Care to make your best guess?

[Mark Sedenquist]

Every year, about this time the questions begin about when Tioga Pass over the Sierra Nevada moutains will open between Yosemite Valley on the west and Owens Valley on the east.

In the past month we have seen record snow fall in the Sierras and so I thought it might be a hoot to see how good our roadtripping crystal balls might be this year.

The "winner" might get something near and dear to us all (free fuel)!

Mark

This contest is now on it's 9th Prognosticator Attempt. Here the latest:
Prognosticators Extraordinaire To-Date:
Tioga Pass Prognosticator Winners:
Phil Boardman, (PhilB) Spring 2009 (Click here for news about this achievement)
weirj Winter 2008
******dcTPP (Darn Close -- Tioga Pass Prognosticator)
*************Don Casey (CalOldBlue) Winter 2009 Click here for the declaration of dcTPP winner!
*************Lynn & Victor (Hotel Charlotte) Spring 2008
*************Joey (Kinless) Spring 2007

[AZBuck]

I am a firm believer in Callahan's Corollary to Murphy's Law (namely: "Murphy was an optimist."), Thus I predict that Tioga Pass will open exactly one week after I wish to cross it.

AZBuck

[Mark Sedenquist]

I am a firm believer in Callahan's Corollary to Murphy's Law (namely: "Murphy was an optimist."), Thus I predict that Tioga Pass will open exactly one week after I wish to cross it.

AZBuck,
That is a classic prediction. Actually, I am predicting that it will never officially open this year -- they will carve out a path through the ice in late August and then we will have an early snow storm and close it until June 15, 2007! (How is that for walking way out on a limb)?

Mark

[RoadTripper Brad]

Mmmmm... I say.... sometime between July 4-10. Just a hunch.

[Utahtea]

May 31st to June 9th.....That's my guess! I'm hoping for some HOT weather to melt that snow quickly! A couple of years ago they had a lot of snow and then we had a hot spring and it opened in May!

Utahtea

[Mark Sedenquist]

May 31st to June 9th.....That's my guess!

Utahtea,
You could be right -- I am still hedging my bets and suggesting the end of July at the soonest! I just looked at a post I made in 2004 -- that is evidence of a "warm spring"...

Mark

[Mark Sedenquist]

I just looked on the official Tioga Pass Plowing Report. And I qoute:
There is no estimated opening date for 2006.

Hey! That doesn't look so bad -- for about 10 feet or so! {Check back on this page -- the NPS is updating this photo for us with progress made each week or so}

[noeluap]

haha i just voted for <may 30.

i'm hoping my vote will somehow cause the snow to melt. yippee

my trip to yosemite will b on the 12-15th... really hoping tioga pass is open. will make our routes easier.

[Mark Sedenquist]

From the NPS Site:

Tioga Road Plowing Update

The Tioga Road opened for the 2006 season on Saturday, June 17.

And wouldn't you know it! No one guessed the right date!
[The "winner" might get something near and dear to us all (free fuel)!]

Mark