Tioga Road is closed again

SR 120
[IN THE CENTRAL CALIFORNIA AREA & SIERRA NEVADA]
IS CLOSED FROM CRANE FLAT TO 5 MI WEST OF THE JCT OF US 395 /TIOGA PASS/
(TUOLUMNE, MONO CO) AT 1420 HRS ON 5/21/15 - DUE TO SNOW - MOTORISTS ARE
ADVISED TO USE AN ALTERNATE ROUTE

Interesting scenario shaping up. Tomorrow about Sierra Crest areas NWS forecast for Friday in the Southern Sierra is 2 inches of snow with up to 5 inches. Thus myriad Memorial Day Holiday weekend visitors will be in for a surprise Saturday morning. Of course as is the usual case, most visitors tend to expect to visit the same places early season as they do mid summer. Although forecasts for the weekend are for better weather, there is going to be an unusual amount of snow on trails and per above some of the higher trailheads may not initially be open. In the past going back decades foul weather on the MDH weekend has often been the situation. Thus as a decades old backpacker I learned to avoid these May storm and snowy trail situations for a list of reasons I won't mention haha. Oh I love snow but leave that for when skis are under my feet. Instead am driving up to Lassen NP where only the highest peaks have had any snow for weeks, working elevations below 6.5k feet where vegetation is already green and wildflowers are likely blooming.

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http://www.davidsenesac.com

Yeah, got caught in ikky conditions Memorial Day 2008...





And again in 2011...



Ended up spending a lot of time in the tent camped next to some other crazy bozo that year.



I foresee more of the same this weekend (even the same bozo!)...





Best to sit this one out, stay home, don't drive to the mountains, and wait for the 4th of July weekend....

But if you do head out, be safe and have fun!

Hopefully this means a longer run-off season for the waterfalls and cascades. Any snow is welcome.

SR 120
[IN THE CENTRAL CALIFORNIA AREA & SIERRA NEVADA]
NO TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS ARE REPORTED FOR THIS AREA.

SR 108
[IN THE CENTRAL CALIFORNIA AREA & SIERRA NEVADA]
NO TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS ARE REPORTED FOR THIS AREA.