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Here's a bit more about the efforts to add more water to Mono Lake.Quote:
Originally Posted by Southwest Dave
Beautiful waterfall photo. I would love to drive the Sonora Pass Road today -- so many waterfalls visible from the road this time of year.
Mark
Melting, Melting quickly.
https://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog.../0411_0806.jpg
Photo provided by and courtesy of The Yosemite Conservancy
April 11th at 08:05 am PDT
Winter has not surrendered just yet and has made a bit of a comeback for the weekend!
We could well see the crews out next week to begin the plowing effort, weather permitting!Quote:
...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS
MORNING TO 11 PM PDT THIS EVENING...
* WHAT...Snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 6 to 12
inches with isolated heavier amounts possible. Winds gusting
as high as 55 mph.
* WHERE...Sierra Nevada from Yosemite National Park to northern
portions of Kern County at elevations above 6,000 feet.
* WHEN...From 11 AM to 11 PM PDT Saturday.
* IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult. Strong winds could
cause tree damage.
Dave
Snowing again!
https://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog...413_1733-1.jpg
Photo provided by and courtesy of The Yosemite Conservancy
April 13th at 05:35 pm PDT
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https://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog.../0414_0833.jpg
April 14th at 08:35 am PDT
Beautiful day again.
https://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog.../0416_1102.jpg
Photo provided by and courtesy of The Yosemite Conservancy
April 16th at 11:04 am PDT
https://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog.../0417_1302.jpg
Even more human activity today!
April 17th at 1:24 pm PDT
The Tioga Pass entrance is described at https://www.nps.gov/places/000/tioga-pass-entrance.htm. The live webcam appears to be no longer operating.
Melt is back underway. Kind of amazing how fast the snow level is changing up there.
https://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog.../0419_0829.jpg
Photo provided by and courtesy of The Yosemite Conservancy
April 19th at 08:34 am PDT
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https://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog.../0420_0829.jpg
Dirty snow provided by The Yosemite Conservancy
April 20th at 8:35 am PDT
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https://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog.../0422_1058.jpg
April 22nd at 10:58 am PDT
A little fresh snow today, which is only expected to add a couple of inches of the white stuff. The Plow crews have been busy the last week or so, and have managed to Plow 17 miles of road and are now located just West of Yosemite creek. There is still an avalanche risk in force along this stretch of road. The Avalanche crews are at Olmstead point, where the snow is said to be soft and melting away, and nowhere near as icy as last year, but Avalanche risk remains in the area.
So far, the Facilities management staff have not been able to access Tuolumne Meadows to assess the situation there and begin preparing visitor services.
Sentinel webcam today.
https://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog...24th-April.jpg
The crews continuing to Plow on with their work.
https://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog....-Yosemite.jpg
In other news. Crews have plowed the length of Glacier Point Road and are working on snow removal from parking lots, the campground, paved trails and front of buildings. There is still no news on an opening date.
Dave
As we step into May this image from the High Sierra webcam shows just how quickly the snow is melting away! It looks as though there will be some fresh snow over the weekend, but it's unlikely to amount to much.
https://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog...el-May-1st.jpg
Dave
Yeah, it truly amazing how fast it is melting.
https://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog.../0502_1207.jpg
Provided by The Yosemite Conservancy
May 2nd at 12:07 pm PDT
In my previous post, I mentioned there is snow in this weekends forecast "That's unlikely to amount to much". There is now a Winter storm warning in effect from 11am Saturday until 8am Sunday morning for heavy snow. This could bring up to 24 inches of fresh snow and the possibility of winds reaching 75mph along exposed ridges! Travel is described as "Very difficult, to impossible with risks of extensive tree damage and wind chill factors as low as 20 below zero"
The Plow teams continue with their effort, but it seems they have a bit of work still ahead of them !
The latest update.
DaveQuote:
May 2, 2024
The roads crew has plowed 24 miles from the Crane Flat gate and is currently working east of Porcupine Flat Campground.
Snow depths range from three to five feet. The snow is refreezing overnight, which making progress more difficult. A winter weather advisory is in effect this weekend, so plows may be diverted to keeping other park roads clear.
