Tioga Road Trivia Contest Question #1 The original Tioga Road passed through White Wolf, the beautiful meadow system that now is home to a campground and lodge. Who was the first owner of record of the White Wolf meadow, and why and where did he serve time? Answer Johnson Ridley. Ridley later worked for Henry Washburn at Wawona.  After Washburn fired him, Ridley took a potshot at him during a 4th of July celebration. Convicted of attempted murder, Ridley went to San Quentin Prison. One contestant named Stephen Mather, but failed to provide the name of his prison, and another fingered John Lembert. Question #2 Following the creation of Yosemite National Park in 1890, the U.S. Cavalry regularly patrolled the park's high country, including the Great Sierra Wagon Road, and worked hard to keep sheep and cattle from entering the park to graze. Still, on one occasion well into the twentieth century, cattle were driven over the Tioga Road. Why and in what year did this happen? Answer In 1943 cattle were driven over the Tioga Road. Permission was granted to do so because wartime shortages of gas and rubber made it impossible to truck the cattle. Some incorrect answers included 1891, 1905, 1917, 1918, and 1986. Question #3 A Yosemite bird common along the upper reaches of the Tioga Road has a pouch under its tongue for carrying seeds, which it stores in caches. What is the bird and for whom is it named? Answer The "Clark's nutcracker" named for William Clark of Lewis and Clark. Several contestants suggested the bird was named for Galen Clark, while others guessed the Steller's jay. Bonus Question What was the earliest opening date for the Tioga Road since 1957? Provide the year and date. Answer April 8, 1977 While the road did open one winter for a short time starting on December 23, 1999, that answer was deemed incorrect. So was July 8, 1933.