Expert: Ernest Tufft - 7/18/2007

Question
Hello

I am planning a road trip in the middle 2 weeks of October from San Francisco to Las Vegas via Yosmite and Death Valley.  Ideally we would like to go over the Tioga Pass.  We are used to driving on twisting mountain roads with hairpin bends in Europe but not in icy weather. We don't want to be weedy and miss out on a spectacular route but nor do we want to be reckless. It would be useful to know whether the pass closes on the first heavy snowfall or whether we are likely to encounter bad weather even if the road is still open.  Also, can you get a cell phone signal?  Any advice you can give would be much approeciated.

Many thanks
Miriam

Answer
Steven,

I believe Tioga Pass will still be open in the middle of October as
winter rains often don't come until November, but you better check
with the Yosemite National Park website before you arrive in the area
for uptodate infomation.  Tioga definetly does close in the winter, so
regardless of what 4x4 with chains you may drive, you won't be allowed
through.  Cell phone reception will be spotty at best, but if the road
is open you won't need to worry about being alone and stuck if
something should happen.  Tioga Pass is a major thoroughfare from the
time it opens in late Spring until the time it closes in Fall.  The
twisty part of the road is mostly on the east side of the pass into
the Nevada desert, and there it will drop further in altitude than
anything in Europe.  It's very scenic.

Have fun...