The 30th Tioga Pass Prognosticator, (TPP). Winter closing 2020

[Southwest Dave]

Howdy folks.

Due to the Corona virus pandemic we have decided to skip this years Winter closing contest as it seems the Tioga pass was never truly open. The road is only open to those with visitor permits to enter the park and as of now, it has not been officially declared open at all this year. The last official notification about the status of Tioga pass was for the closure on 19th November 2019. I will keep an eye out for weather conditions and any updates and post relevant info here, so if you have any news or photos to share please do !

We look forward to resuming the contest for the Spring opening 2021.

Dave.

[Mark Sedenquist]

Yep, this really does seem like a "lost season of roadtripping."

A good call and looking forward to a new season of trans-Sierra Nevada road trips in Spring 2021!

[Mark Sedenquist]

Took a quick view around the Sierra Nevada's -- lots and lots smoke up there.

Couple of views of note:

This is the CalFire Air Tanker Base in Ramona, California. Both S-2 Air Tankers are sitting at their ready spots -- but no need to roll out today (thus far today): (I like the plastic spider!!!)


I don't even remember a time when the stream flow was this low at Happy Isles in Yosemite NP:



And a very smoky view of Half Dome from the Ahwahnee Meadow.

[Mark Sedenquist]

And this is sort of interesting.

The largest helitanker in the world...

Operated by Coulson Aviation, Inc., the "Very Large" CH-47 Chinook Helitanker (VLHT) is equipped with a state-of-the-art Retardant Aerial Delivery System (RADS) and can deliver a payload of 3,000 gallons of water or retardant in a single pass over a wildfire. Its capabilities also include day and night vision goggle firefighting operations, infrared technology and the ability to hover-fill, even at night.

[DonnaR57]

I hadn't seen that picture of the Ramona Cal Fire Tanker base recently. But I'm going to diverge and give a little story (good one) about the Ramona Cal Fire folks.

I had left work today at the normal time, got about 2+ blocks away when my Low Tire Pressure light came on. Made the decision to go on into Ramona (I work just outside of it) to fill my tire, after looking at it - not super low, but it looked a bit low.

About 1/2 mile down the road, my car began to act very weirdly. I made the right turn and pulled down the road a bit before I pulled to the side of it, put the Emergencies on, and went outside to look at the tire. HORRIBLE. The sidewall was falling apart, looked like something had chewed it all around. I called AAA, was told there was about a 55 minute wait, and then sat. Ramona folks are very kind, very caring, for the most part. Two fellow teachers stopped to see if they could help or give me a ride home. Then two more complete strangers pulled over to see if I needed them to call someone for me. Said I was waiting for AAA. The fifth vehicle was a Cal Fire truck -- he pulled up right behind me, jumped out -- police officer on his way home from that Ramona base you just posted - asked if he could change that tire for me when he looked at it. He was just about done changing it (I'd have done it myself but was wearing a skirt today) when AAA called -- they'd be there in about 20 minutes. Um, thank you, but this kind officer from Cal Fire changed it for me.

Anyway, blessings to all the firefighters, and thankful that they haven't been called out very recently. Our lead school custodian, however, is on National Guard duty for a month fighting fires up in the north ...


Donna

[Southwest Dave]

Wow, that Helitanker is a hell of a beast. It's a shame there isn't a lot more of them available.

[glc]

If you are interested:

https://verticalmag.com/news/coulson...g-helicopters/

[Mark Sedenquist]

I hadn't seen that picture of the Ramona Cal Fire Tanker base recently. But I'm going to diverge and give a little story (good one) about the Ramona Cal Fire folks.

Yeah, that was a good story! I was a little confused about the mention of a "police officer" working for CalFire? I thought that everyone who works for CalFire is a firefighter or works in CalFire administration.

Mark

[Mark Sedenquist]

That's a pretty good article. I saw it (if you count radar as "seeing") working on the Bobcat fire in southern California over the last month.

As a friend mentioned to me -- can you imagine the "g-forces" that helitanker undergoes if the pilot drops all 3,000 gallons in one drop. Pretty impressive that it doesn't fall out of the sky!

Mark

[glc]

It wouldn't fall out of the sky, it would do a rapid climb. However, I assume the pilot (or the autopilot if it has one) would simultaneously be reducing power to compensate.