High Sierra Topix

Its being reported that if (when?) the sequester goes into effect, the NPS plans to delay plowing the Tioga Rd by "up to a month" to save money:
http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2013/02/2 ... ster-cuts/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

So even if it continues to be dry, I wouldn't count on going to Tioga Rd destinations (or perhaps even Glacier Pt?) on Memorial Day weekend. That's a real shame because it was wonderful up there that weekend last summer. With Hetch Hetchy road also closed until the summer due to a major landslide, it sounds like Yosemite Valley may be even more overloaded with people than normal.

Confused.
How would a late opening (and the subsequent loss of entrance fees), save significant money?
This and the fact that most East-side 395 businesses depend on opening 120 as early as possible...A month late ain't gonna happen.

Still too early yet, but the way the snow lies, I am still betting early May.

perhaps "save significant money" actually means "save significant money for the month of may"

Maybe they need to pimp out the valley to the west-siders for a few to raise some funds?

just throwing it out there

consider yourself lucky as you can just walk in from your house!

markskor wrote:Confused.
How would a late opening (and the subsequent loss of entrance fees), save significant money?
This and the fact that most East-side 395 businesses depend on opening 120 as early as possible...A month late ain't gonna happen.

Still too early yet, but the way the snow lies, I am still betting early May.

Well the game that is being played is to identify things that will cause maximum pain and therefore cause the biggest number of complaints to members of Congress. And (if you are being cynical) its worth noting that the locals who would be affected are in Republican Congressional districts. So loss of entrance fees probably isn't the main consideration (and even if it was, relatively few tourists enter from Tioga/wouldn't go just because its not open at that time of year).

It sounds like the plan that has been put forward is not to do any snow clearance on 120 within the park for the time being, assuming the standoff lasts a while. Yes last year the opening was May 7, but in 2008 and 2009 which were more normal but still low snow years, the opening dates were May 21 and May 19. This year Memorial Day weekend is early (May 24-27), so there potentially only needs to be 1-2 weeks of delay to screw things up for Memorial Day.

Of course, this year California actually has some money, so presumably the road outside the park on the East side (and other routes like 108) should be open. Might be nice and quiet if you can be bothered to drive round!

Well, it depends on how you look at it. Since the east side part of 120 is plowed by caltrans and Mono county, that will get opened in the usual timeframe - most likely for the trout opener which is the last Saturday in April. So if the park chooses to delay, then you have a nice window when you can get up to the pass from the east but few people will be around, adn you can have a nice quiet adventure in the high country with few folks around.

But I doubt the park would actually delay much, since they make money once the road is open from entrance fees and so on. Particularly if this winter turns out like it seems it will - below average snowpack and thus less work for the plows.

markskor wrote:Confused.
How would a late opening (and the subsequent loss of entrance fees), save significant money?
This and the fact that most East-side 395 businesses depend on opening 120 as early as possible...A month late ain't gonna happen.

Well, yeah. That's the problem. That's the fundamental reason why "cutting spending" doesn't necessarily mean cutting costs.

In the case of Yosemite, if the money isn't there to spend on plowing the road, the road doesn't get plowed--regardless of the fact that this costs more in the long term.