Contest : Tioga Pass Prognosticator 21.

[Southwest Dave]

Tioga Pass Spring opening 2016

This is our 21st attempt at predicting future conditions for one of America's favorite mountain passes, Tioga Pass crosses the Sierra Nevada mountains through Yosemite NP as part of CA Highway 120. With recent droughts and unusual weather patterns it has been getting tougher to predict and this year won't prove to be any easier as California is experiencing an 'El Nino' season with higher precipitation expected. Our reigning Tioga Pass Prognosticator champ is forum member 'tantrum' who correctly predicted May 4th as the 2015 Spring opening date on his first ever attempt !! Here is that confirmation. If you want to be our next Tioga Pass champion and win a tank of gas for your road trip ride you can enter the contest for free , read on !!

Here's a full list of previous winners and dcTPP's [Darn close Tioga pass prognosticators.]

*** 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
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***and the dcTPP contestants (Darn Close -- Tioga Pass Prognosticator)
*************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

A wonderful image of conditions in Yosemite NP FROM Yosemite Conservancy webcam from Sentinel dome on January 18 2016.

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So do you have what it takes to become the new Chief
Prognosticator for the 2016 Spring opening ??

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The Contest.

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...
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The rules.

* To win this prize, the date must be posted** on this Forum more than or equal to fifteen (15) days prior to the official Tioga Pass Road OPENING date. (**Your "date" must be identified in a post on this thread...**)
* Further, you must identify a particular date in your post.
* 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.
* A single calendar date can only be claimed by one member. 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.

Official Tioga Pass openings in recent years:
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

And here are the Yosemite NP official open/closing recorded dates in recent times.

And this link lists opening and closing dates for other High Sierra passes.

Want to see what's happening in Yosemite right now ? Check out the Webcams here.

Here are previous predictive efforts back to 2010.
Winter closing 2015
Spring opening 2015
Winter closing 2014.
Spring opening 2014
Winter closing 2013
Spring opening 2013
Winter closing 2012
Spring opening 2012
Winter closing 2011
Spring opening 2011
Winter closing 2010
Spring opening 2010

So you want to win a tank of gas for your Roadtrip ride like those below ?

George Carey [glc] 2014 Spring opening.


.....and George again Spring opening 2013.


Jessica Beagles-Roos [CAnative] 2011 winter closing.


CAnative 2011 Spring opening.


Brian Shannon (Exodus) Spring, 2010


Phil Boardman (PhilB) Spring 2009


Happy predicting

[Southwest Dave]

Even though this looks as though it could be the first June opening since 2010 what with 'El Nino' to consider, I am going to kick off with May 13th at 2pm, that's Friday 13th !

Dave.

[DonnaR57]

June 15th at 2 pm.

[Mark Sedenquist]

May 12th at noon


(Photo courtesy of the Yosemite Conservancy)

Now this is a .... HUMP! January 24th at 8:45 am pst

[Southwest Dave]

There is a winter storm warning in place for heavy snow right through the weekend with a possible one to two feet of new snow accumulation on the ground.

Dave.

[Lifemagician]

How about another auspicious day - June 13th.

On the other hand I sure hope it will be open before then.

Lifey

[Mark Sedenquist]

Photo courtesy of the Yosemite Conservancy January 31st @ 09:41 am pst

[Mark Sedenquist]

Melted a bit -- but still the potential for more white stuff

(Photo courtesy of the Yosemite Conservancy) February 2nd, @ 12:45 pm PST

[Mark Sedenquist]

Not the biggest hump, we've seen, but this is still a lot of snow:

(Photo courtesy of the Yosemite Conservancy) February 3, 2016 @ 3:20 pm pst

[DonnaR57]

Another storm is moving in to Northern California, set to head towards Yosemite, this coming weekend. Stay tuned.


Donna