalanches brought down onto the road. However, it proved too much for the snow ploughs alone and today two mechanical diggers have headed up the col in order to shift the first of the avalanches. The second slide will require at least another days effort to clear.
The task is anticipated to take several days with a possible re-opening on Thursday being the best estimate at the moment.
Photo credit: Le Dauphine
