BGW
Feb 16, 2008, 08:25 PM
Via the Mariposa Gazette:
Let's say your on your way to Yosemite via Highway 140 for that winter weekend getaway you've been promising yourself.
You're fortunate enough to skate right through the temporary traffic lights at the temporary bridges where the Ferguson rock slide did its thing in 2006. You've got to be feeling good; smooth sailing the rest of the way. Right?
Sorry, but the National Park Service is redoing a quarter-mile stretch of 140, known as El Portal Road where it meets Highway 120, and if you get stuck at this temporary red light, you might as well break open a book. Delays are up to 30 minutes, and then you might have to wait some more as sand trucks are a constant presence to help make the icy stretch of road a bit safer when temperatures are below freezing.
But the job has to be done, says Kevin Cann, deputy superintendent for Yosemite National Park. Better to do it now when Park traffic is light. He said this work would be impossible to finish if it were done during the summer.
Full article: http://www.mariposagazette.com/printer/article.asp?c=235858
We drove through the Park today. Yes, there is snow--quite a bit. Yes, there were people everywhere. Yes, the roads were mostly clear. And, yes, we got caught in the delay the news article spoke of; as we wanted to see the Merced River on the ride back to Oakhurst. It was a beautiful drive...the camera completely enjoyed our little outting.
Though there were no chain restrictions there were several sections of road that were still thick with ice and the inexperienced drivers were doing what ever it is they do that causes havok....sliding off the road into snow banks etc. So, be careful. Also amazing --there were climbers on El Cap!
Let's say your on your way to Yosemite via Highway 140 for that winter weekend getaway you've been promising yourself.
You're fortunate enough to skate right through the temporary traffic lights at the temporary bridges where the Ferguson rock slide did its thing in 2006. You've got to be feeling good; smooth sailing the rest of the way. Right?
Sorry, but the National Park Service is redoing a quarter-mile stretch of 140, known as El Portal Road where it meets Highway 120, and if you get stuck at this temporary red light, you might as well break open a book. Delays are up to 30 minutes, and then you might have to wait some more as sand trucks are a constant presence to help make the icy stretch of road a bit safer when temperatures are below freezing.
But the job has to be done, says Kevin Cann, deputy superintendent for Yosemite National Park. Better to do it now when Park traffic is light. He said this work would be impossible to finish if it were done during the summer.
Full article: http://www.mariposagazette.com/printer/article.asp?c=235858
We drove through the Park today. Yes, there is snow--quite a bit. Yes, there were people everywhere. Yes, the roads were mostly clear. And, yes, we got caught in the delay the news article spoke of; as we wanted to see the Merced River on the ride back to Oakhurst. It was a beautiful drive...the camera completely enjoyed our little outting.
Though there were no chain restrictions there were several sections of road that were still thick with ice and the inexperienced drivers were doing what ever it is they do that causes havok....sliding off the road into snow banks etc. So, be careful. Also amazing --there were climbers on El Cap!