It's one of those things you can try to place bets on, if you dare, and hope for the best - the opening of Tioga Pass, Highway 120. Eastern Sierra businesses always hope for Memorial Day. Not much of a chance this year. According to Caltrans, Mono County crews and Caltrans District 9 have worked hard to clear the huge amount of snow on Highway 120/ Tioga Pass to the Yosemite National Park gate. At last word, Caltrans workers have cleared a path to the gate and continue to clear the roadway and shoulders.
Yosemite National Park Superintendent Don Neubacher announced today that the Tioga Road will open for the season on Saturday, June 18, 2011, at 8:00 a.m. for all vehicle traffic. The Tioga Road, bounded on both sides by State Highway 120, is the popular east-west crossing of the Sierra Nevada. Vault toilets are available in several locations along the road.
Resort operators were reporting large crowds, balmy temperatures and plenty of bare skin. “I’ve seen bathing suits, funny costumes like Hawaiian skirts and silver sequined pants. Shorts are very standard today,” said Rachael Woods, a spokeswoman for California’s Alpine Meadows, which has offered Independence Day skiing just one other time in its 50-year history. “People are coming off the slopes and putting on flip-flops.”
The State says it’s shaping up to be one of the driest winters on record. The Department of Water Resources reports that snow levels average out at just 37% of normal for this time of year so far. Even that low level amounts to a better number than last month’s survey which showed snowpack water content at 19% of normal.
Inyo National Forest law enforcement personnel have once again started their snowmobile patrols for the 2012 season. In a continuing effort to protect congressionally designated wilderness within the Inyo National Forest from illegal snowmobile use, law enforcement patrols will be routinely patrolling problem areas both on skis and snowmobiles and through aerial reconnaissance. The patrols will be looking for people whose snowmobiles have strayed into “off-limit” areas of the Forest, such as designated wilderness and other areas specifically closed to snowmobiles.
21 years ago, Mammoth Mountain went through what was called Black Monday – the layoff of 150 employees after a series of droughts. This year, the layoff number was half that but the agony just as bad. Mammoth Mountain CEO Rusty Gregory said that the regional drought and low skier demand led to “draconian and severe reactions.”
Above average temperatures and a below average snowpack are allowing road plowing efforts to begin earlier than normal this spring. The Town of Mammoth Lakes will begin plowing roads in the Mammoth Lakes Basin on Monday, April 23. Opening of the Lakes Basin to vehicles will be dependent upon snow, ice and road conditions. The Lakes Basin will be open to pedestrian use while the gates are still closed. Visitors should avoid areas where equipment is removing snow or making road repairs. Visitors should also be aware of hazards in the area, such as wind damaged trees and lake ice that is particularly dangerous during the spring thaw.
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