You post that now, just after I took an epic drive home from shopping across the local plateau?
And no, I didn't take pics 🙁
But yeah, I can describe conditions, as they were awesome.
Down in the valley it was just above freezing, and no snow. I drove around the plateau to get to the pass on the backside, in absolute darkness, as it was already well past 8 p.m. Got overtaken by some SUV that couldn't stick to the speed limit, otherwise eventless, except temperature dropping below freezing on the "cold side" of the plateau.
Put the car into second and drove up the pass. In the summer it's wide enough to fit 2 cars going slow past one another, but now snow was left and right of the road. Still, it was reasonably well cleared and salted, so I made good progress. Only had one car come the other way, ragged it all the way up - well somewhat adapted to the conditions of potential unexpected grip changes through slush and ice, and darkness.
As I crested the first pass, a car that was parked there for a while stood with a good foot or more of snow on top. Mid-way descent went well, but I did get a taste of ABS and the rear end moving around in one less well cleared/salted corner. Back up through the gorges to the proper plateau, I was pretty much pussyfooting it, so much ice, rock and the occasional bit of slush on the road, that there was no way of going properly fast.
Up on the plateau, I check the thermometer, and it says -8°C. Proper cold. Still dark, clear skies, a hint of fog on ground level at times though. Stuck to the speed limit mostly, which felt plenty fast in the conditions. On the way down I got stuck behind some slow traffic, and didn't feel like overtaking. In the distance, looking across town, I could see some cloud cover. Arrived in the valley, and snow was gone again, with once more 2°C on the display.
The advantage of living in the Alpes: There is huge economic interest in keeping the roads clear when it snows. And it snows between September and July, depending on weather conditions. Therefore the snow clearing guys are prompt, regular and well trained and equipped. Even in the valley it works reasonably well, but the mountain routes are always in an impeccable state. Except the odd bit of ice or rock that fell off an overhang or face.
