Hello, We have a history with the Tioga Pass. It is the only road from inland West side of the tallest mountain range in California, the Sierra Nevada range to the dry side on the eastern highway. Since it is so tall and large, it does have snow from the first storm of the year to the last snow on the northern side of the mountains in late July and sometimes August. But from the first heavy snow, the road closes. It is too dangerous to drive up hill or especially down hill, with the no guard rail curves and corners. The drop offs can get quite steep. Plus, we all know how slick surfaces are not friends of tire treads. So, the road closes from November, usually, and stays closed until the last possible part of the slick surface is dry and somewhat grippy. That is usually in the last week of May of the following year. Now, there are still ways to get from San Francisco Bay Area to the old highway 395 on the other side or desert side of the mountain range. Or, from Los Angeles area taking the inland same 395 up to Reno, Nevada on the East side of the range. Photos are not the most popular thing to do as the stopping points are not always the safest on the down hill portion. The valley is steep and not the most accommodating to stop for photos. It is usually the "iron grip" on the steering wheel and no gazing out of the window gathering the whole mountain, valley and steep cliff views. Jnaki Our family has gone through the Tioga pass from West to East 7 times from 1949 in the different Buick sedans to the 2018 last road trip for us in that area. West is the place where we usually drive, along the coast and up to San Francisco area, the San Juan Islands and the PNW. But, when we come back into California and see the sights in the S.F. Bay Area, the road through Yosemite is outstanding and never gets old. (Most cars will make it up and across easily. But, some may need carburetor adjustments due to the steep climb and elevation.) Note: From the East side of the mountain range, we have only taken the westward journey once. In the 1965 El Camino was the only vehicle driving one time, heading west. Being 20 somethings and having been on Highway 395 from the Los Angeles basin area, it was a different way to get to our destination on the other side of the mountain range. I had the iron grip on the steering wheel and only took flashes of the view. My wife (girlfriend at the time) was the one who looked at everything and gave me a running commentary. YRMV
The Jalopy Journal
