Advent of the Summer Road Trip Season: Tioga Pass Prognosticator #13

[CAnative]

The road has been plowed!

From Yosemite NP website

Last update: April 26, 2012
Tioga Road: The Tioga Road has been plowed, but much work remains, including significant road repairs and rock removal, along with plowing of parking lots, side roads, and clearing of ditches. There is no estimated opening date for the Tioga Road.

[CAnative]

Bicyclists get to go first. Yosemite NP website posting ....

Last update: April 27, 2012
Tioga Road: The Tioga Road has been plowed, but much work remains, including significant road repairs and rock removal, along with plowing of parking lots, side roads, and clearing of ditches. The Tioga Road opens to bicycles (but not vehicles) on Saturday, April 28. There is no estimate when the Tioga Road may open to vehicles.

[dambrogio]

Why cant the Yosemite NPS give us any estimate of when Tioga Pass will be opening. Surely they now have an idea whether is an additional few days or several weeks. I wish they would put us out of our misery.

Still got my fingers cross for my estimate of the 3rd May 2012.

[Southwest Dave]

With a lot of work still to be done they don't like to speculate untill they are pretty sure. Even though the road is plowed along it's lenght, it probably still needs widening and the avalanch zones checked and cleared where needed. They have to consider the safety aspect and the fact that late storms can arrive any time to the High Sierra and halt progress. Having said all that and with the weather forecast as it is and little snow depth reported, I reckon we might see an announcement in the next few days. [Hopefully that announcement will say May 4th !] ;-)

Hmmm. I wonder if they are that close to finishing on Friday, whether they might work Saturday. Could Jessica be in for a Hat trick !!

[CAnative]

Surely Dave has an advantage because the opening rules state

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 also could be arbitrary & capricious)

[Southwest Dave]

^^^ I'm also in charge of the plow crews !! ;-)

Rumours are flying around at the moment. The Mono Lake committee are getting whispers that from an official viewpoint, they are looking to May 15th. However there are also reports of the pass being open by the end of the week and looking at the forecast, I would tend to think this is nearer the mark, although it could sneak into the middle of next week quite easily.

This report is suggesting end of week with Sonora pass possibly opening Friday at Noon.

Wouldn't a double opening on Friday be nice !

[glc]

Looks like Monitor Pass is open, and Ebbetts Pass is almost open too.

[Mark Sedenquist]

You mean it could open on my birthday? Wow!

Ebbetts is already open? I'd love to be the first to drive it this year....

Mark

[glc]

Ebbetts is already open?

No - it's "almost" open -

SR 4
[IN THE CENTRAL CALIFORNIA AREA]
IS CLOSED FROM 2.5 MI WEST OF THE JCT OF SR 89 TO THE JCT OF SR 89
/EBBETTS PASS/ (ALPINE CO) - FOR THE WINTER - MOTORISTS ARE ADVISED TO
USE AN ALTERNATE ROUTE

[CAnative]

Well I never thought a Monday was likely so didn't pick my wedding anniversary.

Tioga Pass to open Monday, May 7

From the May 2, 2012 Yosemite News Release:

Yosemite National Park Superintendent Don Neubacher announced today that the Tioga Road will open for the season on Monday, May 7, 2012 at 12:00pm for all vehicle traffic.