anyone suggest what gear i should bring for a week in the ALPS starting monday? ???
am i going to be good with A* track pants and perfed leather jacket, plus some layers?
or do i need full GORE winter gear and heated gloves? never done this before ;D
What's the weather like this time of year in the Alps?
What part of the Alps? Italian? French? Swiss?
Flexibility will be the name of the game. As you climb the air temps will drop. So what's a nice morning at a low spot will quickly end up quite chilly as you make climbs.
Average temperature drop per 100 m of altitude: 0.65 degrees.
Also be ready for quick changes. Going over a ridge or into a tight valley you can easily find weather that is starkly different than just a couple miles away as the crow flies.
I used to live in Colorado, and my folks went back after a stint back east. They lived in a river valley that had a real narrow section that would choke storms - so you'd be going from town to their house and round the bend at 'the narrows' and go from nice sun to clouds or rain/snow.
So bring stuff that can adapt. Like windproof fleece for under your jacket, glove liners and balaclava that will fit under you helmet.
If you have that choice - full Gore and waterproof heated gloves, but also make sure to get all openings wind proof = tightly closed! Wool and fleece underneath. Waterproof boots (actually, not probably) because the roads are going to be wet. Half the time you'll see temperatures close to freezing - the other half 50-60 F if you're lucky.
Frequent stops will be required and the average speed throughout the day won't get over 25 mph. Starting at 10 and finishing at 5 means 175 miles in a day. Planning longer days will only ruin the joy.