Tioga Pass Prognosticator 37. Spring opening competition!

[Southwest Dave]

Welcome to the 37th Tioga Pass Prognosticator and a chance to win a free tank of gas by correctly predicting when the Tioga pass will open for the 2024 Spring/summer season. The Tioga Pass (CA-120) crosses the Sierra Nevada through Yosemite NP and is one of the most dramatic and beautiful drives anywhere in the world! It is usually closed sometime in November due to ice and snow, and will not open again until late Spring or early summer after the big thaw, and the snow and debris has been cleared by the road crews. This is a mammoth task and can take weeks to achieve, while all the time there is a risk of late storms and avalanches delaying the opening. Quite the challenge !

So have you got what it takes to predict the correct date of opening and win a free tank of gas for your

Road trip ride?!

All you have to do is follow the rules posted further down the page to predict the correct opening date for Spring 2024 and a tank of gas is yours! It doesn't matter how you get there, you can study data, use a crystal ball or throw a dart at a calender, you just need the correct date. You can also add a bonus prize, enter a time and if you are within 60 minutes of the official opening time you will get an additional gift from RTA!

A view of Half dome from the High Sierra webcam on Feb 8th 2024.

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 so make sure your date hasn't been claimed already. 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's a list of previous TPPC's. (Tioga pass prognosticator champions)
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 previous DCTPP (Darn close Tioga pass prognosticators)
***************liam2k04 Winter closing 2023
***************Mark Sedenquist 2023 Spring opening
***************Southwest Dave Winter closing 2022
***************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

This list contains previous opening dates to help you along.
2023 July 22nd. (Very late on this record breaking year!)
2022 May 27th 9am
2021 May 27th (9am)
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

This link contains Yosemite NP official opening/closing page with links to current conditions, weather forecasts and more.

And this link shows live pictures from the Sentinel webcam.

...and links to previous Spring opening Tioga pass contests.

Spring opening 2022
..............2021
..............2020
.............2019
.............2018
.............2017
.............2016
.............2015
.............2014
.............2013

Here are some of our Lucky winners filling up their Road trip rides!

Mark Sedenquist. Winter closing 2018 and still the reigning Champ ! (Time to take his throne folks!! )


George Carey (glc) Spring opening 2014


George again Spring 2013. (Back to back wins)


CANative Spring 2011.


Brian Shannon. (Exodus) Spring, 2010.


Phil Boardman (PhilB) Spring 2009


It costs nothing to enter so have a go at winning a tank of gas. Follow the simple rules and don't forget to 'Ping the Poll' at the top of the page. Good luck!

Dave.

[UKCraig]

June 14th i think

[Southwest Dave]

June 14th i think

If that's your prediction Craig, you need to put a time in your post and 'Ping the poll' at the top.

Dave

[Mark Sedenquist]

My first dart: June 7th at 8 am.

Thanks to Sheriff Dave for setting this semi-annual contest up again this year!

And a lovely photo to get this going!


Photo provided by and courtesy of The Yosemite Conservancy

February 12th at 05:31 pm PST

[Southwest Dave]

That's a nice capture from the Sentinel Webcam Mark!

With more snow on the way there is a Winter weather warning alert.

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 4 PM WEDNESDAY TO 4 PM
PST THURSDAY...

* WHAT...Snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 6 to 12
inches. Winds gusting as high as 50 mph over the higher peaks.

* WHERE...Sierra Nevada from Yosemite National Park to Fresno
County at elevations above 6,000 feet.

* WHEN...From 4 PM Wednesday to 4 PM PST Thursday.

* IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult to impossible. The
hazardous conditions could impact the morning or evening
commute. Gusty winds could bring down tree branches.

Dave

[Mark Sedenquist]

I always like how the sun tends to melt the snow all down to a common level.


Photo provided by and courtesy of The Yosemite Conservancy

February 13th at 04:01 pm PST

[Mark Sedenquist]

Fresh snow today!


Photo provided by and courtesy of The Yosemite Conservancy

February 15th at 09:01 am PST

**The human mole has returned!


Photo provided by and courtesy of The Yosemite Conservancy

February 15th at 02:27 pm PST

**note of explanation:
Since you might not have been following the thread for that last few weeks...

That pile of snow in the middle of the frame has been pushed there by a tracked vehicle -- we never see the human who does this-- but the tracks show up every so often. Presumably, they are pushing snow away from the post where the camera is mounted--or something--we really don't have a clue how anyone gets to this spot.

[Mark Sedenquist]

And the next wave of snowstorms is on the horizon!


Photo provided by and courtesy of The Yosemite Conservancy

February 16th at 05:35 pm PST

[Mark Sedenquist]

Fresh snow is falling now!


Photo provided by and courtesy of The Yosemite Conservancy

February 17th at 11:04 am PST

[Southwest Dave]

We could see an additional 4 feet (or more) of snow on the ground by Tuesday evening with a lot coming through on Sunday night, through Monday and into Tuesday!

Dave.