Mariposa's original daily updated online newspaper
Mariposa's original daily updated online newspaper
TUOLUMNE MEADOWS WINTER CONDITIONS UPDATE
April 30, 2008
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Weather: (April 24 to April 30) High temp: 62° (April 27, 28) Low temp: 18° (April 25) New Snow: 0” Total settled snow depth: 6” as of April 30 Ski Conditions and Weather: This will be the last winter report this spring as ski season is quickly drawing to a close. The snow is melting quickly- there are large patches of ground opening up in the meadows, many long stretches of bare pavement along the Tioga Road, and the snowplows are quickly closing in from both sides. The park plows are near Tenaya Lake, heading east. There is no estimate yet for the opening date of the Tioga Road. For the most current Tioga Road status call 209-372-0200 or go to http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/tioga.htm Caltrans has plowed to the park boundary at Tioga Pass, but the road is still closed at the bottom of the grade outside Lee Vining; it is unknown exactly when they will open the road to the public. You can check the status of that portion of highway 120 at 1-800-427-7623 or http://www.dot.ca.gov/cgi-bin/roads.cgiBackcountry visitors are reminded that bear canisters are required for all overnight backcountry use in Yosemite from March 15 to December 15. The ski hut will remain open for backcountry visitors until shortly before the park opens the Tioga Road to traffic. Visitors who have food or gear in the cache at the Tuolumne ski hut are reminded that all property must be removed within two weeks following the road opening date; any gear left after that time will be discarded. Avalanche and Snowpack Conditions: For the latest avalanche advisory for this area go to www.esavalanche.org for the Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center and click on advisory. The ESAC site is updated several times a week and more often during weather events. Wildlife: Birds seen in the past week include Mallard, Common Merganser, Killdeer, Northern Flicker, Williamson’s Sapsucker, Hairy Woodpecker, Black-backed Woodpecker, Golden Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk, Violet-green Swallow, Steller’s Jay, Clark’s Nutcracker, Common Raven, Mountain Chickadee, Brown Creeper, White-breasted Nuthatch, Redbreasted Nuthatch, Townsend’s Solitaire, American Robin, Mountain Bluebird, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Dark-eyed Junco, Red-winged Blackbird, and Brewer’s Blackbird. The Belding’s ground squirrels are coming out of their burrows for the first time this spring. We also saw a pair of coyotes in Dana Meadows this week. Animal tracks seen in the past week include Pine Marten, Chickaree, Mice/Vole, and Hare. Questions: If you have any ski related or weather questions feel free to call 209-372-0450 between 8:00 am and 8:00 pm. If we are out skiing, leave a message and a phone number so we can return your call. (Jeff and Kathi, the Tuolumne winter rangers)
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