Competition: Tioga Pass Prognosticator 24. Winter closing.

[Southwest Dave]

This is our 24th consecutive competition in trying to predict the (almost) unpredictable.

When will the Tioga Pass close for the winter season?

The Tioga Pass is one of the most scenic drives in the American west and is found along CA Highway 120 as it crosses the Sierra Nevada in Yosemite NP. Sometime during Fall and early winter the snow will arrive, eventually closing the Pass until the following Spring. Have you got what it takes to predict the closing date ? If you predict the correct date you could win a free tank of gas for your road trip ride, if you get within an hour of the official opening time you will also receive a bonus prize !! It doesn't matter how you arrive at your prediction you can use a crystal ball, study data or just take a wild guess, all you have to do is follow the rules set out below.

Contrasting images of the Upper Yosemite Valley with Half Dome in the foreground.

Do you have what it takes to become the next Tioga Pass Prognosticator Champion ?

The Contest

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 road trip fuel in your personal road trip ride. Legal has suggested that we identify what this means.... So, for the record, the prize will be limited to $75.00 USD*

Please read entry rules carefully.

To win this prize, the date must be posted** on this Forum more than or equal to fifteen (15) days prior to the official Tioga Pass Road CLOSING date. (**Your "date" and time must be identified in a post on this thread...**)
* Further, you must identify a particular date in your post.
* 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 closing time within 60 minutes.... you'll receive an additional surprise gift from RTA.
* 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.

When you have identified your prediction in your post, please "Ping the Poll" at the top of page (This is done by completing your poll selection).

************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 also could be arbitrary & capricious) Got a beef? Or a question? Take it up with him...

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Here is a list of previous TPPc (Tioga Pass Prognosticator Champs.)

*** 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 the dcTPP contestants (Darn Close -- Tioga Pass Prognosticator)

************** 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

Some links and info to give you a helping hand !

Official Tioga Pass Closings in recent years:
2017: November 14th
2016: November 16th
2015: November 1st
2014: November 13th
2013: November 18th
2012: November 8th
2011: January 17th, 2012
2010: November 19th
2009: November 12th
2008: October 30th
2007: December 6th
2006: November 26th
2005: November 25th
2004: October 17th
2003: October 31st
2002: November 5th

When you have identified your prediction in your post, please "Ping the Poll" at the top of page (This is done by completing your poll selection).

Previous Predictive Efforts:
Spring 2006 Opening
Winter 2006 Closing
Spring 2007 Opening
Winter 2007 Closing
Spring 2008 Opening
Winter 2008 Closing
Spring 2009 Opening
Winter 2009 Closing
Spring 2010 Opening
Winter 2010 Closing,
Spring 2011 Opening
Winter 2011 Closing
Spring 2012 Opening
Winter 2012 Closing
Spring 2013 Opening
Winter, 2013 Closing
Spring 2014 Opening
Winter 2014 Closing
Spring 2015 Opening
Winter 2015 Closing
Spring 2016 Opening
Winter 2016 Closing
Spring 2017 Opening
Winter 2017 Closing

Link to Yosemite official page.

A list of opening and closing dates for other Sierra Nevada passes from Caltrans, and another from SierraMountainPasses.com.

Webcams. See what's happening in Yosemite right now.

Here are some 'Proof of Gas' photos by previous winners.

George Cary (glc) Spring opening 2014.


George again. Spring opening 2013.


Jessica Beagles-Roos [CAnative] 2011 winter closing.


CAnative 2011 Spring opening.


Brian Shannon (Exodus) Spring, 2010



Phil Boardman (PhilB) Spring 2009


This thread has been started later than usual (apologies) and the winter season is fast approaching so grt your thinking caps on and get predicting !! Good luck to all participants.

Sheriff Dave.

[Southwest Dave]

I'm going to start this off with my prediction for the pass to close at 4pm on November 17th ! Based on the fact that it hasn't closed on that date before, well since Yosemite's records began anyway !!

Dave.

[DonnaR57]

October 28th, noon.



Donna

[Mark Sedenquist]

November 15th at 8:00 am

[Southwest Dave]

The weather looks good in Yosemite right now.

High Sierra.
sentinel.jpg Sept 29th.jpg

My thoughts are with those involved in the recent Rock fall.

A second rock fall from El Capitan has been reported having reached the road closing a section of Northside drive.

Dave.

[travelingman]

Lets try Noon on December 2

It's going to be a warm winter???

[Mark Sedenquist]

December 3rd, 2016: Well spotted Jessica, although I had checked very recently and there had been no official notification at that time so you were quick off the mark. The official closing date was announced as being November 16th and although there is no official time I am aware they closed it late afternoon in preparation for bad conditions overnight on that day.

We do not have a winner this year with the correct date, but we do have a new DCTPP champ [Darn close Tioga Pass Prognosticator] who is travelingman who predicted it would close on November 17th @ 11:45am way back when the contest started in August.

Congratulations travelingman (And commiserations, you were so close to nailing it ! )

Dave.

Congratulations to travelingman for another expert and intrepid prognostication effort! I think you have earned a new RTA cap -- which is actually even rarer than a tank of roadtrip fuel. So, please get in touch with us.

Travelingman has been a member of RTA since April, 2010 and great to be able to give him some recognition.

Mark

Mark,

While entering this years contest, I just now learned that I came in a close second in last years Tioga Pass closing contest.

Out of curiosity, I looked up that thread and noticed that your post mentioned a Road Trip hat.

It's a year late, but is it possible that there's still a hat sitting around with my name on it?

I never win anything, so I never followed up on the contest. Stupid of me, I know.

--Michael E. Ward, October 1, 2017

Michael (Travelingman) there is no "statute of limitations" on this award, so yes, there is a RTA cap with your name on it, here in the office. I will be in touch to obtain your address!

And even though technically you didn't capture last year's prize of a tank of road trip fuel, we'd love to be able to post a POG photo of you wearing your hat in the weeks ahead!

Mark
Under-Sheriff

[Southwest Dave]

Lets try Noon on December 2

It's going to be a warm winter???

Howdy travelingman, good to see you back. Looks as though you still need to 'Ping the poll' at the top of the thread with your entry.

Good luck !

[Southwest Dave]

The Tioga pass was closed overnight Thursday in anticipation of snow and will be re-evaluated Today.

[Mark Sedenquist]

Photo Courtesy of the Yosemite Conservancy, October 20th @ 4:00 PM PDT.

Those trees have seen better days!

Mark