Re: Glacier Point Road

Hi,

I am going to visit Yosemite on 13th of May this year. As I am from Germany, this will most likely be a "once in a lifetime" trip for me. I really hope to be able to visit Glacier Point. Hopefully, the snow will be gone by then...
So I would like to ask you, if you know how snowfall was this season in Yosemite. Can you form an estimate if the road to Glacier Point will be free or is it still too early?

Thanks!!

Christoph

It'll be highly unliked that it is NOT open then.

They start plowing the road on April 15th. At the way things look... they will finish on April 16th.

You can look at the nps site for updates. And the opening/closing dates in the past.
They seem to be trying to open the road much earlier than in the past though... so it would take
some huge storms to come thru for it not to be open by mid May.
(this is my opinion so take it as you wish)

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

Opening date history:
http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/tiogaopen.htm

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Don't forget though, with government budget cuts, plowing operations (and other facility openings) may be delayed due to staff cuts.

Ah. Yes. I forgot about that. Park Service should make DNC clear the road.

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It should be open by may 13th

Anyone here have any more recent information on when GPR might open? We are headed up to Yosemite with family in 10 days' time, and trying to figure out an itinerary.

They haven't started plowing either Tioga or Glacier roads.
They're still x-country sking on GPR.

It won't be open in 10 days

It's still winter in the high country and will be for quite some time.

Badger Pass is closed for the season now. "Badger Pass Road" is closed.

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The reason I asked was that it was open on 4/20 last year, so we might hope for similar this year given the low snow levels (though I know the distribution of snow is rather different this year). On one hand we know they are more-or-less planning on waiting for Tioga Pass to melt out, which suggests they might do likewise for GPR. On the other, GPR opening might not require very much effort at all, and the plows won't be up on Tioga Pass.

Net, I suspect that the sequester budget cuts will mean they won't bother to open GPR until Memorial Day weekend.

It is not just the snow that has to be removed but any large rocks/boulders and trees that might have fallen onto the road.

Between Badger Pass and Sentinel Dome (as of 3/17) there were no trees across the road, and only one (3' or so high!) boulder along the edge just above Clark View - some pavement damage where the boulder hit but not much. The pavement heading up from Mono Trailhead is in really bad shape, but I suspect winter didn't cause that.

Yeah... they sort of groom the road quite frequently.... so the argument of clearing rock and trees
imo is just an excuse. Wouldn't surprise me one bit if the road was open on the 19th.
Or the 26th. But I know nothing. Complete and utter speculation.

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Quote
chick-on
Yeah... they sort of groom the road quite frequently.... so the argument of clearing rock and trees
imo is just an excuse. Wouldn't surprise me one bit if the road was open on the 19th.
Or the 26th. But I know nothing. Complete and utter speculation.

And the forecast is for more snow on Monday.