Winter Rite of Passage: Tioga Pass Prognosticator #12

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December 07, 2011
Tioga Road in Yosemite National Park to Reopen (2011)
After a temporary closure, the Tioga Road in Yosemite National Park will reopen to the public at 3:00 p.m. today, Wednesday, December 07, 2011. The Tioga Road, the popular east-west crossing of the Sierra Nevada in the northern portion of the park, has been temporarily closed due a high wind event in the Yosemite area.

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I know the contest is based on the list of official dates but the press release announcing the opening of the road was made (under Park News) before they listed the Nov 18th closing.

Oh it's definitely an error and it wouldn't be the first time I have seen dates posted and then been retracted. The list has always been based on the last day it was open/day it closed, and even if they had decided to change that to the first day without telling anyone, it would still be wrong as the pass first closed in October. [In other words not an option either]

Joke mode on>] Of course I'm not ruling out foul play, George may have friends in high places !! LOL ]> Joke mode off.

I always thought that George had the "fix" in on this feature....

Light dusting of snow on the upper ridges -- blue skies today at Yosemite.

I wish I had the fix in - I need some revenge for last year - the pass was closed for ONE DAY last October, the day I was there and wanted to drive it!

I have now entered a query on the Yosemite Facebook page with regards to the closing date listed. No response yet, but thought it might at least offer a 'Heads up' to the error of their ways. ;-)

Update.

A high wind warning in the Sierras is in place at the moment and the pass is still closed.

They have now responded to my query.

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Yosemite National Park. You are correct and I've removed that date. It's unclear if or when the road might reopen (but, in either case, the seasonal closure of it wasn't November 18).

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That was a quick response, Kudo's to them, and on we go !!

http://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog/...l-12-15-11.jpg
(Photo Courtesy of Yosemite Conservancy, December 15th)

I'd really prefer to start seeing some heavy snow falling about now!

Mark

The weather forecast through to next Thursday is looking very settled !

Guess what, Caltrans no longer lists Tioga as closed which can only mean one thing...................

............It's Open !!!!


Wow, unbelievable ! To think it might be open for travel on Christmas day. ??

Moving on to next year --- January 1, 2012

There is no sign at all of the weather breaking. Not only are there blue sky's forecast right up to [and beyond] Christmas day, it's actually getting slightly warmer. With no snow and less risk of icey conditions threatening a closure, a Christmas opening looks an almost certainty !!