Tioga Pass Prognosticator 37. Spring opening competition!
Welcome to the 37th Tioga Pass Prognosticator and a chance to win a free tank of gas by correctly predicting when the Tioga pass will open for the 2024 Spring/summer season. The Tioga Pass (CA-120) crosses the Sierra Nevada through Yosemite NP and is one of the most dramatic and beautiful drives anywhere in the world! It is usually closed sometime in November due to ice and snow, and will not open again until late Spring or early summer after the big thaw, and the snow and debris has been cleared by the road crews. This is a mammoth task and can take weeks to achieve, while all the time there is a risk of late storms and avalanches delaying the opening. Quite the challenge !
So have you got what it takes to predict the correct date of opening and win a free tank of gas for your Road trip ride?!
All you have to do is follow the rules posted further down the page to predict the correct opening date for Spring 2024 and a tank of gas is yours! It doesn't matter how you get there, you can study data, use a crystal ball or throw a dart at a calender, you just need the correct date. You can also add a bonus prize, enter a time and if you are within 60 minutes of the official opening time you will get an additional gift from RTA!
A view of Half dome from the High Sierra webcam on Feb 8th 2024.
https://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog.../0208_0934.jpg
The Competition!
You are welcome to use your predictive talents and if you manage to hit the correct date -- the RTA Editorial group will pay for a tank of Roadtrip fuel in your personal roadtrip ride. Legal has suggested that we identify what this means.... So, for the record, the prize will be limited to $75.00 USD* ************Forum Moderator, Dave Gomm, (Southwest Dave) is the official Sheriff and Chief Wrangler for this contest and his rulings as to the naming of the winner are final, (& they can also be arbitrary & capricious) Got a beef? Or a question? Take it up with him...
The Rules
*** To win this prize, your date must be identified in a post on this thread more than or equal to fifteen (15) days prior to the official Tioga Pass Road OPENING date.
** ** Further, you must identify a particular time in your post (date and time is required for the winning entry). *And if you manage to identify the correct opening time within 60 minutes.... you'll receive an additional surprise gift from RTA.
*** Once you have selected your date you must select the relevant date range in the Poll above.
*** A single calendar date can only be claimed by one member so make sure your date hasn't been claimed already. If two or more members chose the same calendar date, and that date proves to be the "Winning Date", the prize will go to the member who "claimed" the date the earliest in this contest period.
***The official date for this Tioga Pass Prognosticator contest tracks with Pacific Time (USA), so no matter what date it might be in your local neighbourhood, the date used for this contest will be the same one used by the officials at Yosemite National Park for Tioga Pass.***
Here's a list of previous TPPC's. (Tioga pass prognosticator champions)
Mark Sedenquist. Winter closing 2018 (Still holder of the crown !!)
*** tantrum, Spring 2015 Opening
George Carey (glc), Spring 2014 Opening
George Carey (glc), Spring 2013
Opening Jessica Beagles-Roos (CAnative), Spring 2011 and Winter 2011 (although it actually closed in 2012)
Brian Shannon (Exodus) Spring, 2010
Phil Boardman, (PhilB) Spring 2009
weirj Winter 2008 -
And previous DCTPP (Darn close Tioga pass prognosticators)
***************liam2k04 Winter closing 2023
***************Mark Sedenquist 2023 Spring opening
***************Southwest Dave Winter closing 2022
***************Utahtea Spring 2020
***************anuj1985 Winter 2019
**************Southwest Dave. Spring 2019
************** tseeb Spring 2018
************** Mark Sedenquist, Winter 2017
**************Southwest Dave Spring 2017
**************travelingman Winter 2016
*************Jessica Beagles-Roos [CANative] Spring 2016
*************Jessica Beagles-Roos, (CaNative), Winter 2013
*************George Carey (glc), Spring 2012
*************Sheriff Dave Gomm (Southwest Dave), Winter 2010
*************Don Casey (CalOldBlue), Winter 2009
*************Lynn & Victor (Hotel Charlotte), Spring 2008
*************Joey (Kinless), Spring 2007
This list contains previous opening dates to help you along.
