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Tioga Pass Trip

Posted: Fri Jun 30, 2006 7:05 pm
by irish
Just got back from 10 days in the Tioga Pass area and had a great time.

Saddlebag Lake is still closed because of snow and the Ranger (Steve) thought it might not open until mid to late July. We usually stay at Sawmill Campground on the way up to Saddlebag but it is closed as well. We hiked up there and there is still a good amount of snow. The creeks by it are flowing really fast and hard to fish.

Someone said the end of Saddlebag (by the dam) was fishable and that some people had hiked up there to fish it. Also, Gardisky Lake is not frozen anymore but we didn't get a chance to check it out (we got rained out)

Ellery Lake Campground opened while we were there and we stayed in #13 right on the lake (great site). Fishing was really slow on the lake and in the creeks because the water was flowing too fast and the water is very cold. We did catch some fish in the creek pools by the road. I don't think they have stocked the creeks yet and there is alot of water on the ground around the creeks.

Big Bend and Aspen Campgrounds were open and the fishing was better by them.

Fishing was great in the Tuolumne Campground area because the campground was still closed and the creek was pretty fishable. Caught alot of nice browns on flies, worms and spinners. They also think it will be mid July before Tuolumne opens.

Weather was in the 70s during the days and maybe 40 at night. The stars were beautiful.

The meals were good at the Tioga pass Resort and Whoa Nellie's (Mobil Station).

Posted: Fri Jun 30, 2006 8:20 pm
by Snow Nymph
Did you notice if Saddlebag area was skiiable? How much snow was on the road to Saddlebag?

We'll be stopping by Whoa Nellie Deli this weekend!

Thanks for the report!

Posted: Sat Jul 01, 2006 7:01 pm
by irish
The road up to Saddlebag had 3'-4' snow drifts (mostly from Sawmill Campground on upwards) so they haven't opened it up. We didn't hike all the way to Saddlebag but spoke with a guy heading down from there and he said it was still frozen except for the end where a couple of people were fishing.

I would think you could still ski since there is that much snow.

Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 12:14 pm
by SSSdave
While passing through yesterday afternoon on the Fouth of July, I noticed the Saddlebag Road was still gated off.