The ploughing effort usually gets underway around April 15th each year, just a few days from now. It looks like they have a heck of a lot of work ahead of them to get the pass open !
Here is a great photo of the east entry kiosk showing just how much snow was on the pass at March 11th 2019 !
https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvis...torotate=false
Ploughing hasn't begun as yet as fresh snow falls on the pass and a winter weather warning is issued.
Looks like it's going to be a late one !Quote:
.WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 AM PDT
TUESDAY ABOVE 5000 FEET...
* WHAT...Snow expected above 5000 feet. Significant
accumulations will mainly occur above 6000 feet. Total snow
accumulations as much as 4 to 8 inches expected at the higher
elevations. Winds gusting as high as 55 mph.
* WHERE...Central Sierra and North Kings River.
* WHEN...Until 11 AM PDT Tuesday. Heaviest snowfall is expected
during the overnight hours.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Plan on slippery road conditions and
possible road closures. Campers and hikers should be prepared
for deteriorating weather conditions.
That is an incredible photo!
Friday June 14 at 8 AM
The crews have started work on the pass but as expected, there is a lot of work ahead.
From the Yosemite website.
Glacier point road has been ploughed along it's length so most of the effort is now on Tioga pass apart from some crews remaining to clear turn outs and parking lots on Glacier point road. There is no estimated time for the road to open.Quote:
The focus was on clearing downed trees and debris. The crew drove a snowcat to South Fork Bridge (eight miles from Tuolumne Grove, near Crane Flat) and found snow depths of five to seven feet, with deeper snow expected further up the road.
This picture shows an avalanche zone near Tenaya Lake taken on April 24th 2019.
https://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog...naya-lake..jpg
Dave.
Going to be some awesome waterfalls in the upper country this year!
I wish it was possible for me to drive CA-Hwy 108 over this glorious pass in the near future -- I bet the waterfalls are awesome.
Mark - Sonora Pass is not open. June Lake Loop opened 4/18, Lake Sabrina to Aspendell opened 4/22, and Monitor Pass opened today. The rest of the normal winter closures are still closed.
Hmmmm. I certainly thought it was...
But you appear to be correct. From the California DOT site:
SR 108
IS CLOSED FROM 26.4 MI EAST OF STRAWBERRY (TUOLUMNE CO) TO THE
JCT OF US 395 (MONO CO) /SONORA PASS/ - FOR THE WINTER - MOTORISTS ARE ADVISED
TO USE AN ALTERNATE ROUTE
I use this list for pass dates:
Mountain Pass Closures
http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/roadinfo/clsdlst.htm
That's a great resource page!