Sonora Pass

[emcee]

A little deferred stoke here, hopefully not stale. This is from last weekend 6/22: still tons of snow, cold clear overnight refreezes, but the suncups are pretty rough everywhere but the steeps. The skiing itself is nice, the approach in and out a little burnt and wobbly. These were likely my last turns of the season but holy hell what a season it was

still t h i c c in the bowls. emigrant wilderness best wilderness


stacked in the back as well



stacked in the bowl



We skiied all 3 routes, what's the name of the couloir between the bowl and Y?







edit: sideways images, that's just life today..

[SierraSnowSurfer]

Looks tasty!

[patxi]

Anybody been up there lately? I'm planning on taking the kids backpacking in the area in a couple of weeks. Would prefer to start from the Lake if the road is passable.

[davjr96]

I drove by on Saturday morning on my way to Mammoth. Gate is still closed for leavitt lake road. I didn't investigate much farther besides a quick peek from the highway so I'm not sure if there is still snow up the road that would affect walking it.

[emcee]

Ah man I check this thread for pass stoke beta and see that the most recent stoke is still my post from TWO YEARS AGO what happened! We're in a stoke drought.

Sonora has opened as early as mid April in bad seasons, what are we thinking this year? And I wonder what coverage looks like. The last storm in March went way south and got Sonora/yose please tell me spring is gonna be OK..

[~mikey b]

yeah I didn’t go to Sonora Pass once last year because of reasons

108 is open to Leavitt Lake on the east side, and Eagle Meadows on the west side

lower coverage this year but it will still be ok

[davjr96]

From Facebook

Kennedy Meadows will open Friday April 23rd. Deadman and Baker campground will be open Friday April 23rd. We will have the store, cabins, saloon and restaurant open. Restaurant will be open for breakfast and lunch on the weekends until we open it full time on May 7th. Very little snow around the resort and the river looks great for trout season opener.

So that means road will be open to at least Kennedy meadows by then.

[~mikey b]

They’ve gotten to the pass from the east side.

[soul_skier]

Thanks for the update. Looking decent as far as coverage.

[~mikey b]

https://snowbrains.com/caltrans-clea...betts-pass-ca/

[hopelesslyadolescent]

https://snowbrains.com/caltrans-clea...betts-pass-ca/

Thanks, Mike, looks like they're making good progress. When are you getting up there? Or are you too busy with the Tahoe job?

[TahoeBC]

Gonna miss heading to Sonora this year. Last year I got up there one time solo via bike before they opened the pass, riding up the east side and over to blue canyon and back.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=pO1Md-...ature=youtu.be

[406]

^^^nice!

[~mikey b]

from Caltrans





TUOLUMNE COUNTY – The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has removed snow, cleared debris and made necessary repairs to open State Route 108/Sonora Pass to Kennedy Meadows at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, April 19, 2021.

The diligent work of Caltrans crews enabled the opening of this section of the pass in time for the beginning of trout fishing season in the Eastern Sierra, which begins on Saturday, April 24, 2021. Tourists can now reach the Kennedy Meadows Resort and other attractions in the Sierra Nevada.

There is no estimated opening date for the full SR-108/Sonora Pass.

Caltrans recognizes the importance of this route to the region’s economy, which depends a great deal on tourism. Crews responsible for the road opening extend their best wishes for those traveling who enjoy the recreational opportunities this part of California has to offer.

For the latest road information, visit quickmap@dot.ca.cov, or call our Road Condition Hotline at 1-800-427-ROAD (7623).

[davjr96]

So is there normally an official announcement saying "You can bike the closed part"? Looks like ~2.5k vert/6mi to the switchback from KM. Weather for this weekend doesn't look ideal though. Would love to get up there before the snow bridge over the creek melts out (if it hasn't already).

[~mikey b]

no

[bobz]

I'm pretty sure they at least allow (or, more like, can't be bothered to care about) bike riding on the closed road, though. Unlike Yosemite NP, where they've ticketed cyclists on the plowed but still closed Tioga Road.

[TahoeBC]

I can say I did see a caltrans truck beyond the closed gate, they never attempted to make contact, road had been completely plowed.

[mr. hankey]

Gonna miss heading to Sonora this year. Last year I got up there one time solo via bike before they opened the pass, riding up the east side and over to blue canyon and back.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=pO1Md-...ature=youtu.be

Great Vid TahoeBC!

Gonna be interesting to see what happens with this Monday storm system for Tahoe, East side, Shasta, etc.

[JohnF]

So this Sonora Pass, how does it compare to the Ikon or Epic passes?

[Ottime]

Less expensive but fewer high speed lift. Actually fewer lifts all together. Overall better terrain but really spread out with some flat spots.

[Mr. Toad]

Thursday.

Coverage was a little thin but the corn was primo around 1:30.

I didn’t check out out the snow bridge.






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[Ottime]

Damn. That is super thin. Can’t imagine the snow bridge is in very good shape.

[gimpy]

Ooof!.......the easterly facing panels look to be short lived. Looking like some later starts are in order
Thanks for sharing toad+++

[skier666]

No kidding! The main bowl. OUCH.