Competition: Tioga pass prognosticator No 29. (Spring opening 2020)

[Southwest Dave]

Howdy. This is the 29th consecutive Tioga Pass Prognosticator where we invite you to predict the future status of the Tioga pass and have the chance to win a tank of gas for your road trip ride!!

Tioga Pass which is found on California State Route 120 provides the eastern access to Yosemite National Park and is usually the last pass opened to the roadtripping public each Spring across the Sierra Nevada. As such, it has become the RTA harbinger for the start of the summer road trip season in the west. Our last competition saw Mark Sedenquist hold on to his crown as champ in the 2018 winter closing comp, but member anuj1985 became the new Dctpp (Darn close tioga pass prognosticator)in the winter closing 2019 comp. Now it's time to see if we can find a new champ who can correctly predict when the pass will open for the Spring of 2020. We don't mind how you do it, you can use a crystal ball, study data or just throw a dart at the calendar, as long as you follow the rules posted below. So, have you got what it takes to be crowned the Spring 2020 Tioga pass prognosticator Champ ?

If you want to win a tank of gas for your road trip ride, read on.

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...

Just follow the rules below and good luck !!

*** 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 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. 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.

A wonderful capture from the Sentinel Webcam.
Photo courtesy of The Yosemite Conservancy

Our reigning Tioga Pass Prognosticator champ is Mark Sedenquist who correctly predicted the 2018 winter closing contest and here's a list of all our previous winners.

Tioga Pass Prognosticator Winners:

Mark Sedenquist. Winter closing 2018
*** 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 the dcTPP contestants (Darn Close -- Tioga Pass Prognosticator)

*****************anuj1985Winter 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

Below is some info on previous years you may find helpful.

Official Tioga Pass openings in recent years:
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

A link to previous opening and closing dates on Yosemite's official page.

And a list of dates for other Sierra Nevada passes.

And a view of whats happening right now in Yosemite.

And here are some Spring opening threads from the last decade !

Spring opening 2019.
Spring opening 2018
Spring opening 2017
Spring opening 2016
Spring opening 2015
Spring opening 2014
Spring opening 2013
Spring opening 2012
Spring opening 2011
Spring opening 2010

And some POG photos from previous winners. (Proof of gas)


Mark Sedenquist. Winter closing 2018.


George Carey (glc) Spring opening 2014.


George again! Spring opening 2013


CAnative Spring 2011


Brian Shannon. (Exodus) Spring, 2010.


Phil Boardman (PhilB) Spring 2009

So what are you waiting for ? Get your predictions posted and give yourself a chance to win a tank of gas for your road trip !!

[Southwest Dave]

Generally speaking it looks quite settled up on the pass at the moment although there are a few light snow flurries in the weather forecast. This is the current scene from the Sentinel Webcam that shows a light dusting of snow at this time.



Dave.

[Utahtea]

I’m picking May 22 at 8 am

Utahtea

[Southwest Dave]

Please don't forget to 'ping' the poll above and select the date range of your predictiction.

Dave.

[DonnaR57]

May 20, 8 am.

[Mark Sedenquist]

Friday, May 1st at 9 am.

I'd like to pick my birthday -- May 12th -- but I think it is going to be an early opening this year.

Kudos to Sheriff Dave for getting this TPP contest set up and off-for-the-hills again!

Mark

[Utahtea]

Friday, May 1st at 9 am.

I'd like to pick my birthday -- May 12th -- but I think it is going to be an early opening this year.

Kudos to Sheriff Dave for getting this TPP contest set up and off-for-the-hills again!

Mark

I was going to pick the 12th because it’s my grandson’s birthday but I’m optimistically hoping for a lot of late snow so I went later in the month.

Utahtea

[Southwest Dave]

It could well be an early opening this year unless we get some late winter storms, which is entirely possible.

Here is a report from the National weather service.

Current Snowpack Conditions -
Everywhere from the Northern portions of the Klamath Basin down to
the Tulare Basin in the Southern Sierra Nevada is experiencing
much below average snowpack. February precipitation totals were
one of the lowest on record for the State. This dry month has
driven snowpack totals down to around 50% of average over
California for the water year to date, and about 40% of average
for April 1st.

Observed Seasonal Precipitation-
Precipitation totals for the current water year are about 50% of
average to date. December was a near normal month, but that has
been followed by a below average January, and a much below average
February. Last year at this time precipitation totals were about
125% of average.

Dave.

[Southwest Dave]

Check out the difference between todays image from the Sentinel webcam compared to the capture in post 2 of this thread, taken just under a month ago.



There is more snow expected today before the weather clears overnight through until Sunday, when there is more snow forecast right through until at least the middle of next week.

Dave.

[Mark Sedenquist]

Looking like a nice weather storm.

It is pretty chilly here in the Las Vegas area too.

Mark