Well, that is surprising-to say the least.
Snow levels on the road is still impressive.
Mark
Well, that is surprising-to say the least.
Snow levels on the road is still impressive.
Mark
Looks like plows have safely plowed through the Olmsted Point avalanche zone and are working in the Tuolumne Meadows area. I am going to put in a dart for Thursday, May 22 at 9 am.
They really are plowing on with it ! There is usually quite a clearing up operation to do after the plowing is done, felled trees, rocks and other debris to be removed, plus they need to get the facilities operational before opening the road to the general public, but progress does appear to be swift! It looks as though some snow is possible over the weekend, but maybe not enough to cause any issues.
Dave
I'm going for after Memorial Day, Wednesday, May 28 at 9 am.
Per inside sources, at least one lane has been plowed the length of Tioga Road and Tuolumne Meadows may begin to be set up on May 13. Time will tell if the road will open soon after.
A lot will depend on the amount of debris from fallen trees and rocks on the road etc, but I haven't seen any reports of major delays from that, or the Avalanche zones. Nature also appears to be Co-operating, with blue sky's and temperatures steadily rising all week. It's starting to look as though it will be a May opening, unless nature offers a twist in the tale?!
Dave
Thanks for the Intel Liam. It has been confirmed that the Tioga pass has been plowed along it's entire length and crews are now working on side roads, while the sign shop works on getting the signage ready. Work continues in the Olmstead avalanche zone and forestry workers are removing trees at risk of falling onto the roadway.
Glacier Point will open to vehicles this Saturday (10th) at 8am. It has already opened to Bicycles. There is no drinking water available, but Pit toilets are.
Dave
Other High Sierra passes have opened. Ebbett Pass/CA-4 opened on May 8, then closed Mon May 12 due to storm before re-opening. 9600'+ Sonora Pass opened on Thursday, May 15. More info at https://www.mymotherlode.com/news/lo...m-closure.html
Last year Sonora Pass opened the day after I could have used it to save 50 miles/~30 minutes of driving vs. going into Minden where I fill up on less expensive NV gas. This year, I skied Mammoth Thurs/Fri May 8-9 before driving home going all the way to 395/88 to get fast food.
On Thurs, I skied 740-120 after driving 2 1/2 hrs from South Lake Tahoe. (Mammoth is open 730-2 with one lift going until 3.) Friday, I skied 740-210 then after having one beer with tailgating friends, drove 6 hrs back to San Jose going past (closed for season on Easter) Kirkwood on CA-88.
Photos taken by my friend of me, his wife, telemarking skier in Speedo and a racer going over jump at Mammoth.
Attachment 5210
Attachment 5211
Attachment 5212
Attachment 5213
Photo I took of my friend who is in his early 70s and took photos posted above.
He and his wife skied in Uzbekistan this Winter and has skied all seven continents.
Attachment 5214
Remarkably, it was snowing heavily three different times in Kirkwood on the 12th of May.
And it was COOL in Death Valley on the 12th! Temps in the middle 70's--almost unheard of.
Still amazing that you could be skiing at Mammoth!
Mark
Palisades Tahoe is also open daily for skiing through Memorial Day. Mammoth may stay open a week or two into June. They make much more effort than Palisades to provide good skiing although being a couple of thousand feet higher and having race teams training on their mountain also helps.
On the other hand, Vail makes decisions from Colorado on when to close their CA ski areas based on how much money they could make, not on keeping their customers happy. Photo is from CA-88 going past Kirkwood last Friday, May 9. There was still snow in the meadow at entrance and with a little effort they could have run two lifts Fri-Sun for a few more weeks.
https://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog...95Kirkwood.jpg
https://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog...95Kirkwood.jpg
Glad you are figuring how to add the larger photos! Makes it so much easier for member and casual visitors to see your photos.
Thanks for making the effort!
Mark
Thanks for sharing the photo's tseeb, you can't beat mountain snow and blue sky's!
Yosemite NP has not updated on the Tioga pass clearing effort since May 5th which is a little frustrating. Perhaps the next update will have an opening date announcement, maybe on Monday for a Tuesday opening! (Wishful thinking!)
Dave
May 20 update https://www.facebook.com/Caltrans9 - comments on Caltrans efforts are not complimentary on their efforts.
"Work to remove rocks/debris, repair guardrail, and fix pavement continues on State Route 120 West to the Eastern Yosemite National Park gate. Despite the pavement being extremely damaged in some areas, Caltrans District 9 crews are working as fast as possible to open the roadway."
Tioga Pass is scheduled to open on Monday 26th May at 8am. I am on the road at the moment so I will have to check later to see if anyone has predicted this. Then we will wait for confirmation.
Dave
I also saw May 26 opening and it's posted at https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/tioga.htm
Seems very arbitrary. It not likely that they are working on the road Saturday and Sunday of a three-day weekend, so road is probably ready to go. Is it because of staffing availability or that staff wants to open it on a holiday so they get overtime?
I think I'm the only one who did not pick a date before Memorial Day weekend. But I picked the Wednesday after, not the holiday thinking they may need one more day after holiday to may sure 120 is OK for opening. So I could 'win' my second consecutive 'darn close'.