Avalanche team continues to monitor avalanche zones and has scouted as far as Tioga Pass. Buildings and Grounds staff have made an initial assessment of White Wolf, but the area is still buried in several feet of snow.
May 1 snow survey results are in. Snow (water content) is at 87% for the Tuolumne River basin and 106% for the Merced River basin.
An update on the view from the High Sierra webcam shows some nice fresh snow.
https://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog...inel-May-5.jpg
And it made for a pretty scene at Yosemite falls. They look to be flowing well!
https://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog...alls-May-5.jpg
Dave
And another one from this morning:
https://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog.../0506_0728.jpg
Photo provided by and courtesy of The Yosemite Conservancy
May 6th at 07:30 am PDT
I am going to add another prognostication for the opening. Weirdly, I can't seem to ping the poll.
Anyway, I am going to guess June 7th at 8 am!
The rocks are coming out!!!
https://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog.../0509_1351.jpg
May 9th at 1:51 pm PDT
Mark
The blowers and plows have been up on Olmstead point but progress has been slowed by fresh snow, and the need to send machinery away to attend to other roads. It's also still an active avalanche zone, so progress is cautious and rightly so!
Olmstead point.
https://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog...nt-plowing.jpg
A different picture for the High Sierra webcam where the snow continues to melt away.
https://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog...ads/May-11.jpg
The other news is that Glacier point is getting the finishing touches and is due to open on May 14th at 8am. Great news for anyone visiting the park. What a spectacular drive!
Dave.
And the snow is essentially gone now!
https://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog...t-09-58-13.png
May 14, 2024 at 10:00 am PDT
The snow is really disappearing fast, but the crews still have work to do. They have plowed their way along Tioga pass and are now concentrating on getting the full width of the road open, and access to the side roads in Tuolumne meadows! The crews have spread charcoal through the Olmstead point area to speed up the snowmelt process, although it is still an active avalanche zone at this time. If conditions permit, additional work crews could gain access to buildings and facilities in the coming week to get them set up for the season.
Todays image from the High Sierra webcam.
https://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog...nel-May-19.jpg
Time for a punt! I predict the pass will open Monday June 3rd at 8am.
Dave
NPS reports have confirmed the road will not open for Memorial Day Weekend, so I will need to throw in a new guess. While I believe it will actually open on May 31 or June 1, keeping the 15 day rule in mind, I will throw my latest dart for Saturday, June 8 at 9 am.
Since my original guess already passed, my new one is June 11 at noon.
The crews continue to work on opening the road, Culvert clearing, hazard tree mitigation, sign repair, snow clearing of side roads and campgrounds, de-winterization of employee housing and visitor use facilities, are all on-going. The weather may help this week, the temperatures starting to stay above freezing overnight and could rise to 70F during the day towards the end of the week. This is important as the sewage disposal ponds and some vault toilet materials are still frozen, and they will not open up to visitors until the facilities are operational.
Dave
Is it not open yet? Maybe my 14th June is going to be the winner! I realised I should have posted a time so I will go with 16:10 London time (when I shall be precisely 50 years old!)
It remains closed for now Craig, and with no date given for a predicted opening on yesterdays update from the National park. The road and utility services at Tuolumne meadows are not ready for visitors.
Dave.
And my last prognostication was June 7th. So, I guess, my latest guess will be June 23rd at 8 am.
Mark
The Yosemite NPS has announced the Tioga pass is scheduled to open on Monday 10th June at 7am. The weather looks settled right through next week, so there is no good reason this won't happen.
As always, we will wait for the Official verdict.
Dave (Who couldn't decide between Monday the 3rd and 10th and opted for the 3rd!!) Doh!
Oooh I'm not far off of that with my guess but I can see another couple of entries that are closer to the estimated opening time. Wonder what the official opening time will be!!
Tioga pass is shown as open on Yosemite's Road status page, so it looks as though it went to plan.
