Tioga Pass Report

[Quixote]

If anyone is interested, plowing on Tioga Pass and Glacier Point road has started. As of Friday, they had finished about 10 miles of plowing on the Tioga Pass road. Click here for a site I use to get information on conditions.

[Fastfar]

Wow, great link Terry...Yosemite is low enough to enjoy now, but stay out of the high country unless you like snow - that's the message...no backpacking above 7,000 ft until mid-July? That's deep snow, means there will be white stuff on the ground until fall at the highest elevations...and it looks like a late opening for the passes, even tho they are plowing Tioga now, the others (Ebbetts/Sonora) are not so blessed...
Iron Mtn Rd, Wentworth Springs, Mosquito Ridge Rd are all still blocked below 6,000 ft but melting fast

[sacdjh]

Originally Posted by Fast_Far

the others (Ebbetts/Sonora) are not so blessed...

On a related regional note, Monitor Pass just openned late last week and I road over from Tahoe to check things out. There is still a ton of snow at the summit, but the road was bare and dry. It is really quite an awesome sight and made for some very unusual riding. The snow plow stopped right at the edge of the pavement, so there are 6 - 8' vertical walls of snow on each side - much like riding through a narrow tunnel with no roof. I'm sure it's melting fast though...

[Fastfar]

Originally Posted by sacdjh

On a related regional note, Monitor Pass just openned late last week and I road over from Tahoe to check things out. There is still a ton of snow at the summit, but the road was bare and dry. It is really quite an awesome sight and made for some very unusual riding. The snow plow stopped right at the edge of the pavement, so there are 6 - 8' vertical walls of snow on each side - much like riding through a narrow tunnel with no roof. I'm sure it's melting fast though...

David...this post is worthless without PICS!...what were you thinking???

Next time take the camera and stop in the middle of the road if you must, but we need pics

[pashnit]

Try this. Tioga Pass on 5/1/06. Notice the double yellow.

[Fresno's] combined two-month rainfall is the third highest recorded since 1878. Fresno needs only about a quarter of an inch more to make this year's March-April total the second highest over a 128-year span. In the Sierra, the snowpack grew during the weekend to 170% of average. About a foot of snow fell at Tuolumne Meadows in Yosemite National Park"

What a winter it was!!

[bftownsend]

Now that is some serious plowing!!

[Owner of Harriet]

they are looking well into June before Tioga is open --- sure glad that didn't happen many years ago when I needed to to go Bishop for the weekend --- having to go through Bakersfield would have added a bunch of time

[FishWitch]

Heard on the news Tioga may not even open! Also that there is alot of flooding in Yosemite. No idea of the truth on this but knowing Cal Trans.....

Actually with that much snow they will probably have wet slides all summer even if they do get the road plowed.

I have gotten stuck at Emerald Bay in June before for slides more than once.

[bftownsend]

was just up there yesterday/.. locals were saying the Tioga may not open this year as well... Sonora is still closed... no word as when that will open.. like 108 .. great ride....

went up west side of Tahoe.. was clean and nice.. does anyone know what the east side is like?

Also took 89 north to 49.... then 49 south... what a road..... turn after turn after turn and no cars... was dragging both my feet all around the corners... sooooooo sweet

[Quixote]

Expected campground opening dates should give an idea of when Tioga Pass is expected to open:

2006 Estimated opening dates for Yosemite campgrounds along Tioga Road.
Crane Flat 8/1 - 10/9
(lateness not due to snow)
Tamarack Flat 6/30 - 10/15
White Wolf 6/30 - 9/17
Yosemite Creek 6/30 - 9/4
Porcupine Flat 6/30 - 10/15
Tuolumne Meadows 6/30 - 9/25
(not accepting reservations for before 7/15)