Tioga Pass Prognosticator #9

[calibergemini]

Wow very interesting game! I registered and joined specifically for this, but I do travel extensively.
I truly wished that it would open sooner so that I could catch the Tioga during Memorial Day Weekend, but am happy that it opens late because we need all that snow and water, after 3 years of drought.

So I am going with Jun 11th at 10a.m as the official opening!

[Southwest Dave]

Hello and welcome to RTA !

I hope you enjoy the forums and other RTA pages, and good luck with your prediction !

Reports are suggesting that the lower gate before the kiosk on CA120 opened, but was then closed again after 12 inches of new snow fell on Tioga pass at the weekend.

[trip2010]

I know you cant predict it but any (semi-solid) dates for this year? We are in California for the first time ever on a 2.5 week road trip and due to pass through the Tioga Pass (heard this is a great driving road for scenery) on 2nd Jun on our way from Yosemite to Las Vegas.

Our two options are either to continue as planned and hope for the best - and then if its not open find another route. Or to change our entire trip to do it the other way around Big Sur, LA, Vegas, Grand Canyon, Yosemite, San Fran (instead of vice versa).

Looks like we could be v close to the open date, give a day or two......any suggestions welcome. The Tioga Road was one of the highlights of the trip.....or is there an equally scenic way we can get across the mountains? Changing the whole trip is a pain as we have already booked all our hotels.

Any suggestions gratefully welcomed.

[Mark Sedenquist]

Since Memorial Day is closing fast -- the Park Service has pledged to notify the public about Tioga Pass by tomorrow -- here's a news blast to this effect

Normally Sonora Pass -- which I think is prettier in some ways opens first -- but this is an odd year..

But in in any case, neither Sonora or Tioga is open you can always cross on US-50 and keep your planned route intact.

Here's the official road on all of those passes: Click here

Mark

[glc]

You may be able to use Carson Pass (CA-88). This is maintained year round, only subject to temporary closures and chain restrictions.

Right now according to Caltrans, it's open but with chain restrictions. Monitor Pass (CA-89, the shortcut to CA-88 from US-395 to the south) is closed.

[trip2010]

Thanks to you both - Mark your post is particularly interesting.....will hold my breath till tomorrow then! Are any of the other passes at all scenic? We are in a rental so I dont think we can/will have chains......

There was me thinking it would be nice and warm by this time of year in California! Obviously made a bit of a generalisation there!

[Mark Sedenquist]

This time of year, every pass is replete with rushing waterfalls and snow...

My all-time favorite pass is Ebbets -- but it's a long ways from opening this year.

But US-50 is really a nice road -- even I-80 is scenic.

Mark

[CalOldBlue]

Courtesy of the CHP website (read from bottom up):

For those who want the condensed version: overturned tanker trunk spilled gobs of diesel early this morning. Completely closed for awhile, some lanes now open.

Here's the site for those who'd like to keep it for future reference.

