Well, that was interesting

I've just returned from Italy, or rather I got back into the UK at 11AM on Monday. We decided to hire a motorhome for our visit because the builders have removed every source of heating from the farm and we'd had a warning that it was sodding cold over there at present. That turned out to be an understatement and we were glad that the van had central heating and a shower, we could plug it into the house electricity supply and keep warm fairly well.

We also specified that the motorhome should be equipped for winter use in Europe, including snowchains and a couple of spare gas cylinders so we thought we'd be fine. And all went well until Saturday when we started our drive back to the UK. Checked the weather reports, nothing bad-unusual forecast so off we set on the drive back to the UK, maximum speed 110km-h so it was going to be fairly leisurely.

All went fine and we got to the Gotthard tunnel for 3PM, stopped to fill up at the rest stop where the snow was about 5ft deep, motorway had been cleared and there were signs advising that snow chains should be removed and that the motorway ahead had been cleared. We didn't have chains fitted since it had been clear all the way up the motorway.

Into tunnel, 15km or so of driving and we emerged into a blizzard. Snowing so hard that the motorway was filling up fast. Stopped at a lay-by, dug out chains and Eeek! the box was actually empty. Stopped at next service station - all chains sold out.

So we decided that since the road was slushy rather than snow covered we'd keep going, and then the fun began. The snow got thicker and around Sursee the motorway became covered in snow, still not much of a problem though, we kept going slowly. Then we got to an uphill section and all hell broke loose with cars failing to keep up a sensible pace and many getting stuck-slipping back. We had to stop because some plank in a BMW was busy doing donuts (unintentionally) he couldn't seem to get the hang of driving on snow at all. Eventually I got out and asked him if he could stop and let the rest of the traffic past - no dice, Krauty Hermann was determined to keep going, and he did. Fortunately after several high speed spins he plonked into the barrier and got stuck.

We tried to set off and 3.5 tonnes of van started to have more interest in going backwards rather than forwards. Hermann had polished the snow into ice. I then spent an interesting hour digging up enough ice so that we could get some traction, using the only implement to hand, a dustpan.

Eventually we got going, but after about 16km we got to s steep bit and the road ahead was blocked, fortunately the exit from the motorway was clear so we left and followed a diversion - all going fine until... the road turned into a mountain road zig-zagging uphill. We got stuck several times and every time it was get out, clear the snow with the dustpan and start again. Fortunately after another hour or so we got to the top of the mountain and the downhill bit was relatively easy (just keep in low gear and descend gently).

Back onto the motorway (empty of traffic) and on to the next service station outside Basel. It was now 11PM and I was knackered, so we stopped and made up the bed. Fell straight asleep, up at 6AM to find that we were completely snowed in, over four foot of snow had fallen.

Tried to buy chains - sold out.

Dug van out of snow drift using dustpan.

Set off again, the snow lasted all the way up to Namur in Belgium and we did the entire trip at 30-40mph until the road cleared.

So, despite what the Swiss told us was one of the worst snowstorms for months, we got through OK without chains or winter tyres. There were one or two hairy moments such as ascending a mountain where the tyres were slipping most of the way up, and the experience of driving on packed snow in a large vehicle was "interesting". However we didn't get stuck for long, and made better progress than many of the people around us. I think front wheel drive and weight really helped, but I'd have preferred to have been in the 4xFord with snow chains.