Competition. The 33rd Tioga pass prognosticator. Spring opening 2022 !!

[Southwest Dave]

How would you like to win a free tank of gas for your road trip ride and become our Tioga pass Spring opening prognosticator champ!?

Entry to the competition is also free !!

With the Tioga pass closed for the winter it's time to turn our attention to when we think it may open for the 2022 road trip season !

Here's a typical winter scene from the Sentinel webcam in the High Sierra.


Tioga pass is found in Yosemite National park along California state route 120 where it crosses the Sierra Nevada and is usually the last of the mountain passes to open up across the Sierra's. As such, it has become the RTA harbinger for the start of the summer road trip season in the west. This is a tricky one to predict with our last Spring opening Champion being tantrum in 2015 although Mark Sedenquist is our reigning Tppc (Tioga pass prognosticator champion) when he correctly predicted the winter closing in 2018. 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 2022. 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 2022 Tioga pass prognosticator ??

The competition.

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...

The rules

*** To win this prize, your date must be identified in a post on this thread more than or equal to fifteen (15) days prior to the official Tioga
Pass Road OPENING date.
** ** 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.***

Here is a list of our previous Tioga pass prognosticator Champs.
Mark Sedenquist. Winter closing 2018 (Still holder of the crown !!)
*** 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 our list of Dctpp's. (Darn close Tioga pass Prognosticators)
*****************Utahtea Spring 2020
*****************anuj1985 Winter 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
(The Winter closing competition was cancelled due to the uncertainty surrounding the pandemic)

Below you will find information from previous years that may help you in your choice.

Official Tioga Pass openings in recent years:
2020 June 15th (9am)
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 Yosemites Historical opening and closing dates.

And a webcam view of what's happening in Yosemite right now.
(Scroll down the link to see views from other webcams around Yosemite)

And here are the Spring opening threads from the last decade.

Spring opening 2021
Spring opening 2020
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

And here are some POG photos. (Proof of gas !)

Mark Sedenquist. Winter closing 2018. (and still reigning Champ !)


George Carey. Spring opening 2014.(glc)


George again in Spring 2013.


CAnative Spring 2011


Brian Shannon. (Exodus) Spring, 2010.


Phil Boardman (PhilB) Spring 2009

Best of luck everyone and here's hoping for a great road tripping year ahead !!

[Southwest Dave]

Just catching up with whats been happening in Yosemite and it appears that January has been an extremely dry month and winter seems to have forgotten it's still meant to be winter !! The good news for the snowpack/water table is that this follows one of the wettest Decembers on record meaning that the snowpack is still 92% of average at the beginning of February. (December brought 37% of the annual average of percipitation to Tuolumne meadows) We normally see late winter storms arrive which could top up the 40 inches of accumulated snow depth at the Meadows. The High sierra webcam hasn't updated but here's a view of the Badger pass ski area earlier this month.

[Mark Sedenquist]

Throwing in the first dart -- May 12th at 9 am

Nice to see the challenge extended once again.

[Southwest Dave]

A winter storm is blasting it's way through the Sierra's at present creating a Winter weather warning from the National weather service.

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM PST
WEDNESDAY...

* WHAT...Snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 4 to 8
inches above 3500 feet. Snow amounts of 2 to 4 inches from
1500 feet to 3500 feet. Total snow accumulations of 1 to 2
inches from 1000 feet to 1500 feet.

* WHERE...The Sierra Nevada and adjacent foothills from Fresno
County northward.

* WHEN...Valid until 4 PM PST Wednesday afternoon.

* IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult. Early season campers
and hikers should be prepared for a return to winter
conditions.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Slow down and use caution while traveling.

With a cold East wind temperatures could drop to a rather chilly -10F tonight !!

Dave.

[Pmount]

May 20th at 9 AM

[Southwest Dave]

There has been a mix of weather over the last few weeks bringing cold nights and some warm days, followed by Northeast winds that brought some much welcomed fresh snow.

This photo was captured by Yosemite rangers on March 2nd from Elizabeth lake, a couple of miles south of Tioga pass and Tuolumne meadows.



Snow is likely today and then clearing until the weekend when more is expected on the high ground.

This is a cool video giving an insight into the plowing effort that usually starts around the middle of April.

Dave.

[DonnaR57]

May 23 - 9 am

[Mark Sedenquist]

This is a cool video giving an insight into the plowing effort that usually starts around the middle of April.

Dave, THANKS FOR reposting that video -- It is a good reminder of the work those crews do.

Mark

[Limane]

Is this where I guess the opening date of Tioga Road? If so, hopeful thinking suggests May 9, 2022 (8:00AM).

[Southwest Dave]

Hello Limane and welcome to RTA !

Yes this is the right place to submit your prediction, but can you go to the Poll at the top of the thread and select the appropriate date range to validate your entry.

Dave.

(We also have Mass Tim who has pinged the poll but not identified a date and time in a post, so please ensure you do both to validate your entry)