penciling in some trips to the east side, any guesses when we can drive up to tioga pass?

I think the chief or someone on here is the dude who plows the road or knows the guys or something...

looking for educated speculation.

thanks!

Based on this and today's snowpack... Third week of May?

http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/tiogaopen.htm

It's amazing what a task that is. I wonder what leads to the decision to work to keep it clear vs let it close?

...just heard the road is plowed from lee vining up to the east entrance - can anyone confirm?

Well they've only got 32 inches of snow up there. Unless winter returns with a vengeance it'll be an early opening this year.

jareds wrote:...just heard the road is plowed from lee vining up to the east entrance - can anyone confirm?

SR 120
[IN THE CENTRAL CALIFORNIA AREA & SIERRA NEVADA]
IS CLOSED FROM CRANE FLAT TO 5 MI WEST OF THE JCT OF US 395 /TIOGA PASS/
(TUOLUMNE, MONO CO) - FOR THE WINTER - MOTORISTS ARE ADVISED TO USE AN
ALTERNATE ROUTE

According to Cal Trans, NO

It'll be plowed long before Caltrans officialy "opens" it.

fedak wrote:It'll be plowed long before Caltrans officialy "opens" it.

True. I remember reading on the Toulumne ranger posts, that the road was clear of snow from 9,000ft down, but I also saw photos of someone who has been up there, and there were some huge boulders on the road. Would love to see the road open soon, the skiing should be great!

The way I remember it, you can expect Tioga Road to be open from Lee Vining to Ellery Lake for the start of fishing season. That would be the last weekend in April. Many of the popular skiing spots can be accessed from Ellery Lake.

Then, Caltrans plows to the top of the pass and stops, waiting for the go ahead from the park service to start plowing to Tuolumne Meadows. After the road is completely plowed, the park service keeps the road closed to allow the road sub base to dry out. Often the base is waterlogged and would not support heavy traffic.

The park service opens the road to bicycles on the weekends before the road opens to autos. Some folks bike in to ski in Tuolumne, or catch some early season climbing on south facing domes.

I would expect the road to open for cars by Memorial Day. Could be earlier because of the light snowpack, but tight federal funds could delay the plowing efforts.

I've already told you more than I know, hope it helps.

HAHA! It's snowing balls today!

just finished the mammoth >> tioga ski tour yesterday.

the road is completely clear of snow. you can ski from the entrance down to almost the saddlebag lake turnoff if you stay on the side of the road.
there are many boulders on the road, looks like they've been clearing them off but they keep falling...looks more unstable in a few spots than i remember it.

a scooter could get you up there really easy. or if i did a tour to there again i'd prob pack a little skateboard or something not sure but holy shit that's a long walk out of there down to lee vining.

SR-89 is open. Crescent Moon Couloir is calling!

Deb wrote:SR-89 is open. Crescent Moon Couloir is calling!

Tell it to chill, dawg...running out of anytime minutes!

Burchey wrote:

Deb wrote:SR-89 is open. Crescent Moon Couloir is calling!

Tell it to chill, dawg...running out of anytime minutes!

She's got a special ring tone since we've been friends for 4 yrs. Hoping to get some skiing done up there very soon.

Deb wrote:

Burchey wrote:

Deb wrote:SR-89 is open. Crescent Moon Couloir is calling!

Tell it to chill, dawg...running out of anytime minutes!

She's got a special ring tone since we've been friends for 4 yrs. Hoping to get some skiing done up there very soon.

Special Ring Tone?

Tell me it's not that gangham style song or whatever.