Competition time. Welcome to the 39th Tioga pass Prognosticator. Spring opening 2025

[Mark Sedenquist]

Well, that is surprising-to say the least.

Snow levels on the road is still impressive.

Mark

[liam2k04_]

Looks like plows have safely plowed through the Olmsted Point avalanche zone and are working in the Tuolumne Meadows area. I am going to put in a dart for Thursday, May 22 at 9 am.

[Southwest Dave]

They really are plowing on with it ! There is usually quite a clearing up operation to do after the plowing is done, felled trees, rocks and other debris to be removed, plus they need to get the facilities operational before opening the road to the general public, but progress does appear to be swift! It looks as though some snow is possible over the weekend, but maybe not enough to cause any issues.

Dave

[tseeb]

I'm going for after Memorial Day, Wednesday, May 28 at 9 am.

[liam2k04_]

Per inside sources, at least one lane has been plowed the length of Tioga Road and Tuolumne Meadows may begin to be set up on May 13. Time will tell if the road will open soon after.

[Southwest Dave]

A lot will depend on the amount of debris from fallen trees and rocks on the road etc, but I haven't seen any reports of major delays from that, or the Avalanche zones. Nature also appears to be Co-operating, with blue sky's and temperatures steadily rising all week. It's starting to look as though it will be a May opening, unless nature offers a twist in the tale?!

Dave

[Southwest Dave]

Thanks for the Intel Liam. It has been confirmed that the Tioga pass has been plowed along it's entire length and crews are now working on side roads, while the sign shop works on getting the signage ready. Work continues in the Olmstead avalanche zone and forestry workers are removing trees at risk of falling onto the roadway.

Glacier Point will open to vehicles this Saturday (10th) at 8am. It has already opened to Bicycles. There is no drinking water available, but Pit toilets are.

Dave

[tseeb]

Other High Sierra passes have opened. Ebbett Pass/CA-4 opened on May 8, then closed Mon May 12 due to storm before re-opening. 9600'+ Sonora Pass opened on Thursday, May 15. More info at https://www.mymotherlode.com/news/lo...m-closure.html

Last year Sonora Pass opened the day after I could have used it to save 50 miles/~30 minutes of driving vs. going into Minden where I fill up on less expensive NV gas. This year, I skied Mammoth Thurs/Fri May 8-9 before driving home going all the way to 395/88 to get fast food.

On Thurs, I skied 740-120 after driving 2 1/2 hrs from South Lake Tahoe. (Mammoth is open 730-2 with one lift going until 3.) Friday, I skied 740-210 then after having one beer with tailgating friends, drove 6 hrs back to San Jose going past (closed for season on Easter) Kirkwood on CA-88.

Photos taken by my friend of me, his wife, telemarking skier in Speedo and a racer going over jump at Mammoth.
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LizCornice.jpg
TeleSpeedo.jpg
RacerAir.jpg

Photo I took of my friend who is in his early 70s and took photos posted above.
He and his wife skied in Uzbekistan this Winter and has skied all seven continents.
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[Mark Sedenquist]

Remarkably, it was snowing heavily three different times in Kirkwood on the 12th of May.

And it was COOL in Death Valley on the 12th! Temps in the middle 70's--almost unheard of.

Still amazing that you could be skiing at Mammoth!

Mark

[tseeb]

Palisades Tahoe is also open daily for skiing through Memorial Day. Mammoth may stay open a week or two into June. They make much more effort than Palisades to provide good skiing although being a couple of thousand feet higher and having race teams training on their mountain also helps.

On the other hand, Vail makes decisions from Colorado on when to close their CA ski areas based on how much money they could make, not on keeping their customers happy. Photo is from CA-88 going past Kirkwood last Friday, May 9. There was still snow in the meadow at entrance and with a little effort they could have run two lifts Fri-Sun for a few more weeks.