Tioga Pass Competition time once more ! The 35th Tppc !

[Southwest Dave]

The crews are making progress but they are certainly facing a challenge !



They are currently just East of White Wolf, roughly 15 miles from Crane flat. (May 25th update) They have uncovered new road damage 3 miles from Crane flat which will require one lane traffic control if it's not repaired before the opening of the road. There is a lot of work still to be done !

An update to road damage on the Big Oak Flat road (cont of CA120 into Yosemite). The road remains closed but with crews working 7 days a week they hope to have it opened to traffic on June 10th with some traffic control in place causing some delays.

Dave.

[Southwest Dave]

And here is a pretty cool link to Yosemite Falls timelapse videos.

That's a heck of a lot of water !!

Dave.

[DonnaR57]

Lots of water!!!!! It brings back memories of one spring trip (early April) that our family took to Yosemite. We were still tent-camping then and got a spot at Wawona CG. One morning, we got up, had breakfast, went to the general store in the village for some apples and to fill our water bottles (water was still turned off at Wawona, so we were relying on big jugs and small bottles). Then we went for a hike -- up up up to the top of Upper Yosemite Falls. GORGEOUS view after a hellacious hike. We ate our apples up there and then hiked down. Ah, lovely memories. Thanks for sharing the timelapse.


Donna

[Southwest Dave]

Despite the snow melt they are still facing a mammoth task ahead as you can see in the picture below. It appears they have cut through another 3 miles of snow in the past week and are 18 miles east of Crane Flat.



Dave

[tseeb]

Saw on local news this morning that 120 has reopened so my shortest route to Yosemite is available. But with my camper it's a one-way route as at least one of the tunnels only has enough clearance going into Yosemite Valley and even on that one I stayed away from edge.

Not the best written article, but interesting about Sonora Pass which has yet to reopen. https://a-z-animals.com/blog/the-ste...s-palms-sweat/ I've driven it (slowly going downhill with a stop to let others pass and brakes cool, late in evening) Eastbound, but would not try it Westbound in camper without an exhaust brake.

[Southwest Dave]

Yes that's great news and a day earlier than expected !! There will still be some works continuing as they apply the 'Finishing touches' so expect short delays and approach with caution is the advice.

Dave

[tseeb]

According to https://snowbrains.com/8736-ebbetts-...or-the-summer/

Some research found https://www.uniondemocrat.com/news/a...bcf7cf98e.html (from 2020 - note they only let you see 5 articles for free) that includes:

"Opening dates for Sonora Pass over the past five years were May 30 in 2019, May 3 in 2018, June 13 in 2017, May 18 in 2016, and April 17 in 2015, which was also the earliest opening in the past 10 years and the height of the historic drought from 2011 to 2017.

The opening dates for Ebbetts Pass over the past five years were May 30 in 2019, May 4 in 2018, June 30 in 2017, May 13 in 2016, and April 17 in 2015."

Note that 2017 and 2019 where both Springs with deep snowpacks and late opening of Sierra passes. Also while top of Ebbetts is nearly 1,000' lower than Sonora that due to steepness Sonora does not have many miles above 7,500'. Ebbetts is narrow and climbs to 8,050', then drops to Pacific Valley at 7,600' before climbing again to pass at over 8,730'.

[tseeb]

From https://www.uniondemocrat.com/news/a...539232cc8.html "Sonora Pass on Highway 108 is now open for the first time 211 days, the longest closure of the key tourism and commerce route since the 2004-05 winter season, when it was closed 220 days, Caltrans announced Friday." Only Tioga and Mt Lassen Loop among Sierra through highways remain closed.

Some smaller roads including 203 past Mammoth to Reds Meadow remain closed. Glacier Point Road in Yosemite is also still closed. According to https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/gproadfaq.htm "Glacier Point Road was closed to all traffic in 2022 to rehabilitate and improve the road. The road will be open sometime after early July, 2023, with 30-minute delays."

[Southwest Dave]

The crews are now 26 miles east of Crane Flat but have faced delays to their efforts due to heavy rain and thick fog being added to the challenge.

Dave

[liam2k04_]

Breaking the ice here. July 1st at noon!