Yosemite National Park News Release
June 21, 2005
For Immediate Release
Tioga Road to Open June 24, 2005 at 8:00 AM
High Sierra Camps Will Not Open for 2005 Season
Yosemite National Park Superintendent Mike Tollefson announced today that the Tioga Road (Highway 120 East through Yosemite National Park) will open for the season on June 24, 2005 at 8:00 AM. Visitors are asked to watch for road crews who are still working along the roadway.
Services along the Tioga Road and in Tuolumne Meadows will be limited. Vault toilets will be available at Tenaya Lake, Lembert Dome, and some trailheads. The Tuolumne Meadows Store , Gas Station, and the Tuolumne Lodge are expected to open in early July. All campgrounds along the Tioga Road corridor (including White Wolf, Tamarack Flat, Yosemite Creek, and Porcupine Flat) and the Tuolumne Meadows Campground will remain closed until further notice. There is no anticipated opening date for any of these facilities .
The National Park Service and DNC Parks and Resorts at Yosemite, Inc. jointly announced that five High Sierra Camps (May Lake, Merced Lake, Vogelsang, Sunrise, and Glen Aulin) will not be opened for the 2005 visitor season. The decision to keep the High Sierra Camps closed was based on the unusually heavy winter snowpack and existing snow and water conditions.
Visitors using the Tioga Road corridor and Tuolumne Meadows should take extreme precautions during the current heavy runoff which is anticipated to last at least another month. Many area trails are still covered in snow which may make route finding difficult. Additionally, hikers should be prepared for very high water, which may make stream crossings difficult or impossible.
Although most of the snow has melted on the meadows, visitors are urged to avoid walking over meadows as increased water content has made them extremely fragile and subject to damage.
Visitors with questions about camping along the Tioga Road should call the campground reservations office at 209/372-8502.
Current road and weather conditions are available 24 hours a day by calling 209/372-0200 or on the website at www.nps.gov/yose. Information about backcountry camping and trail conditions can be found on the website or by calling the Wilderness Office at 209/372-0745.
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