Tioga Pass, Smioga Pass – N. Cascades Hwy opens soon!

[Heroique]

Okay, before all the Yosemite worshippers grab their pitchforks, any sensible person knows that the early opening of Tioga Pass this year (May 7th, as Preston reports) is very good news indeed.

After all, Tioga Pass is really quite beautiful as mountain passes go, a national treasure – indeed, many outdoors people would even say it’s almost as beautiful as Washington Pass via the North Cascades Highway. Yes, everyone should experience Tioga Pass before they die.

Now for the only mountain pass news that could possibly top Tioga Pass news: Forest officials are projecting that the North Cascades Highway to Washington Pass (State Route 20 in Wash. state) will open next week, perhaps as early as May 11th, only four days after Tioga Pass! That’s soon after giant snow machines, coming from opposite directions, meet each other – and road crews repair guard rails, torn by winter rock falls and destructive snow slides.

Washington Pass (5,477 feet) doesn’t reach nearly as high into the sky as Tioga Pass (9,943 feet), but who measures beauty by altitude? By that measure, Death Valley would be quite an ugly place. And did I mention the diverse, LF-worthy scenery you drive through to get up here, going either way? Desert from the East, Evergreens from the West.

Let’s just say that outdoors people are unable to blink during the Cascadian ascent.

Bring your LF gear, and see you up there!

Tachi 4x5
Schneider XL 110mm/5.6
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Epson 4990/Epson Scan

[ROL]

Well, of course you're right, and you're not.

I think you miss the point about TP. It is not the pass itself, but the access it provides to the Yosemite high country, the East Side, and Whoa Nelli to most of California (~10% of the nation's population, like it or not) residing on the wrong (err... west) side of the range. It is the only and southernmost pass to breach the crest in some 200 miles (thankfully ).

Under the Wave, Tioga Pass

Oh, and BTW, you still win.

[Joseph Dickerson]

Heroique,

That's cool news, truly beautiful country.

The Whoa Nellie Deli is an institution in our part of the world, but then Twisp, WA has the Cinnamon Twisp Bakery. Just as good, and cheaper! I know 'cause last fall we broke down coming over the pass and spent a week in Twisp waiting for parts for the van. We were initially really bummed but Twisp proved to be a total delight. Ironically, the parts came from Carpenteria, about 40 miles from home.

JD

[Heroique]

Twisp, WA has the Cinnamon Twisp Bakery.

I know people in Seattle who patiently wait for Washington Pass to open so they can get there. “It’s for the awesome drive, up the mountains, down the Methow valley,” they say. We all know it’s really for the Bakery. Great for replenishing calories lost by hiking.

-----
Washington Pass will remind people of these two stunning Mount Rainier passes (East side), so it might make sense to include the latest opening info about them, too:

• Cayuse Pass (4,675 feet, State route 410/123 junction) opens Tuesday, May 8th.
• Chinook Pass (5,430 feet, State route 410) might open by Memorial Day.

Looks like next week is “open-the-gates” week for many Washington scenic access areas.

Break out those boots, everyone – I mean snowshoes!

[Scott Knowles]

Chinook and Cayuse Pass being open is one thing, but 15+ feet of snow at the passes is another, and the start of seasonal snowmelt was delayed by the recent cold spell and new snow last week and into the weekend. And there is 14 feet at Paradise. To use snowshoes, first you have to get on top of it. But at least the north-south highways (410 and 123) on the east should open next week. Only Chinook Pass will be later in May about the time the Stevens Canyon Highway opens for the season.

[Heroique]

To use snowshoes, first you have to get on top of it.

Here we are “getting on top of it” – a little West of Washington Pass, last May.

Scott’s right, if you want to hike, snow shoe, or cross-country ski, you gotta climb-up first!

Time to head for these mountain tops & tall trees again, can’t wait...

[ross]

I can't wait either Heroique. Thanks for the reports. Time to load some film holders.....

[Drew Wiley]

Sonora Pass is also opening, which certainly rivals Tioga for beauty. I imagine Kaiser Pass
will open early too, for those of you who like wide panaromas of the high Sierra and enjoy
the fun of steep narrow roads.

[Jim Galli]

Just for the record, Tonopah, Nevada is the same elevation as Lake Tahoe.

[Heroique]

An important update: the two Snow Kings coming from opposite directions met today at 11:00 a.m.!

Here’s the mean green machine climbing from the East, just below Washington Pass.

Now it’s just mopping up – Thursday (May 10th) looks like opening day.