I'm also the only one in contest who may be using Tioga in the next week. My original plan was to drive to and ski Palisades on their closing day, Memorial Day, then stay at South Lake Tahoe family cabin Monday night. That breaks up drive to Mammoth. Then I planned to drive to Mammoth early on Tuesday, ski and stay there Tuesday, ski Mammoth Wednesday, then drive home over Sonora Pass after skiing to be home for dental appt. on Thursday. But friend I stay with at Mammoth reminded me that Palisades does not appear to make much effort to provide their best product for customers at end of the season and Mammoth gondola closes for annual maintenance after Memorial Day, so I'd be better off skiing Pailsades Sunday and Mammoth Monday and Tuesday.
But a fire has the usual route from Reno/Tahoe/Minden past Mono Lake closed and the alternative adds 2+ hours which makes it difficult to drive it before skiing. Note that Mammoth is open 730 AM - 2 PM at this time of year and best skiing may be before noon so a 4+ hr drive from Minden to avoid 395 closure is not very practical. https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/artic...n-20343034.php
Sounds reasonable to me. Have to wait on the official word from Sheriff Dave.Quote:
Originally Posted by tseeb
Yes, this is the INN Fire and it is causing lots of problems.Quote:
Originally Posted by tseeb
Currently it is 770 acres, at 15% contained.
This photo from May 22nd gives an idea as to why the road is closed!
I am looking at the closest fire cam right now. I am not seeing any active plume, so maybe they will get the road opened soon.
Have a fun trip skiing!
Mark
As of 9pm last night US-395 has reopened.
Tioga Pass has opened this morning as scheduled! We do not have a new Tppc (Tioga pass prognosticator Champion) but tseeb does indeed become the DcTpp once again(Darn close Tioga pass prognosticator) by predicting Wednesday 28th May. Well done tseeb, close but no cigar!
Dave.
A complete contrast in today's 'Hazardous weather warning' for Friday through the weekend in Yosemite Valley. (Temperatures likely to peak around 80F at high elevations along Tioga pass)
Quite a contrast with only light patches of snow visible on the highest peaks this morning!Quote:
653 AM PDT Tue May 27 2025
...EXTREME HEAT WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY MORNING THROUGH
SUNDAY MORNING...
* WHAT...Dangerously hot conditions with high temperatures up to 105
possible.
* WHERE...San Joaquin Valley, Kern River Valley, and lower Sierra
Nevada foothills.
* WHEN...From Friday morning through Sunday morning.
* IMPACTS...Heat related illnesses increase significantly during
extreme heat and high humidity events.
This mornings view Courtesy of the Yosemite Conservancy.
https://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog...eenshot-40.png
Dave
105 degrees in the Kern River Valley and lower Sierra foothills sounds a tad extreme to me.
It is supposed to get to 106 degrees in Las Vegas on Friday, but that's basically normal for here this time of year.
Remaining snow melt is likely to be accelerated.
The gauge at Pohono Bridge is already at 6-feet.
https://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog...hc1_record.png
Projection is for 7 feet by June 1st and Flood Stage is 10 feet at this location
And the web cam at Happy Isles is already looking very high
Newest flow gauge shows that levels are still at the 6-foot level.
https://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog...Gauge_0530.jpgPohono Bridge, May 30th at 8:42 am PDT
Here is the link to the gauge.
I didn't drive over Tioga Pass on Memorial Day when reservation was required to enter Yosemite between 6 AM and 2 PM or on Wednesday, May 28, the day I picked for opening. Instead, I drove through Yosemite after skiing Mammoth on Tuesday, May 27. The skiing was so good that friends I skied and stayed with stayed another day as I should have. I returned as I had a dental appointment on Thursday and wanted time to unpack and relax before it, and my wife and dog wanted me home. But dental appt. was cancelled so maybe I should have stayed. Some photos.
Electronic sign starting up 120 just East of 395
https://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog...Electronic.jpg
View of Mono Lake from Whoa Nellie Deli/Mobil Mart where I had lunch. Last time I was there, it was too busy. The fish taco with mango salsa was better than the one with ginger coleslaw.
https://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog...eLunchView.jpg
Starting up Tioga
https://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog...ingUpTioga.jpg
Road grader on 120. Note where 120 crosses slope high above grader.
https://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog...derOnTioga.jpg
Pavement repair not far above grader and well below top of pass
https://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog...mentRepair.jpg
Tioga Pass/Yosemite Entrance Station
https://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog...TiogaEntry.jpg
Tenaya Lake where I took a short walk. First photo is lady who jumped into lake and second is view over lake towards Olmstead Point.
https://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog...LadyInLake.jpg
https://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog...a2Olmstead.jpg
At Olmstead Point. Clouds Rest, the highest point visible from Yosemite Valley, is left of center. I hiked there once, the day after a few inches of snow had fallen. Our hike started with removing shoes and socks to wade across Tenaya Lake outlet creek. Half Dome, where I've hiked to top twice, is right of center. Second photo is looking East.
https://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog...steadPoint.jpg
https://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog...lancheSign.jpg
Tseeb, Great images. (Is 'photograph/photo' even the correct terminology anymore?) Yeah, I might have blown off the dentist but not the wife, and certainly not the dog! (Tongue firmly in cheek)
AZBuck
Thanks for the Photo's, (images ;-) ) really nice to see! That's a brave Lady! Tenaya Lake would be a tad too chilly for me, even in the summer.
Dave