SummitPost.org

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

As of 29-April -

Tioga plowing operations were halted due to wet slab avalanche activity at the South Fork avalanche zone. With freezing temperatures forecast, plowing ops are expected to resume today.

I just want to know when it's open to the Saddlebag turnoff. Ski time! There was a huge (20' high) drift just before Ellery Lake about 6 weeks ago.

Just got back from a ski tour into Tuolumne from the East.

As of yesterday afternoon, 120 was plowed to the Saddlebag Lake turnoff. Per the CalTrans employees we encountered, they do not anticipate the road to be opened to the Pass for traffic for another 2 weeks, maybe 3. They also mentioned that clearing the snow is the easy part, it's the rocks and pavement repairs that are a pain in the ass.

Inside the park, the plow crews are much more conservative, and there are easily ~4-5 feet of snow on the road near the Tuolumne ski hut. Per the winter ranger up there, it looks like they will have the road cleared but wait one to two weeks to open it due to rocks and other things that need to be cleared as well as more pavement maintenance. The park also doesn't like to open it early because of potential for ice on the road.

The general consensus between the ranger and CalTrans folks was we have about another month until it's open all the way through, provided no more storms come through.

WML wrote:Just got back from a ski tour into Tuolumne from the East.

As of yesterday afternoon, 120 was plowed to the Saddlebag Lake turnoff. Per the CalTrans employees we encountered, they do not anticipate the road to be opened to the Pass for traffic for another 2 weeks, maybe 3. They also mentioned that clearing the snow is the easy part, it's the rocks and pavement repairs that are a pain in the ass.

Inside the park, the plow crews are much more conservative, and there are easily ~4-5 feet of snow on the road near the Tuolumne ski hut. Per the winter ranger up there, it looks like they will have the road cleared but wait one to two weeks to open it due to rocks and other things that need to be cleared as well as more pavement maintenance. The park also doesn't like to open it early because of potential for ice on the road.

The general consensus between the ranger and CalTrans folks was we have about another month until it's open all the way through, provided no more storms come through.

My May 20th is looking pretty good then!

WML wrote:The general consensus between the ranger and CalTrans folks was we have about another month until it's open all the way through, provided no more storms come through.

Another month? Hmmm... Saw this on page one...

mrchad9 wrote:June 4

BTW- thanks for the info WML...

I can haz knob climbing ??

Neophiteat48 wrote:

WML wrote:
As of yesterday afternoon, 120 was plowed to the Saddlebag Lake turnoff. Per the CalTrans employees we encountered, they do not anticipate the road to be opened to the Pass for traffic for another 2 weeks, maybe 3. quote]

My May 20th is looking pretty good then!

I'm running with this section of the quote, I win! What's the prize going to be. The biggest prize I've ever won was a $2 Calif. Lottery ticket Oh and a Spuds Mackenzie stuffed animal from the Del Mar Fair

butitsadryheat wrote:Another low pressure system is coming in next week. Not sure if it will dip low enough to affect it, but don't start counting chickens..

I'm not, all my eggs in one basket though.

Here are some shots from my trip to Tuolumne this weekend...giving ya'll an idea of what's going on up there

[quote="WML"]Here are some shots from my trip to Tuolumne this weekend...giving ya'll an idea of what's going on up there
quote]

Yea, we see what's going on up there. Nice!!

Nice shots Holy cornices batman

Any news about Sonora Pass (SR108) ?

This is the update as of May 5th:



Tioga Road:
Ending location: May Lake Pit, 26.6 miles from Crane Flat
Average snow depth: 8 to 9 feet
Plowing operations will continue today.

Guess I won't be doing Matthes anytime soon.

June 8th