Winter Rite of Passage: Tioga Pass Prognosticator #12

Recapping those still current....

http://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog/...l-01-06-12.jpg
Photo: Yosemite Conservancy -- January 6th at 10:15 am.

January 13th at 4:00 pm......glc
January 17th at 3:00 pm......CAnative (Reigning Chief Prognosticator)
January 20th at 4:00 pm.....Sheriff Dave
January 22nd at Noon........Utahtea
January 25th at 2:00 pm....Midwest Michael
January 27th at Noon.....Mark Sedenquist
February 6th at Noon....for Utahtea's DH
February 8th at Noon......CAnative's DH (Reigning Chief Prognosticator's)
March 4th at 2:00 pm....Midwest Michael's Birthday
March 8th at Noon......Utahtea
March 21 at 3:21 PM.......CalOldBlue

A bit more haze than normal for a January morning, but no snow and no rain!

Mostly because it seems absolutely absurd, I'll claim my own birthday of March 4th.

As a still absurd, but somewhat more likely, we'll go January 25th. 2pm for both.

Hopefully I'll be writing a full trip report when I get to San Diego, but here's a sneak photo preview for you now!

Left Carson City about 8:30 this morning and I'm writing this from the Days Inn in Sonora at 5 pm.

Love the Hawaiian shirts as they ice skate. Whoa, that's a very dry meadow!

Mark

Thanks for the update George.

Mark. I'm 99.9% sure that is Tenaya lake where they are skating and picnicking. Cool !

Day 2 pictures

http://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog/...Jan_8_2012.jpg
(photo by George Carey, January 8, 2012)
I see you took a photo of that "magical" cabin on the lake at Ebbets Pass. Cool. Where did you find a place to pull over to take that photo? Tough to find a time of day when the cabin in in the light. The last time I was there, the lake was dark blue and the cabin was lit by sun. Magical....

Nice shots as well of Bodie.
http://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog/...Jan_08_glc.jpg
(Photo by George Carey, January 8, 2012)

The lack of snow in those photos is making my hands sweat....

Mark

When I edited the photo for light contrast (above) I was stunned to see so many trees with brown branches. Is that the way it looked in real life too. That's scary.

Down here, we are getting a little nervous....no snow pack means water issues down the road for us....oy vey!



Donna

It was a bit tough getting those cabin pics. There is a turnout on the opposite side of the road right at the big curve and I took the pics standing on the bank on the lake side of the road. It was around 10 am and I was shooting directly into the sun. It was kinda eerie - I could hear the ice cracking and popping as it was getting warmed by the morning sun. The trees were actually pretty green, but not like I guess they would be right after the spring opening.