Re: Update Posted On Tioga And Glacier Point Roads

Tioga Road

Work began this week at the closure east of Crane Flat intersection and consisted of snow cats and dozers moving lifts of snow to reduce snow levels for the rotary plows. Snow levels are still at record-high levels. Work will continue Monday through Saturday, weather and conditions permitting. Also see photo below.


NPS Photo

Glacier Point Road

Deep snow, up to 10 feet, equipment breakdowns, and fresh snow fall marked the first week of spring snow removal on Glacier Point Road. With a slow start as a result of the late-March snow event, which required resources to reopen other park roads and facilities including Mariposa Grove, work clearing the road was delayed until this week. The large rotary snowplows were all inoperable at times during the week, so progress was slow. The road is plowed to pavement up to Summit Meadow, one mile east of Badger Pass. Work will continue Monday through Thursday.


Crane Flat Lookout and Campground/Snow Play Area

Both sites were completed this week and equipment moved to Tioga Road. Snow depths required a dozer to reduce the snow level in front of the rotary plow (this has not been the case for many seasons).



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/24/2011 01:34PM by eeek.

That's a lot of snow on that bridge. I suppose it's like that or even deeper all the way up.

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Louis
That's a lot of snow on that bridge. I suppose it's like that or even deeper all the way up.

Take a look at Gin Flat: http://cdec.water.ca.gov/cgi-progs/queryF?gin

If that 220" of snow depth at Gin Flat is real then it is going to be a long time before the final melt off. I've been up there at the end of winter many times and nothing like 220".

We may have lots o water flowing down Tamarack Creek and Cascade Creek well into late July.

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Old Dude

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mrcondron
If that 220" of snow depth at Gin Flat is real then it is going to be a long time before the final melt off. I've been up there at the end of winter many times and nothing like 220".

You didn't notice the 75" on the ground all last summer?
http://cdec.water.ca.gov/jspplot/jspPlotServlet.jsp?sensor_no=9304&end=04%2F22%2F2011+17%3A09&geom=medium&interval=600&cookies=cdec01

(Hey...! Somebody pull that damn chicken out of the sensor!)

That splains alot.

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Old Dude

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Louis
That's a lot of snow on that bridge. I suppose it's like that or even deeper all the way up.

Here's what the bridge crosses:


http://yosemitephotos.net/main.php/v/yosemite/p6240018.jpg.html

Which waterfall or stream is that?

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eddy
Which waterfall or stream is that?

I think it's the South Fork of the Tuolumne River.

Thanks.

Cross fingers, all roads be open soon.

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katie
Cross fingers, all roads be open soon.

Define soon.

They JUST started Tioga. AND it just snowed some more.
Got snowed on all day Saturday. And it snowed Friday from 2pm until late night.
A light dusting by Sierra Standards... but snow nonetheless.

Here's some of the equip at Crane Flat.



On Friday the snow was still visible from the closed gate. (in other words... they got a lot of work to do)

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Those are large snow tractors! Do you live near there or these are previous years photos?

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jackolive
Those are large snow tractors! Do you live near there or these are previous years photos?

I normally say when the photo was taken.

In this case it was Friday, April 22nd. And no I don't really live nearby. But I live close enough to go frequently. Very.

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chick-on
And no I don't really live nearby. But I live close enough to go frequently. Very.

You mean you haven't bought that condo at Table Lake yet?

I only lease that.

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chick-on
I only lease that.

Damn right there chikin!
Don't forget it!
(Landlordingly Yours)
The Marmots



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/30/2011 04:33PM by szalkowski.

There's a big warm up coming this week. If it's not interrupted by more La Nina storms, this stuff might melt just faster than orignally thought.

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rightstar76
There's a big warm up coming this week. If it's not interrupted by more La Nina storms, this stuff might melt just faster than orignally thought.

You can see the melting has increased again by the Merced River flow:

http://cdec.water.ca.gov/cgi-progs/plotReal?staid=POH

And from the snow sensors:

http://cdec.water.ca.gov/snow/current/snow/pillowplots/TuolumneMerced.html

Now there's a big cool down coming this week starting tomorrow. This stuff might melt a lot slower than I orignally thought.

I saw a rotary going towards Crane Flat - but the truck broke.
A loader on Glacier broke a track.

It's not just the weather that delays things. The Roads and Trails crews work hard, but there's a lot to deal with right now. They're doing their best - and more.

There might be snow/rain again next week? When will it stop and the roads open?