Tioga Pass Closed

I was hoping by the end of the Mammoth Burton shoot I'd be able to cut across the Sierra Range headed back to SF via Highway 120...but no such luck. Tioga Pass, which is the route into and through Yosemite is still closed, due to heavy snow.

Our main man Tyson, who was responsible for building our park features during the Mammoth shoot, made some calls to find out what the deal is. Basically, the DOT uses snowcats (on loan from Mammoth) for the initial dig out of the road. After that, the Rotary Plow comes through to cut those vertical walls you see on the side of any given highway where heavy snowfall is present. Crews have been working around the clock to clear Highway 120, but the only hang up is one small section that isn't allowed to be cleared by machine, it's required to 'melt out.'

Tioga Pass can be accessed off Highway 395 at Lee Vining and cuts smack dab through the middle of Yosemite National Park. This road is approximately 93 miles (150km) from Lee Vining to Groveland. I knew fair and well the road would be closed at some point, so I drove it anyway only to be shut down at Mile 12. I at least had to see what I could and try to get a taste of what this special area has to offer. It was definitely a tease as Mile 12 approached way too fast...I biked in for another mile until I hit the Yosemite entrance gate, snapped a couple of photos, then turned back and found my way back to San Francisco via Sonora Pass. Guess we'll save Tioga Pass for another day...Blotto