Tioga Pass Prognosticator #16

[Southwest Dave]

I've been digging around for a couple of days and not even a hint of an official closing date so far. There is a reported snow depth of only 12 inches in the meadows but it's unlikely to go anywhere with the freezing temps. In fact the Mono Lake crew have been praying to the snow gods in the wake of another dry season. November 19th looks to be the last time it was open to traffic but we will have to wait and see.

Sheriff Dave.

[Mark Sedenquist]

I like that poem -- Good catch Sheriff Dave!

Mark

[Mark Sedenquist]

Looks like the high country is melting fast... I think it's unlikely that the road will really be officially closed anytime soon...


Photo Credit: Yosemite Conservancy Friday, December 13th at ~ 12:30 pm PST

[Southwest Dave]

Yes, the snow depth has dropped by around 4 inches in the past 3 or 4 days and daytime temps Sunday through Tuesday are going above 50F so maybe it's not over just yet.

[Utahtea]

Yes, the snow depth has dropped by around 4 inches in the past 3 or 4 days and daytime temps Sunday through Tuesday are going above 50F so maybe it's not over just yet.

My second date just was passed up & there is always the chance it will open again.... so I'll go for Dec. 28th at 2:17 PM. One month past my first guess.

Utahtea

[Lifemagician]

That camera is in such a magnificent spot.

Lifey

[Southwest Dave]

According to the Yosemite site the road is closed for the winter.

Tioga & Glacier Point Roads Closed for the Winter

The Tioga Road (Highway 120 through the park) and Glacier Point Road are closed due to snow; they usually reopen late May or June. You can check on current road conditions by calling 209/372-0200 (press 1 then 1). More »

There has been no official closing date posted thus far, but I'm going to give a friendly nudge to clarify this and get a confirmation date. As I mentioned previously, the last date anything was mentioned was for November 19th.

Dave.

[Mark Sedenquist]

Well, that's just weird. It probably has more to do with budgets and Federal spending monies than anything else. I bet the road is passable even now and in past years, they would have run a quick plow or two.

OK.

Maybe you could post a recap of the possible winners, if there are any?

Mark

P.S. I did look at the posting of our only two-peater.... CANative:

I'll try November 17th at 4 pm.

[glc]

Not that this is the official date, but Caltrans says 12/12.

Considering that they closed Ebbetts, Monitor, and Sonora for the winter on 12/9, this doesn't surprise me that they closed Tioga for the winter.

[Midwest Michael]

It looks like Caltrans might post the date when they "give up" and officially decide that plowing will end for the year. Looking at the previous years, the dates they have posted are much later than date that Tioga actually closed for the season.