Yikes. Just for kicks I went to the Caltrans website and typed in a few highway numbers, to see if anything was opened past the normal winter gates. Looks like Sonora Pass just opened all the way through. This may be a record early opening. I found one other reference on a climber's/skiers website that was dated 4/24/07, saying that Caltrans was planning to open the pass on Friday. Looks like they did! --Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles www.ChainReactionBicycles.com

> You can find some historical information (the last 5 years) on Sierra > pass openings at the Caltrans site: > http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/roadinfo/clsdates.htm Right, and I have that link on our website. But curiously it doesn't have info up for last year. > and a lot historical information on Tioga Pass (even before it was > paved!) at: > http://www.monobasinresearch.org/data/tiogapass.htm You can sure spot the drought years of 1976 & 77! I was in college then and remember it well. If it's yellow let it mellow, if it's brown, flush it down. It's not quite accurate for 1999 though. True, it didn't close until Jan 1 2000, but I believe it actually re-opened for a two week period a short while later. Unprecedented. While the snow was light, it was still as cold as usual, making for some pretty spectacular and unusual drives for the few who took advantage. --Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles www.ChainReactionBicycles.com

> You can sure spot the drought years of 1976 & 77! I was in college then > and remember it well. If it's yellow let it mellow, if it's brown, flush > it down. It's not quite accurate for 1999 though. True, it didn't close > until Jan 1 2000, but I believe it actually re-opened for a two week > period a short while later. OK, I re-read it, and there's a footnote regarding 1999. Looks like I remembered it slightly wrong. --Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles www.ChainReactionBicycles.com