Snow Plowing Report May 3rd 2005
NPS snow plowing progress for May 3rd, 2005 for the Tioga, Glacier Point, and Badger Pass roads.
Tioga Road
Starting location: 10.6 miles from Crane Flat Gate
Ending Location: 11.9 miles from Crane Flat Gate
Distance plowed today: 1.3 miles
Snow depth: 12 feetGlacier Point Road
Update for May 2
Starting Location: 2.5 miles from Badger
Ending Location: 2.7 miles from Badger
Distance plowed: .2 miles
Snow depth: 5 feetBadger Pass
No progress today due to major equipment problems.
There are a lot of factors that affect plowing of the Tioga and Glacier Point road. Many of those involve the safety and well being of the workers. Some of the factors include:
- Avalanche zones (26 potential areas). The Olmsted Point avalanche zone requires a lot of work, including application of charcoal over the snow to help with melting and blasting the snow slab to make it safer for personnel.
- Heavy snow pack slows the whole operation.
- Trees that have fallen across the road and been buried in the snow. These can cause substantial damage to the equipment and result in a stop to all operations until they’re cleared.
- Rock slides buried by the snow. These can cause substantial damage to the equipment and result in a stop to all operations.
- Snow storms during the opening require a stop to Tioga Road operations and in order to plow and sand the park roads.
- Road repairs and ditching and brushing operations once snow has melted back enough.
Remember, always keep a watchful eye for snow removal equipment and road crews when visiting the park during the spring months.
For a little over 30 years now I've enjoyed hiking, backpacking, fishing, photographing and exploring Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. Yosemite Blog presents me with the opportunity to share, with you, the beauty and the grandeur of Yosemite and the High Sierra. Read the 