Incident: 0228 Type: Collision - Non Injury Location: EB I80 JEO REST AREA ThomasBrothers: 7148 5C info as of: 5/26/2010 12:43:19 PM
ADDITIONAL DETAILS
12:29PM 1039 S4 LINE 163
11:52AM PER S4 #2 LANE CLOSED 4-6 HRS
11:44AM 23A CPYS WILL HANDLE BREAKS / 21B CAN 1022
11:44AM 21B ENRT TO HANDLE BREAKS FOR CZP1
11:34AM REQ BEAT UNIT ASSIST W/BREAKS IF NEEDED
11:27AM PER 70-D2,GOLD RUN OFC IS GETTING COMPLAINTS CMS STILL SHOW CLOSED
11:17AM EB TRAFFIC IS MOVING THRU THE T/C SCENE IN THE #1LN
11:15AM **UPDATE SIGALERT**ESTIMATED TIME FOR CLEARING 3 PM
11:13AM **UPDATE SIGALERT**RIGHT LANE STILL CLOSED, UNKNOWN ESTIMATED TIME OF RE-OPENING
11:06AM 1039 45-S4 VIA LL
11:00AM 1039 ENTAC - OFCR CARTER
11:00AM #2 CLOSED FOR CLEANUP
10:57AM PER CT RELEASING TRAFFIC AT COLFAX NOW
10:57AM CONFIRM WHICH POINT THEY ARE ESCORTING TRAFFIC?
10:52AM #2 LANE WILL BE CLOSED AT TC SCENE EO OF SCENE
10:01AM PER S1 STILL ON TRACK FOR 1100 OPENING
8:50AM CORR LINE H2O ENVIRONMENTAL 1097
8:48AM H20 1097
8:47AM F&G 1097
8:35AM TRK MEADOWS WATER AUT 1097
8:08AM 1039 80-S4 LINE 103
7:52AM ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH 1097
7:40AM 1039 80-D2 LINE 94
7:35AM 1039 COMM 168 WILL ASSIST W/ 1184 AT KV
7:27AM 1039 80-D2 LINE 89
7:10AM LOG ROUTED TO SCC FOR FREEWAY CLOSURE
7:05AM **UPDATE SIGALERT**EB I-80 FREEWAY CLOSED AT COLFAX, TRUCKS ARE BEING HELD AT APPLEGATE
7:04AM PLS UPDATE SIG ALERT
6:55AM TMC COPIES LINE 71, 1039 CT DSP
6:54AM REQ CT HOLD BIG RIGS AT APPLEGATE
6:45AM **UPDATE SIGALERT**ESTIMATED TIME OF RE-OPENING 11 AM
6:44AM 1039 ENTAC
6:44AM CMS ACTIVATED AT BELL RD
6:42AM LATE ENTRY, ACTIVATED CMS EB I80 AT RAINBOW AT 0615
6:41AM ** UPDATE SIGALERT ** TRAFFIC IS BEING HELD EB 80 AT KINGVALE AND AGAIN AT CATLE PEAK FOR ACCIDENT
6:38AM REQ ACTIVATE EB 80 AT GLR CMS- TC AHEAD
6:35AM 1039 DEPENDABLE TO CANCEL LOWBOY
6:34AM 1039 DEPENDABLE FOR LOW BOY & BIG RIG
6:33AM 1039 CAL FIRE WITH OES #
6:32AM 1039 OES # 10-3241
6:31AM 1039 DAVE HUFF NEVADA CO ENV HEALTH / HE WILL CALL S4 ON HIS CELL
6:28AM 1039 F & G / THEY WILL RESPOND
6:27AM REF BLK CHRY TC LOG 250
6:25AM 1039 SCALES 109-6 OR 109-2 WILL COVER FRWY
6:22AM 23A REQ 1185R FOR BLK CHRY 300 STUCK IN SNOW EB 80 JEO DSRA, JWO TK, TRLR TC
6:20AM ADV RESP G UNITS SLICK FOR 200 YARDS PRIOR TO TC
6:16AM RED KENWORTH TRACTOR DOUBLE LENGTH, 1ST IS UPRIGHT, 2ND IS O/TURNED
6:12AM ACTIVATED CMS EB I80 AT RAINBOW
6:11AM # 1 LANE OPEN #2 1125
6:11AM 2ND VEH IN DITCH JWO TC
6:09AM 80-11A- O/TURNED
6:07AM **UPDATE SIGALERT**CALTRANS HOLDING TRAFFIC AT KINGVALE
6:06AM PER CT 2,500 GALLONS OF FUEL IN TANKER, TANKER IS LEAKING
6:04AM ** UPDATE SIGALERT ** EAST BOUND 80 EAST OF THE DONNER SUMMIT REST AREAM, THE RIGHT HAND LANE IS BLOCKED, TRAFFIC IS BEING HELD AT THIS TIME
6:01AM 1039 CAL FIRE
6:01AM NEG 1125, TRFC GETTING THROUGH PER RP 6
6:01AM 1039 S1 / NOTIFY FIRE
6:01AM **ISSUE SIGALERT**OVERTURN TANKER TRUCK, UNKNOWN ESTIMATED TIME OF CLEARING, NO DETOUR AT THIS TIME
6:00AM RDWY SLICK, SNOWING
5:59AM PER CT THEY ARE 1097, TK AND TRAILER, TRAILER IS ON ITS SIDE
5:59AM 1039 MIKE AT CT
5:54AM TANKER OVERTURNED W/FUEL OO TANKER LEAKING

[Southwest Dave]

They have confirmed that the Tioga pass will not be open for Memorial weekend.

Although the Glacier point road could well be open, good news for any visitors to Yosemite at the weekend if it is.

Glacier Point Road:
The Glacier Point Road will open on Friday, May 28 at noon, conditions permitting. Expect 30-minute delays between Chinquapin and Badger Pass Sunday night through Friday afternoon (except Memorial Day).

Tioga Road:
The Tioga Road will not be open for Memorial Day weekend; there is no estimated opening date.

[Mark Sedenquist]

Thanks for the breaking news!

I really feel for those businesses that rely on that road being open for the Memorial Day weekend.

June opening... here we come!

Mark