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Eric Beck
Sport climber
Bishop, California
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Apr 25, 2011 - 02:06pm PT
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I seem to recall that in some years past, dark material (gravel perhaps) was spread along the road to accelerate melting. Has this been abandoned as ineffective or too expensive?
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John Moosie
climber
Beautiful California
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Apr 25, 2011 - 03:02pm PT
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Eric, In the past they spread charcoal with a helicopter at the major slide points. Especially at Olmstead point. I remember 20 years ago hiking above glacier point and wondering why there was so much charcoal on the rock. It is mostly bare rock and there would be these large pieces of charcoal. Then I found out about them using it to help melt the snow. I don't know if they still use the charcoal.
They still do it. From this webpage..
http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/tioga.htm
Factors affecting plowing operations:
* Avalanche zones (26 potential areas). The Olmsted Point avalanche zone requires a lot of work, including application of charcoal over the snow to help with melting and blasting the snow slab to make it safer for personnel.
* Heavy snow pack slows the whole operation.
* Trees that have fallen across the road and been buried in the snow. These can cause substantial damage to the equipment and result in a stop to all operations until they're cleared.
* Rock slides buried by the snow. These can cause substantial damage to the equipment and result in a stop to all operations.
* Snow storms during the opening require a stop to Tioga Road operations and in order to plow and sand the park roads.
* Road repairs and ditching and brushing operations once snow has melted back enough.
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Adamame
climber
Santa Cruz
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Apr 25, 2011 - 03:11pm PT
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I was told by one of the folks who participates in the initial NPS snowmobile trip up Tioga Road in April, that charcoal is still used, but in a more environmentally sound form. They use some kind of small explosive device that breaks up the snow and spreads a thin layer of very fine charcoal, increasing melting time by up to 10x. This very fine charcoal is much less visible on the side of the road come summer.
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corniss chopper
climber
breaking the speed of gravity
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Apr 25, 2011 - 04:00pm PT
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Charcoal
It's like placing tiny toaster ovens into the snowpack," Charlie Zender, a University of California, Irvine, associate professor of earth sciences...
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sempervirens
climber
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Apr 25, 2011 - 05:21pm PT
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What's Elery Bowl looking like? Anyone? Fair to say it oughtta be good til late June?
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matiasek
climber
Davis
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Apr 25, 2011 - 06:27pm PT
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Anyone know if the county has been clearing the east side of the pass up to the park entrance yet? The caltrans page says it is still closed to 5 miles from 395.
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donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
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Apr 25, 2011 - 06:28pm PT
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That's why the Valley gets so crowded- that friggin road lets in the hoards from the Eastside.
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klimski
Trad climber
Bridgeport,CA
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Apr 25, 2011 - 06:42pm PT
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Not open yet, plan on 5/1 ish to be at gate.
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Fluoride
Trad climber
West Los Angeles, CA
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Apr 25, 2011 - 08:25pm PT
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Jay and Ed, will see you at Stately Pleasure Dome on Memorial Day weekend...like last year! Mmmmkay?
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The Wedge
Boulder climber
Santa Rosa & Bishop, CA
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Apr 26, 2011 - 09:51am PT
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5/15/11 my last final exam. 5/16/11 skiing Tiaga!
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Ed Hartouni
Trad climber
Livermore, CA
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Apr 26, 2011 - 10:54am PT
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plan on being in Tuolumne opening day...
it's a date Fluoride!
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EdBannister
Mountain climber
13,000 feet
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Apr 26, 2011 - 11:50am PT
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Tioga Pass opening date for 1968-69 winter was August 10, and it was still a ditch 12 to 15 feet in places.
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Lynne Leichtfuss
Trad climber
Will know soon
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Nita, thanks for your link to the road opening statistics. If TPR can open I have a wonderful job awaiting me.....appreciate any information anyone has. Thanks, lynne
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John Moosie
climber
Beautiful California
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Predicting the opening date off of the April 1st data isn't very accurate because it also depends on how much it snows/rains in April and May. For instance, last year in April the park got over 8 inches of moisture, which in Tuolumne fell mostly as snow. Versus a normal April of I think 3 inches. This year we got less then 2 inches of moisture in April.
April and May rain/snow totals play a big part in how early the road opens.
Park politics and budget concerns also play a part. In the 90s the park was short money and tried to put off plowing the road. Plus they didn't have the money to repair the rotaries. The east side businesses fought with the park constantly about this. Whereas now, with the increase in fees in the park, and a large percentage of that staying in the park, the park has more money for that particular budget. The gate fee went up in 1997. If I remember correctly.
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CF
climber
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Topic Author's Reply - May 1, 2011 - 07:05pm PT
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Nps drove in snowmobiles and a snowcat to blast at Olmsted last week. Heard there was 10'.
Also heard a rumor of Volgelsang and Sunrise High Camps not opening.
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Lynne Leichtfuss
Trad climber
Will know soon
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Appreciate all the information. CF, how does 10'at Olmstead fit into the equation of opening Tioga ?
Has TPR Resort ever not opened due to late opening of the pass ? If Tioga Pass doesn't open til way late can people come in from the Valley to access Tuolumne and TPR ? Thanks, lynne
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