2009 Tioga Pass Opening Day Predictions

by **Vertigo soul** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 4:54 pm

THANKS rhyang!!! Perfect. Definitely looks skiable at this point, now its just the waiting game for the grand opening!

by **RyanSpaulding** » Fri Apr 24, 2009 2:11 am

Think I'll drive up tomorrow and snap some photos...heard that is plowed all the way to the entrance station. It's hilarious, on any given day, probably a dozen or so people show up at the Mono Lake Committee bookstore asking how to get to Yosemite. Sucks to be them.

by **RyanSpaulding** » Fri Apr 24, 2009 10:03 pm

Just drove up Lee Vining Canyon to the 4-mi mark, where the gate is still closed. Here are a couple of photos here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ryanspaulding/3471920426/

The crest is receiving a light dusting at the moment, nothing substantial. Also went on a short hike up Gibbs canyon yesterday. Turned around at about 9,000ft, where snow coverage was 80-100% and I was post-holing up to my lower thighs. Photos:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ryanspauld ... 235880328/

Up until this unstable system hitting us today, it's been pretty warm this past week. I'm guessing that the pass will open a month from now.

by **Diggler** » Fri Apr 24, 2009 11:18 pm

May 23rd.

by **rhyang** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 1:19 am

NPS wrote:Tioga Road Plowing Update for April 27:

Start: White Wolf
End: Yosemite Creek
Average snow depth: 3 feet

by **Sam Roberts** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 6:08 pm

The road is open on the east side up to the pass. Time to harvest that spring corn! I skied False White yesterday morning, and a quick shot north of Gaylor in the afternoon. Snow on False White was variable due to the high winds and cold temps, good corn north of Gaylor.

by **rhyang** » Thu Apr 30, 2009 2:25 pm

NPS wrote:Tioga Road Plowing Update for April 28:

Start: 25.1 miles from Crane Flat (Yosemite Creek)
End: 26 miles from Crane Flat (May Lake turnoff)
Distance plowed: 0.9 miles
Average snow depth: 4.5 feet

Also happened to peruse the NWS forecast discussion -

NWS wrote:Area forecast discussion
National Weather Service San Joaquin Valley - Hanford California
255 am PDT Thursday Apr 30 2009

Discussion...west to southwest flow continues this morning over
the region and water vapor imagery shows several moisture feeds
taking aim on central California. Well out near 28/140w the next
system to bring the threat of precipitation to the forecast is
moving eastward at a steady clip. Forecast models are in very good
agreement that this potentially wet system will move into and
across the central California interior Friday afternoon through
Saturday. The GFS model is a little faster in bringing the
precipitation band ashore than the NAM and in southwest flow
events the earlier timing is often more accurate. Model forecast
quantitative precipitation forecast is rather impressive with both the GFS and NAM models
indicating the potential for 1.5 to 2.0" of rain in the Sierra
with amounts exceeding 0.5" in the lower elevations. I have upped
the probability of precipitation to the likely category for the Friday night through
Saturday morning and a categorical forecast will likely be needed
later. By Saturday night this system is prognosticated to move east of
the area with ridging building in on Sunday. Over the higher
elevations of the Sierra a rather impressive early may snow event
is likely and accumulations of over one foot are certainly not out
of the question above 8000 feet. All in all this should be
very beneficial for the run off.

by **erykmynn** » Thu Apr 30, 2009 6:38 pm

Sam Roberts wrote:The road is open on the east side up to the pass. Time to harvest that spring corn! I skied False White yesterday morning, and a quick shot north of Gaylor in the afternoon. Snow on False White was variable due to the high winds and cold temps, good corn north of Gaylor.

All the way to the gate?

by **Sam Roberts** » Thu Apr 30, 2009 6:56 pm

Yes, all the way to the gate. But take a look at that weather post above. Sounds like things are going to change soon!

by **onBoost** » Thu Apr 30, 2009 7:07 pm

Been my experience that the pass opens the night before they say it's going to open.

by **ExploreABitMore** » Sun May 03, 2009 9:25 pm

Does anybody know when the saddlebag lake road is usually open all the way to the lake? Thanks! g4b

by **rhyang** » Tue May 05, 2009 8:13 pm

NPS wrote:Tioga Road Plowing Update for May 4:

Start: 31.9 miles from Crane Flat
End: 32.7 miles from Crane Flat (Spring Hill)
Distance plowed: 0.8 miles
Average snow depth: 3.5 feet

As for when Saddlebag Lake is "usually" open, I'd say definitely by August

Here's last year's thread .. seasonal variations may apply.

by **JSBlink69** » Fri May 08, 2009 11:27 pm

Agree...

butitsadryheat wrote:
ShortTimer wrote:May 21st noonish.

+1

gotta let everyone in for Memorial Day weekend!

by **rhyang** » Sat May 09, 2009 2:37 am

NPS wrote:Tioga Road Plowing Update for May 6:

Start: 35.2 miles from Crane Flat
End: 38.6 miles from Crane Flat (Tuolumne Meadows Visitor Center)
Distance plowed: 3.4 miles
Average snow depth: 4.5 feet

2009 Tioga Pass Opening Day Predictions

Tioga then Owens

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