We shall wait for the official announcement as always and double check entries, but it's looking as though member tseeb may be the DcTpp (Darn close Tioga pass prognosticator
Dave
Sonora Pass opened one day too late for me and Tioga one day too early. I returned to the Bay Area from Mammoth on May 15th after skiing two days there and May 13 at Palisades on my way to Mammoth. I checked with Caltrans staff at maintenance facility at 395/108 about 3 pm to make sure it was not opening that afternoon. It would have saved me about 50 miles and 35 minutes. Instead I went home via Gardnerville, NV where gas is much cheaper than in CA, and took 88 past KIrkwood. Will post a photo or two someday.
I didn’t think Tioga would open on a Monday, but saw it was scheduled to when at party at friend’s house. I had checked after he told me his plans to spend a night this week in his RV in Yosemite Valley, then by Mono Lake the following night which requires a long drive without Tioga.
It was an unusual year for snowfall with very little snow until January, then a lot of snow through March, then record snow on May 6 when Palisades reported 26” and long lines. The Central Sierra Snow Lab said it was the biggest one day snowfall of the year at their location. It was also a little unusual that Park Service gave so many details on what was required besides clearing road to open Tioga.
Tony, congrats on almost being named as the DcTpp. Hopefully, Sheriff Dave will have the final word soon.
Mark
Damn, so near yet so far! Well done tseeb!Quote:
Originally Posted by UKCraig
Yosemite NP have still not updated their 'Opening and closing' page which is our 'go to' for Official confirmation. However, there is nothing to suggest it didn't open as scheduled, so I think it's time to officially declare that member tseeb is the new DcTPP (Darn close Tioga Pass Prognosticator) champion for the 2024 Opening contest. Congratulations!
tseeb predicted the pass would open on June 11th at Noon. The actual opening for 2024 was June10th at 7am. (Close, but no cigar!)
So we have a new DcTPP, and Mark Sedenquist holds onto his crown as TPPC (Tioga Pass Prognosticator Champion) once again!!
Watch out for the Winter closing 2024 Contest.
Dave
Yes. All Hail to tseeb a/k/a TONY as the reigning dcTPP!Quote:
Originally Posted by Southwest Dave
Mark
I noticed yesterday that I'd said "Will post a photo or two someday."
I'll make up for being so late by posting more than one or two.
First two photos are from Palisades Tahoe on May 13. First is Siberia Bowl.
https://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog...21Siberia.jpeg
Second is some chutes I skied near where long ago removed Cornice II chair was located.
https://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog...ce2Chutes.jpeg
Next three are from Mammoth. First is my friend from Southern CA, also named Tony, skiing one of the Wipe Out runs. The Minarets, Mt Ritter and Banner Peak are in background.
https://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog...tMinarets.jpeg
His wife took a picture of the two Tonys in front of Tony's sign at Mammoth. I'm on right.
https://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog...4533aTonys.jpg
Mammoth hosts ski racers in late Spring. They were too fast for me to catch one in air off jump.
https://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog.../9050Racer.jpg
I drove through a patch of snow off Mammoth Scenic Loop to get some for my ice chest.
https://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog...icLoopSnow.jpg
This is Kirkwood from CA-88. They had enough snow that they could have been open but would not have made any (or enough for Vail) money.
https://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog...rkwood@440.jpg
Thanks for the photo's Tony, nice shots!
The Tioga pass is open again and there is no sign of snow on the ground from the High Sierra webcam today.
There is snow in the forecast which is predicted to be heavy late Friday night into Saturday, with the possibility of 6 to 12 inches settling on the high ground.
Dave
Tony,
Thanks for the photos. Amazing that there enough snow to ski on up there.
Our local ski hill had a couple of inches on the ground a day or so ago.
It is noticeably cooler now in the Las Vegas valley,
Mark
Sorry for the confusion. Photos were taken May 13-15, 2024.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark Sedenquist
No skiing yet. Mammoth is scheduled to open November 15.
Ah, it would be so helpful, if I could read.
Yes, you mentioned in the first post that the photos were taken in May, 2024. And you did mention "spring skiing."
Sorry about that.
Mark