Sonora Pass

[emcee]

What do we think the odds are of Sonora pass opening before memorial day? At least to the Levitt canyon creek bend.

[~mikey b]

It will only open all the way.

I think Friday noon.

I'll put a call in. Curious about Deadman Creek...

[~mikey b]

Photos from CalTrans

[skier666]

Holy crap...is that below the hairpin?

[~mikey b]

Yup

[skier666]

I really want to ski the gnarl face above the hairpin...maybe this is the year? But that usually melts quickly due to all the rocks. Hmmmm. Not even sure I have time to get there anytime soon. Gonna try my best though.

[gimpy]

Dayum
No river crossing shenanigans needed for awhile

[~mikey b]

Maybe...

One thing I've seen everywhere this winter is a lot of open water. 20' snow banks to open water. Hudge holes in the snow. First time I've seen so much of that. Worth being extra careful.

[GiBo]

...I think Friday noon.

Really?!

[~mikey b]

Maybe
Maybe not

[emcee]

tough to plan around maybe. based on those photos I don't think they're going to get it done before the long weekend

[GiBo]

I know they try their damndest to get it done for MD weekend, but I'm thinking they're going to be a week or two later this year.

[~mikey b]

Yeah they're already talking late-June to early-July for Tioga....

A lot depends too on the sorta road damage they uncover.

[~mikey b]

A buddy of mine did a round trip to and from Leavitt Peak from Kennedy Meadows today. 3700' on the south side of Leavitt down to Kennedy Lake. Snow starts as you approach Kennedy Lake.

[CaliKid]

The south side always looks so tempting. Any idea how long of a slog it currently is until you can start skinning?

[~mikey b]

Walking to somewhere near Kennedy Lake.

[~mikey b]

Just confirmed with CalTrans that Sonora Pass will not open this weekend.

[~mikey b]

More from CalTrans

CLEARING SONORA PASS: Towering snow drifts just one challenge

It's not just the towering snow drifts that are creating challenges with the clearing of Sonora Pass/State Route 108 (SR-108). A wild winter full of storms also dropped trees, signs, dirt and some pretty impressive boulders onto the roadway,

All of these have to be cleared, and the road has to be inspected for safety before it is allowed to open for the public. Caltrans also has crews clearing Ebbetts Pass/SR-4 in Alpine County.

[~mikey b]

June 24 party here

[~mikey b]

CalTrans news release today

WICKED WINTER TO DELAY OPENING OF EBBETTS & SONORA PASSES

Stockton – The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has announced that Ebbetts Pass/State Route 4 (SR-4) and Sonora Pass/SR-108 will not open for Memorial Day weekend. While Caltrans always strives to have these mountain passes open by the holiday weekend, the impact from one of California’s wildest winters in decades is requiring a massive cleanup.

Caltrans is anticipating that Ebbetts Pass and Sonora Pass will both be open within three to five weeks. Currently, eastbound travelers on Ebbetts Pass can go to the east end of Lake Alpine, while eastbound travelers on Sonora Pass can go as far as Kennedy Meadows.

This is the second time in the last decade that Ebbetts Pass will not open by Memorial Day weekend, and the first time in the last decade Sonora Pass will not be open by the weekend.

For a Caltrans News Dash update, please visit http://bit.ly/2rm5oDC.

Caltrans opened Monitor Pass/SR-89 on May 8, while Yosemite National Park clears Tioga Pass/SR-120 inside the park. Tioga is still being cleared and the park service does not have an estimate for opening.

Caltrans’ maintenance crews began clearing the mountain passes in April and are working on a 7-day-a-week schedule. They have encountered snow drifts up to 40 feet high, some the result of winter avalanches that sent hillsides of snow, boulders and trees spilling onto the highways.

Even during years of light snow, Ebbetts Pass and Sonora Pass are challenging when it comes to clearing, repairing and opening the roads. Ebbetts has grades in excess of 23 percent and Sonora has grades that top 20 percent, far beyond typical highway grades of 6 percent. The steep grades, high elevation and narrow lanes on these highways are unable to accommodate snow removal equipment and vehicular traffic at the same time.

Opening the passes involves more than merely clearing snow from the highway. Trees, shrubs, rocks and other debris that accumulate over winter are removed, while Caltrans inspects the road and makes repairs before it is deemed safe and opened for travel.

For the latest in highway information please call our Road Condition Hotline at 1-800-427-ROAD (7623).

[~mikey b]

Photo of the United States Marine Corps 15th Draft marching to higher elevations to begin cold-weather training at the Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center Bridgeport in Sonora Pass in November 1951.

[somethingclever...]

Neat. Thanks for posting.

Photo of the United States Marine Corps 15th Draft marching to higher elevations to begin cold-weather training at the Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center Bridgeport in Sonora Pass in November 1951.

[powdork]

this thread has some good sonora info (as well as tioga duh). Link is to page 5 which has some aerials
http://www.supertopo.com/climbing/th...=2973253&tn=80

[~mikey b]

Sweet thanks

[~mikey b]

Another CalTrans update

A lot of people wonder how we find the road through all the snow. On SR-108, the Sonora Pass, Caltrans Supervisor Chris Baker informs me that his crew locates the road by electrifying a line that is embedded in the center of the highway. He then uses a locator to detect it and as you see in the photo, puts environmentally friendly marks for the dozer to follow. The dozer then pushes snow down to the blower. And then the blower operators can follow center line from there and widen out the highway. Simple, huh?


marking the route

.


single blower pass


steep and deep at Deadman


blowers can handle 4' of snow at a time - 20'-50' drifts and avalanche debris


dozers push snow into road for blowers