Competition time. The 31st Tioga pass prognosticator. Spring opening 2021.

[Mark Sedenquist]

Wow, that is an awesome display and I remember hearing the tales about tossing burning debris over the edge.

Thanks to both of you for sharing!

Mark

[Southwest Dave]

Yes I'd also heard about the tipping of embers, not so good ! Some of the photos from this years 'event' were so realistic there were comments for this practice to be banned immediately !!

Dave.

[Southwest Dave]

The clouds are rolling in for another drop of the white stuff.

Winter Storm Watch
URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Hanford CA
515 AM PST Mon Mar 8 2021

CAZ192>195-082115-
/O.CON.KHNX.WS.A.0004.210310T0000Z-210311T0600Z/
Central Sierra-North Kings River-Sequoia Kings-Lake Isabella-
Including the cities of Devils Postpile, Florence Lake,
Lake Thomas Edison, Tuolumne Meadows, Bass Lake, Fish Camp,
Wawona, Shaver Lake, Camp Nelson, Giant Forest, Lodgepole,
Grant Grove, Johnsondale, and Lake Isabella
515 AM PST Mon Mar 8 2021

...WINTER STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY AFTERNOON
THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING...

* WHAT...Moderate to heavy snow possible. Between 9 to 18 inches
of snow will be possible in the Sierra Nevada. Winds gusting as
high as 60 mph over higher elevations.

* WHERE...Central Sierra, North Kings River, Sequoia Kings and
Lake Isabella Counties.

* WHEN...From Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday evening.

* IMPACTS...Plan on travel delays and slick, snow covered roads,
some of which may become impassable or closed. Roads that
remain open will require tire chains.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

[tseeb]

My guess is Friday, May 21 at 8:30 AM, mostly to split the difference between some existing guesses.

I saw the man-made Firefall once in the mid to late 1960s as my family used to stay with friends in nearby Harden Flat. I made reservations this year on 2/1 to enter Yosemite on 2/22 to see the natural Firefall. We got lucky and saw it on our first try. We brought camper and had to walk about 2 miles in each direction to viewing point, then had dinner in camper and waited a few hours before leaving park via CA-140 to El Portal where we spent night on side of road.

Following photo taken with iPhone 7. Longer trip report at https://www.firsttracksonline.com/bo...hp?f=3&t=14350 also includes following weekend at Pinnacles National Park.
1285FireFallA.jpg1284FireFallRedGoldRS.jpg

[Southwest Dave]

WOW ! Lovely images and I'm happy that it all came together just right for you. I have to admit, I'm just a teeny bit (lot) jealous as I would love to see it for myself IRL. Thanks for sharing.

Dave.

[Mark Sedenquist]

I liked the entire photo selection -- nice job of getting your truck over that bridge! And getting your dog to balance on the rock.

Mark

[Southwest Dave]

Spring has sprung ?? Reports from Yosemite say that following a warm week there is a lot more bare ground opening up as the snowpack shrinks. Despite the Spring feel to the weather the Tioga pass still has winter conditions with up to 4 foot of snow in places and there is a lot of work to be done as follows.

Why does it take so long to open the roads?
Even after plowing has been completed, trash collection, functioning restrooms, and adequate staffing must be in place to prevent harm to park resources.

Additionally, these are common causes for slow progress on the Tioga Road:

Road repairs, ditching, and brushing operations must occur once snow has melted back enough. The roads may also remain very icy even after they're plowed.
Avalanche zones (26 potential areas). The Olmsted Point avalanche zone requires careful work, including application of charcoal over the snow to help with melting and blasting the snow slab to make it safer for personnel.
Heavy snow pack slows the whole operation.
Trees that have fallen across the road and been buried in the snow can cause substantial damage to equipment and result in a stop to all operations until they're cleared.
Rockfalls buried by the snow can cause substantial damage to the equipment and result in a stop to all operations.
Snow storms during the opening require a stop to Tioga Road operations in order to plow and sand park roads that are open.

The April 1st surveys show the snowpack to be at 63% of average this year, so not a good one for the water table. As yet I have not seen a report of snowplows being put to work as they normally start around the 15th April, they do mention that COVID 19 will continue to affect operations during 2021. (Not making this comp any easier !) Also> Reservations will be required to enter the park starting May 21st through to September 30th, unless public health conditions improve before this date.

Dave.

[DonnaR57]

Mostly, I like the idea of reservations for Yosemite and other places that get so crowded you can't enjoy them very much (Disneyland, some beaches in CA). The lines, the waits for transportation, etc., make me seek out places that aren't as popular. Crowds are one reason why we said our February 2020 visit to Disneyland was our last one. (And when push came to shove, we requested a refund on our passports when one was offered.)

Not great about the snowpack, though.


Donna

[Southwest Dave]

Donna. This is the exact reason why we travel off peak season. I travel to get away from it all, not go with it ! I would rather have shorter days and chillier weather than little space. (I understand it's not an option for a lot of families with school aged Kids, teachers etc etc and I am grateful that we have certain freedoms (putting pandemics to one side lol) to do this !)

Dave.

[tseeb]

Interesting post by couple who have been lucky enough to "serve as the Tuolumne Meadows Winter Rangers" for at least the last couple of years. Here's the link.

My wife and I spent last week skiing the CA Sierra (with two runs on both of my two days at Heavenly into NV). We traveled with our dog and had four nights in camper and three at family cabin in South Lake Tahoe, CA.

Picture is from Vista Point overlooking Mono Lake near 8,143' Conway Summit.
1655LecheLuciaCamperMonoLakeViewpoint.jpg

While cleaning up email I also found a link to Snowbrains which is about efforts to clear the three Sierra passes N of Tioga. These are done by Caltrans while Tioga Pass through Yosemite is cleared by and under control of National Parks Service.