Natural History Wanderings

Tioga Pass and Lassen Closed; Sonora Pass, Ebbetts Pass and other Sierra Passes are Open

Tioga Road Yosemite National Park

Yosemite National Park reports:

“The Glacier Point Road opened on Friday, May 27, 2011.

There is no estimated opening date for the Tioga Road.

The Tioga Road has been partly plowed for its entire length. Now, road crews are working to remove snow from the entire width of the road and plow turnouts and side roads. In addition, road crews will be removing rockslides and redirecting snowmelt across the road to reduce icy road conditions. Finally, Olmsted Point is still unsafe due to avalanche danger.

The Tioga Road is now open to bicycles from Crane Flat to Yosemite Creek Bridge. Please watch out for debris on the road and road crew traffic. If conditions allow, we will extend the bicycle zone farther east prior to the opening.”

Before going to Yosemite check the report at: Tioga and Glacier Point Roads Plowing Update

Article from the LA Times on the avalanche teams blasting away snow to help open up Tioga Pass Road:  Blasting winter away at Yosemite

Lassen Volcanic National Park

Lassen Park reports:

” The road is cleared from the northwest entrance to Devastated Area (10 miles) and from the southwest entrance to Sulphur Works (1 mile). The next area to open will be Sulphur Works to Bumpass Hell (5 miles). Spring snow storms have caused a delay in the opening of this section.”

For more information check the links below.  The two links include current road conditions,  a map of what roads are open and shows how far the plows have gone.

• Lassen Volcanic National Park – Winter Road Closures and Spring Clearing Update (U.S. National Park Service)
  
• Current Conditions in and around the park (roads, snow, weather).
• Photo Galleries of snow conditions and plow operations.
• Map for route around the park when the main park road is closed.

All Other Major Sierra Passes are now reported as open.  The only reported delays are at Ebbetts Pass at night due to constructionswhere Caltrans reports:

"SR 4[IN THE CENTRAL CALIFORNIA AREA]
1-WAY CONTROLLED TRAFFIC AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS FROM 4.2 MI NORTH OF THE
CONTRA COSTA/SAN JOAQUIN CO LINE TO 0.7 MI SOUTH OF STOCKTON (SAN JOAQUIN CO)
FROM 2100 HRS EACH NIGHT TO 0500 HRS EACH MORNING MONDAY THRU FRIDAY THRU
6/10/11 - DUE TO CONSTRUCTION - MOTORISTS ARE SUBJECT TO DELAYS OF UP TO
15 MINUTES"

Highway 123 (Mammoth Lakes) is still closed due to winter snows.

Check with Caltrans before leaving for any mountain trip by going to Mountain Pass Closures  (Click on Highway number for most up-to-date report)