http://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog/...l-04-01-12.jpg
Another gorgeous day. Photo courtesy of the Yosemite Conservancy
About 4:45 pm PDT on April Fool's Day!
http://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog/...l-04-01-12.jpg
Another gorgeous day. Photo courtesy of the Yosemite Conservancy
About 4:45 pm PDT on April Fool's Day!
sure looks gorgoeus in the April Fool photograph. Less than a month now till we travel to cali and just over a month till we get to Yosemite. I just hope that snow is melting from the Tioga Pass. really would love to cross the Tioaga pass for our journey from Las Vegas.
Anyone know what the snowpack is like up there? Are we likely to see any more snow storms this year?
The snow pack is well below average and yes there is a possibility we will see more snow on the pass, but like this contest, it's a guessing game. Keep a watchful eye on this thread for updates and predictions.
Usually I would say you have little chance, the ealiest opening since 1980 was on May 2nd and the earliest opening in the past 15 years was on May 11th. This winter has so far been quite unique and anything can happen. Fingers crossed for you !!
The good news is that you will love Yosemite whatever the outcome.
What a gorgeous day in Yosemite. The start of the Easter weekend!
http://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog/...l-04-06-12.jpg
Photo courtesy of the Yosemite Conservancy -- April 6th at 5:00 pm
That snow pack is dissapearing fast !!
On April 1st the Merced River Basin snowpack was at 47% of average and Tuolumnue basin at 43% !!
Slightly off topic, here is an incredible Timelapse video taken around Yosemite park that I could watch over and over !
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeQo-Rl9VFc
There has been a special weather statement released that could see some mountain snow, with up to 12" expected between Tuesday and Wednesday, with the possibility of a colder front following in on Friday bringing more snow.
Dave.Quote:
...UNSETTLED TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY...
A PACIFIC STORM WILL APPROACH CALIFORNIA TUESDAY...THEN MOVE
INLAND TUESDAY NIGHT. RAIN WILL FIRST BEGIN ON THE WEST SIDE OF
THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY LATE TUESDAY AFTERNOON...SPREADING INLAND
TUESDAY NIGHT. THE SNOW LEVEL WILL LOWER TO BETWEEN 5000 AND 6000
FEET BY WEDNESDAY MORNING...WITH UP TO A FOOT OF NEW SNOW POSSIBLE
ABOVE 7000 FEET. SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS SHOWERS WILL LINGER INTO
WEDNESDAY...BUT WILL BE DECREASING DURING THE DAY. HOWEVER...WITH
PARTIAL CLEARING WEDNESDAY...THERE WILL BE SOME HEATING AND A
SLIGHT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS OVER THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN SAN
JOAQUIN VALLEY AND THE ADJACENT FOOTHILLS.
PARTIAL CLEARING WILL OCCUR WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND THURSDAY. A FEW
LINGERING SHOWERS ARE POSSIBLE FROM FRESNO NORTH...BUT NO
SIGNIFICANT RAIN OR SNOW IS EXPECTED.
A SECOND STORM IS FORECAST TO REACH CENTRAL CALIFORNIA FRIDAY.
RAIN WILL SPREAD INLAND THURSDAY NIGHT AND CONTINUE FRIDAY. THIS
WILL BE A SLIGHTLY COOLER AND STRONGER STORM...WITH SIGNIFICANT
RAIN AND MOUNTAIN SNOW POSSIBLE. THE SNOW LEVEL COULD FALL TO
AROUND 4000 FEET FRIDAY...AND COULD CAUSE TRAVEL PROBLEMS ON THE
GRAPEVINE AND TEHACHAPI PASS.
IF YOU ARE PLANNING TRAVEL BETWEEN THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY AND
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA FRIDAY THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING...CHECK THE
LATEST FORECASTS AND ROAD CONDITIONS BEFORE DEPARTING.
The weather has closed in on Tioga Pass and has the potential to leave up to 24" of fresh snow on the ground.
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...jpgApril12.jpg
Just as the plow crews were starting to think it was gonna be easy ! [I doubt it]
Dave.
It's amazing how fast it melts this year
http://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog/...l-04-18-12.jpg
Photo Courtesy of the Yosemite Conservancy
April 18th at 4:30 pm PDT
latest snow report by the NPS sounds very encouraging. So my fingers are still crossed that the tioga pass will be open by the 13th May 2012, when i hope to cross to get from death valley to Yosemite.
"Weather: (April 11 through April 18)
High temp: 52°F (April 16)
Low temp: 10°F (April 12)
New Snow: 16 inc...hes
Total settled snow depth: 17 inches as of April 18, 2012
Skiing Conditions and Weather: Both Winter and Spring ski conditions were found in the Tuolumne area this week. A cold storm came through on April 13 and left 16 inches here at Tuolumne Meadows and over 2 feet of snow in the higher elevations. Powder skiing has rapidly evolved into spring snow since then as sunny warm days and cold nights have transformed the snowpack. The snowpack is shrinking fast and if you want to enjoy the Tuolumne area with snow you better come soon. Bare patches are showing up on the Tioga Road within the park, and the east side of Tioga Pass is snow free from the park boundary to the gate at the bottom of Lee Vining Canyon.
Avalanche and Snowpack Conditions: For the latest avalanche advisory for this area go to www.esavalanche.org for the Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center and click on advisory. The ESAC site is updated several times a week and more often during weather events.
There is significantly more snow than the 17 inches that is on our snow stake at Tuolumne when you get above 9,200 feet in all drainages and North facing slopes. The snowpack has settled from this week’s new snow and the avalanche hazard is presently low in the Tuolumne area. Wilderness travelers should pay attention to overnight temperatures and use caution on any days following nights that are not below freezing.
Wildlife: The sounds of spring are apparent throughout the area. Birds are now coming through and are very vocal on these spring mornings. The yellow-rumped warbler is the newest arrival and a wide variety of birds can be observed daily. The Tuolumne River is starting to open up and summer will be here soon.
Questions: Power and phones are out for the season. Contact the Wilderness Office at 209/372-0740 with any questions or concerns. Bring your ski & skin wax and happy skiing!! --
Laura & Rob Pilewski
Tuolumne Winter Rangers"
I have been keeping an eye on any news coming in and there has been a couple of unconfirmed reports. One that states CA120 has been plowed to the east gate and they are close to opening up to Glacier point. Another report taken from an NPS worker stated that the Plows are working up on the pass, but as yet there has been no confirmed updates from the NPS about this.
What the Yosemite site is stating is that the Glacier point road is opening today !! That's the earliest opening since they started records for Glacier in 1995, the average opening being May 23rd. Wow !