There really is an exceptional quantity of snow in the high country: roadside snowbanks 6-8 feet tall, Tenaya and Siesta Lakes frozen over, lots of runoff, and persistent avalanche danger: a 6-foot granite slab slid onto the road above Yosemite Creek. A mild, sunny day had lots of bird activity: sooty grouse booming, Williamson's sapsucker drumming, and hermit thrush, olive-sided flycatcher and mountain chickadee singing. Marmots were up and about, despite 80% snowcover in the Olmsted Point area.
Skiers could park as low as the White Wolf area and make some runs at Siesta Cirque. The district ranger figures it may be a couple more weeks until the road can be opened to cars.
A couple warm days means the Merced River has leapt from around 1500 cfs at Pohono Bridge to 2800 cfs last night; it should get even more exciting over the next few days.
oh it will be exciting.....really exciting. want. to. be. there.
ReplyDeleteWhere can you park you car when you get on your bike?
ReplyDeleteLast weekend, the road was closed to cars at a spot called 'Walker Party' about 4 miles up from Crane Flat, a mile before you cross the South Fork Tuolumne. Plenty of parking, and a toilet. Next weekend may be different; it may even be open to cars all the way....
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for the info:)
ReplyDeleteCan you cycle the whole Tioga Pass Road (if you want to cycle from California to Nevada)
ReplyDelete