Tioga Rd (Hwy 120) Road Info

[Summer]

For the latest info, click the last page of this thread.

Anybody have a clue (or wild guess) when Tioga may open? Want to plan a trip to Gardinerville but don't know when.

[Parvo Pup]

The "new" anticipated date for road plowing to begin is now going to be May 1.

Usually, the Yos crew shoots for having the road open by Memorial Day. Quietly, folks are talking more like the middle of June instead.

The winter rangers at Tuolumne Meadows report over 7 feet of snow is still on the ground with a LOT of "to-the-ground avalanche" activity.

The road crews will normally hold back until the avy danger drops down to "low" - ESAC has the area rated "moderate" at the time.

[monkey]

I heard last night the they have evacuated the Tioga Pass Resort due to a high probability of avalanche activity in that area. I hope they are able to stay safe and undamaged.

[Yosemite_Wolf]

Originally posted by Parvo Pup:
The "new" anticipated date for road plowing to begin is now going to be May 1.

Usually, the Yos crew shoots for having the road open by Memorial Day. Quietly, folks are talking more like the middle of June instead.

The winter rangers at Tuolumne Meadows report over 7 feet of snow is still on the ground with a LOT of "to-the-ground avalanche" activity.

The road crews will normally hold back until the avy danger drops down to "low" - ESAC has the area rated "moderate" at the time.

oooooh please have it open by Memorial day!! I have to drive to Tahoe on the 1st of June and dread driving down and around beggarspatch, or up hwy 50... or what ever road goes via sacto.

[cak]

They're still getting new snow! I can't imagine that they'll have the road open for Mem Day. I seem to recall that they barely got it open for July 4 last year?

[Yosemite_Wolf]

yeah it sucks.

[BGW]

Click the link for the

Tioga Pass Plowing Report (http://www.sierravisions.com/tioga%20pass06.html)

[cak]

The NPS reports (http://www.nps.gov/yose/now/tioga.htm) that Tioga Road is scheduled to open on Saturday, June 17 at 8 am.

[rimalicious]

Woo HOOO! Road trip to Bodie! (http://community.webshots.com/photo/492815639/2676845120065132321xxsEiO)

[father guido]

One of fondest memories I have is of riding a motorcycle through Tioga Pass the day (or was it 2?) after they plowed it open. Very quiet and serene.

[monkey]

Maybe it will take some of the pressure off of Hwy 41.

[John @ 3300ft.]

Originally posted by father guido:
One of fondest memories I have is of riding a motorcycle through Tioga Pass the day (or was it 2?) after they plowed it open. Very quiet and serene.
I did that once! Back in the early Nineties, on a Norton 850 Commando. I was actually at the gate near Crane Flat, when they unlocked it to let traffic in. On the return back over Tioga, It snowed a little and then rain, and then BIG thunder & lightning! My hands got so cold in the gloves I had to stop and warm them near the engine. http://oakhurstonline.com/icon/smoking.gif

[Sandman]

I wonder how long it will be before it opens back up. I want to take a trip to the other side of the mountain.

[cak]

Seems like it can't be very late this year. Look at how little snow there is at the Tioga entrance station!

http://meteora.ucsd.edu/cap/tioga/tioga_current.jpg

http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/tioga.htm indicates that plowing begins in two weeks (April 16). They've put up a nice little video about the plowing operation.

[BGW]

Tioga Road progress for April 23, 2007

Starting Location:39.4 miles from Crane Flat Gate

Ending Location:41.6 miles miles from Crane Flat Gate (vicinity of Gaylor Pit)

Distance plowed today: 2.2 miles

Snow depth: 0-3 ft.



Glacier Point Road progress

Plows have made it to the Sentinel Dome/Taft Point trailhead, however extremely icy conditions will prevent further progress until weather improve

There is no estimated opening date for the Tioga Road or the Glacier Point Road.

Once plowing is completed, additional work must be completed before the road can safely be opened.

(I am sure they are even further along now!)

