Serge Kiriluk is our blower operator who is the first person to get in there and start removing the snow from the highway.
State Route 108, Tuolumne County — at Pinecrest Lake.
Photo credit: Chris Baker/ Caltrans, District 10
Date: April 2, 2019
Rain, Wind and Weather Greets Caltrans Crews As Annual Rite of Spring Begins
April 3, 2019 - Caltrans crews started the seasonal clearing of the Sonora Pass on Tuesday- here are some photos that just landed in our inbox.
Area Maintenance Superintendent Chris Baker managed to get up there just minutes before the rotary blower made its first pass. He indicates that was a gloomy dark day up there and the rain was falling, but the crew is off and running.
Operations will be from 6 AM to 4 PM, Monday through Friday. We ask, for the safety of the crew and the public, that no one enter behind the closure gate until the road is open to Eagle Meadows. We will make every effort to have this accomplished as soon as possible.
Caltrans manages three trans-Sierra passes in the Central Sierra that are closed during winter and generally open in spring: Ebbetts Pass/SR-4 in Alpine County, Sonora Pass/SR-108 (Tuolumne County) and Monitor Pass/SR-89 (Alpine County). Tioga Pass in Yosemite National Park is managed by the Park Service over the summit.
Caltrans’ goal is to have all winter passes open to the public no later than the Friday before Memorial Day weekend. Late season storms, snow accumulation and other factors can sometimes hinder this goal.
The foremost guiding principle in these procedures is to maintain public and worker safety.
The Long Barn crew scouted to Clark’s Fork and estimates that there is 5’ to 7’ of snow there and once they start climbing above Kennedy Meadows, it will get deeper quick.
Photo credit: Chris BakerCaltrans, District 10
Date: April 2, 2019
Location: State Route 108, Tuolumne County
Source: Caltrans