2023 July 22nd. (Very late on this record breaking year!)
2022 May 27th 9am
2021 May 27th (9am)
2020 June 15th (9am)
2019 June 21st (9am) *** This was a time restricted opening to traffic and fully opened on July 1st 8am)***
2018 May 21st (9am)
2017 June 29th, (8am)
2016 May 18th (Noon)
2015 May 4th (8 am)
2014 May 2nd (Noon)
2013 May 11th (Noon)
2012 May 7th (Noon)
2011 June 18th (8:45 am)
2010 June 5th (8:00 am)
2009: May 19th (10:30 am)
2008: May 21st (8:00 am)
2007: May 11th (this was an early one!)
2006: June 17th
2005: June 24th
2004: May 14th
2003: May 31st
2002: May 22nd
2001: May 12th
This link contains Yosemite NP official opening/closing page with links to current conditions, weather forecasts and more.
And this link shows live pictures from the Sentinel webcam.
...and links to previous Spring opening Tioga pass contests.
Spring opening 2022
..............2021
..............2020
.............2019
.............2018
.............2017
.............2016
.............2015
.............2014
.............2013
Here are some of our Lucky winners filling up their Road trip rides!
Mark Sedenquist. Winter closing 2018 and still the reigning Champ ! (Time to take his throne folks!! )
https://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog...19_Barstow.jpg
George Carey (glc) Spring opening 2014
http://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog/...y_2014_650.jpg
George again Spring 2013. (Back to back wins)
http://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog/...ey_07-3-13.jpg
CANative Spring 2011.
http://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog/...er_Jessica.jpg
Brian Shannon. (Exodus) Spring, 2010.
http://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog/...010_Winner.jpg
Phil Boardman (PhilB) Spring 2009
http://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog/...pinFreeGas.jpg
It costs nothing to enter so have a go at winning a tank of gas. Follow the simple rules and don't forget to 'Ping the Poll' at the top of the page. Good luck!
Dave.
Still looking like a nice day
At the dawn of our 29th year on RTA!
Fresh snow today!
https://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog...15_0902jpg.jpg
Photo provided by and courtesy of The Yosemite Conservancy
February 15th at 09:01 am PST
**The human mole has returned!
https://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog.../0215_1427.jpg
Photo provided by and courtesy of The Yosemite Conservancy
February 15th at 02:27 pm PST
**note of explanation:
Since you might not have been following the thread for that last few weeks...
Quote:
That pile of snow in the middle of the frame has been pushed there by a tracked vehicle -- we never see the human who does this-- but the tracks show up every so often. Presumably, they are pushing snow away from the post where the camera is mounted--or something--we really don't have a clue how anyone gets to this spot.
Storms the week of February 19th
Next round of storms are rolling in and dumping snow.
https://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog.../0219_0805.jpg
Photo provided by and courtesy of The Yosemite Conservancy
February 19th at 08:03 am PST
What a pretty view!
https://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog.../0219_1248.jpg
Photo provided by and courtesy of The Yosemite Conservancy
February 19th at 12:48 pm PST
Snow: Last Week of February
Looking like Winter is coming back!
https://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog.../0226_1112.jpg
Photo provided by and courtesy of The Yosemite Conservancy
February 26th at 11:11 am PST
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https://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog.../0226_1324.jpg
Look at the size of those snow flakes!
(Hmm.. they looked a lot bigger on my screen!)
February 26th at 3:24 pm PST
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Another gorgeous day in the Yosemite high country
https://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog.../0227_0750.jpg
February 27th at 07:50 am PST
camera lens has become damaged
I think the camera lens has become damaged somehow. I doubt anyone will be able to fix for a while.
Now, the former high-rez camera is capturing images that look like they were done by a Impressionism painter.
https://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog.../0310_1330.jpg
Photo provided by and courtesy of The Yosemite Conservancy
March 10th at 01:33 pm PDT
Normal service resumes (At least for now)
It looks as though the camera has been restored to it's normal self, although I can't extract the image and share it for some reason at the moment.
Dave
Progress is being made on the clarity!