[BGW]

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=pagetitlecolumn vAlign=top align=left width=572>Tioga and Glacier Point Roads Plowing Update
</TD><TD class=rightborder width=8></TD></TR><TR><TD class=leftborder width=20></TD><TD class=breadcrumbscolumn vAlign=top align=left><!-- -->

</TD><TD class=rightborder width=8></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!-- title & breadcrumbs table -end -->
<!-- -->

<!--content tables BEGIN--><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=contentlayouttopborder vAlign=top width="100%" colSpan=5 height=20> </TD></TR><TR><TD class=leftborder vAlign=top width=20>http://www.nps.gov/pwr/templates/images/graphics/spacer.gif</TD><TD class=contentlayoutcolumn vAlign=top width=425 height=275><TABLE id=idLayout2 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" summary="" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD id=idCell2x1x1 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left" vAlign=top><!--LARGE IMAGE module--><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top>The Glacier Point Road will open on May 5, 2007 at noon, conditions permitting (a few inches of snow fell on May 4).
The Tioga Road has been plowed, however more work is required before either road can be opened safely.
There is no estimated opening date for the Tioga Road.
Once plowing is completed, additional work must be completed before the road can safely be opened.
Factors affecting plowing operations:

Avalanche zones (26 potential areas). The Olmsted Point avalanche zone requires a lot of work, including application of charcoal over the snow to help with melting and blasting the snow slab to make it safer for personnel.
Heavy snow pack slows the whole operation.
Trees that have fallen across the road and been buried in the snow. These can cause substantial damage to the equipment and result in a stop to all operations until they're cleared.
Rock slides buried by the snow. These can cause substantial damage to the equipment and result in a stop to all operations.
Snow storms during the opening require a stop to Tioga Road operations and in order to plow and sand the park roads.
Road repairs and ditching and brushing operations once snow has melted back enough.</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/tioga.htm</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

[monkey]

The Glacier Point Road will open on May 5, 2007 at noon, conditions permitting (a few inches of snow fell on May 4).

Ummm... Does that mean it's open?

[Sandman]

I called (209) 372-0200 and confirmed that all roads are open, except Tioga Pass. So, it looks as if Glacier Point is open for the summer! Yeah!!! I'l be heading up there soon.

[monkey]

It is scheduled to open this Friday at noon. Yippee!!!

[Yosemite_Wolf]

cool!!!!!!!! Been waiting for it to open... so me sis and I could have a meeting at the summit.

[BGW]

I guessed right..all those huge Cal-trans trucks bailing down the hill this afternoon could only mean one thing!!!

[Sandman]

Two scenic roads in Yosemite National Park are opening up for the season with limited services along the way, park officials said. via Press-Enterprise (http://www.pe.com/ap_news/California/CA_BRF_Yosemite_Roads_287126C.shtml)


More... (http://www.topix.net/city/yosemite-national-park-ca/2007/05/scenic-roads-open-for-season-in-yosemite-national-park)

[Sandman]

Yosemite National Park in California will reopen Tioga Road, gateway to its Eastern Sierra high country, at noon Friday, the earliest date in two decades. via Los Angeles Times (http://www.latimes.com/travel/la-trw-yosemite9may09,0,592219.story)


More... (http://www.topix.net/city/yosemite-national-park-ca/2007/05/yosemite-parks-tioga-road-opens-early)

[mermomma]

I went home to Bishop this past weekend, Tioga was open and the drive was beautiful. Tuolomne is still brown, but there are flowers below 5000 feet already. The waterfalls are going full force and it's just so stunning. I went fishing and golfing and am glad that my shorter corridor back home is open for the summer! If anyone wants tips on day trips to the East Side, let me know!

Tioga lake is still iced over, but Ellery is thawing, and Convict/Rock Creek/and Sabrina are all in good shape!

[Dodgergirl]

Plowing of the Tioga Road begins on or about April 15 each year and usually takes between one and two months.

Predicting when the road will open is not possible, even in late spring, because weather in April and May can affect plowing progress significantly.


The Tioga Road opened on May 11, 2007.

The Glacier Point Road opened on May 5, 2007.

There is no estimated opening date for the Tioga Road in 2008.

http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/tioga.htm