Tioga Pass update

If warm spring-like conditions are making you dream of an early trip to Yosemite, think again. According to Mono County Assistant Public Works Director Jeff Walters, the National Park Service will not begin snow removal on Tioga Pass until May 15, meaning eastsiders can’t go west, and perhaps more importantly, westsiders can’t get to the east.

As Walters pointed out, the County and other entities are bound by the determination of the NPS, which means they can’t start plowing until May 15 either. The goal is to have the pass open by Memorial Weekend, but even in a thin snow year, the eight days between May 15 and the holiday weekend will be pushing it.

“We did call Mammoth Mountain Ski Area and they said they would be willing to assist in snow removal if the park service would guarantee that the pass would be open by Memorial Weekend,” Walters pointed out.

The Board of Supervisors did approve a resolution that will allow the County to assist in snow removal once it begins.

In other pass news, Caltrans announced this week that crews have “removed the packed winter snow, cleared the debris and made the necessary repairs to open State Route 89 over Monitor Pass.”