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Bodie and Mono Lake, California, in April
David_S85
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Are these areas open by mid-April? Anything I need to know if I'm driving down from the Tahoe area? Hints, tips? I could use any advice gained from experience. Thanks!
My Smugmug
"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take" - Wayne Gretzky
"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take" - Wayne Gretzky
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The passes will not open until June or maybe July. Depends on the snow pack. So you'll need to come over 50 and down 395 to the park.
The park itself is open but you'll need to call first to find out about road conditions. You will also want to get chains with your rental car in the off chance you'll need them (even if it's 4WD).
Even if you cannot make it to Bodie you have the whole eastern slope of the sierra down 395 that can make up for it. Most winter access is by snow machines, unless you are into cross country skiing. Elevation 8300 ft but so far this year snow has not been that great but that could change even in April. Weather and Roads http://www.bodie.com/dir.asp
You could always hit Virginia City NV not as good as Bodie but is still a cool place
http://kadvantage.smugmug.com/
"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take" - Wayne Gretzky
I would love to get back to Bodie with snow in the shots. It is on the list.
http://kadvantage.smugmug.com/
Examples from the past:
March 11, 2007
The snow covered peak on the skyline is Bodie Mountain.
Looking back from Bodie Mountain, Thanksgiving 2007:
Bodie is low in the image at 108 degrees, just south of east from the peak. That year there had been snow before Thanksgiving, but it had almost all melted off. The snowshoe hare I saw was already pure white. The temperature at sunrise on the hill above Bodie was in the single digits with wind gusts to 40 MPH at the top of Bodie Mountain.
Bodie gallery:
http://dbdimages.smugmug.com/gallery/2665336_7i2hE#141041809_T4DBF
Dale B. Dalrymple
http://dbdimages.com
...with apology to Archimedies
This is what a mild warm winter day looked like for the inhabitants in years gone by. This year, the road was still open, tourists were still driving in. The next two days are supposed to be sunny, so the new snow coat may be gone by Easter. Scattered patches of old snow will still remain.
Dale B. Dalrymple
http://dbdimages.com
...with apology to Archimedies
http://kadvantage.smugmug.com/
There are a couple of roads that lead to Bodie. There's the front entrance road and "the back road". The back road is worth a look see if you have an off-road capable vehicle. It's also the case that when the front is "closed", the back is open
The state of California uses 'Closed' on roads that are not being maintained. It also uses "Closed' while they are being maintaied. California usually only tickets in the latter case.
The Bodie road is marked with a closed sign at the turnoff and a gate about 0.5 miles in. At the gate there is a dirt area 40' wide to allow you to bypass the gate.
In February, there was maintenance going on the two days I was there, so there was a CalTrans truck blocking the bypass. Caltrans let the Bodie duty ranger drive through but stopped tourists. I drove the south (Cottonwood Canyon) approach. It also had a closed sign because snow is not removed and it often stays wet. (It's a dirt road.) When I was there the road was dry until the last downgrade into Bodie. Then there was 6" of water and mud. I chose to walk the last mile.
In April, the paved road shows that there has been some maintenance done with more still needed, but there were several vehicles in the parking lot at all times despite the weather. The road is passible.
When the mostly paved road is closed and not closed-closed there is room to bypass the gate. A sign like this appears at the gate bypass:
The only change since I took this picture is that the rates are up to $5 for adults.
Dale B. Dalrymple
...with apology to Archimedies