Dave,
I agree that it is looking better -- but it is still not quite as sharp and clear as it used to be.
https://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog.../0311_1420.jpg
Photo provided by and courtesy of The Yosemite Conservancy
March 11th at 02:20 pm PDT (oops, I only thought I was seeing this at 2:20 pm --see next post)
But the continued existence of "THE HUMP" is very impressive!
Falling behind last years totals.
I was just taking a look at February's summary from the Winter Rangers report. This year there was 94 inches of new snow recorded, 33 inches over average for the month, and just 5 inches short of last February, which turned into a record breaking year.
As we head into March there is a much wider gap compared to last year. March 13th 2024 had a settled snow depth of 58 inches, compared to March 14th 2023 which had 146 inches recorded.
This image was taken on March 7th 2024 at Tuolumne meadows.
https://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog...7-2024_web.jpg
...and this one looking at Johnson peak on March 6th 2024.
https://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog...6-2024_web.jpg
Dave
Photos from last two weeks of March 2024
I still don't think this image is as clear as it was -- but I guess that's the way it's going to be.
https://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog...t-09-22-31.png
Photo provided by and courtesy of The Yosemite Conservancy
March 16th at 09:26 am PDT
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https://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog...t-13-47-52.png
Another gorgeous day
March 17th at 01:50 pm PDT
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https://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog...t-09-26-47.png
March 18th at 09:29 am PDT
So pretty, the pattern caused by the wind and melting
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https://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog...t-17-26-41.png
March 20th at 05:29 pm PDT
More than two months away and good dates already taken
My pick is Monday May 20 at 9 AM, a week before Memorial Day, but I'm probably too early as opening depends on how hard they work to do it and how much snow falls between now and then. Liam has that Friday which seems like a good guess along with that Saturday.
I see that Thoma has an entry in poll for May 20-26, but I did not see a post with a guess.
Storm-watch: March 22nd Fowards
No storms yet -- but clouds are on the way, no doubt.
https://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog...t-08-43-18.png
Photo provided by and courtesy of The Yosemite Conservancy
March 22nd at 08:45 am PDT
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https://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog...t-08-28-31.png
Yep, clouds and fresh snow are back in play in the Sierra Nevadas!
March 23rd at 8:30 am PDT
And here is one from today
Wow, yes that is an incredible amount of fresh white stuff.
And here is one from today:
https://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog...t-09-57-38.png
Photo provided by and courtesy of The Yosemite Conservancy
March 31st at 10:00 am PDT
And one more -- I wondered how Dave was getting the other image again--now I see how too!
https://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog.../0331_1138.jpg
March 31st at 11:30 am PDT
April Fool's Day this is not!
https://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog.../0401_1258.jpg
April 1st at 12:58 pm PDT
Mark
More snow in the forecast.
Lovely blue sky's in the last image, but Thursday is looking to bring in another 20 inches of fresh white powder!!
Dave
Human Mole? Tripped on the cable or the camera pole?
The human mole has been back and must have bumped the camera -- lost that nice focus again.
https://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog.../0403_1609.jpg
Photo provided by and courtesy of The Yosemite Conservancy
April 3rd at 04:12 pm PDT
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Fresh snow is falling again!
https://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog.../0404_0904.jpg
April 4th at 09:04 am PDT
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This counts as SERIOUS SNOWING!
https://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog.../0404_1604.jpg
April 4th at 04:04 pm PDT
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And the sun returns to the high country!
https://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog.../0406_1304.jpg
April 6th at 01:04 pm PDT
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Image quality has lost some of the focus again on both feeds.
https://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog...t-08-41-57.png
April 7th at 08:45 am PD
Good news for lake levels I hope.
It seems like Spring is arriving in the Sierra's this week with blue sunny sky's and temperatures reaching the mid 50C's at 8000ft. Yosemite Falls certainly appear to be coming alive with the Spring runoff beginning. There has been a lot of snow through March, well beyond average, and the temperatures have been below average which all suggests another good year for the water table. With snow surveys in Tuolumne Meadows showing the River drainage is likely to be 95-100% of average. That's good news following on from last winters record breaking season and should help maintain water levels at Mono lake.
Yosemite Falls
https://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog...yosfalls-t.jpg
Dave
