We drove through Yosemite, but not without some trepidation. It's the end of October, and it was below zero last night, and we saw a sign saying the Tioga Pass (the route through Yosemite) was closed with about 100 km to go. When we arrived at the turn off, the sign indicated the pass was now "open" so we talked to some locals.
The pass had opened 2 hours prior for vehicular traffic. We asked them if they meant motorcycles too, and this began a discussion as to whether it would be safe for bikes to try. The consensus was... maybe.
So off we went. As we climbed past 6000 feet, the snow started to appear. At 7000 feet, it was more snow than dirt covering the ground. The temperature, which had been around 10 degrees C, was now 9, then 8. At 8000 feet, the temperature was 6.5 degrees, and the snow was all around. At 9000 feet, it was 5 degrees, and the sky was grey.
We topped the pass at 9945 feet, and the road remained dry. The sun peeked through the trees, and we were cautious in the shadows. We spent the next couple hours riding through some beautiful country, always cautious in the corners, but it was a great day, and a great ride.
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