[pct-l] Mammoth Mountain/ Reds Meadow

[Dena Van Derveer]

Randy--
Yes, it's a bit of a slog getting out there via public transit. Not
sure about Circus Circus, but a couple of other tips:
(1) There's a new service GoToBus that goes between SF & Reno for
$25/$30 depending on departure...
(http://www.gotobus.com/usasia/sanfrancisco___reno/)
... Great price, but unfortunately it misses the YARTS connection to
Mammoth by about an hour. But maybe this will be useful info for
somebody.
(2) Amtrak is more expensive, but has better connections -- you CAN
make it in a day from SF/Emeryville to Merced (via train) to Yosemite
Valley (bus) (EMY > MCD > YOS)then YARTS to Mammoth, then stay at
Shady Rest Campground in Mammoth Lakes (rarely full, but not sure
about Labor Day weekend). It's right next to the Forest Service
offices where you can pick up your permit, if you don't have one
already.
http://tickets.amtrak.com/itd/amtrak
http://www.yarts.com/schedule/2007/Summer120E.pdf

(3) Apparently little known (at least I'd never heard of it until a
month ago): In Mammoth Lakes there is a FREE shuttle (the Lakes Basin
Shuttle) to Horseshoe Lake; runs once an hour thru Sept. 3. Although
Reds Meadow has a certain cachet to it, if you're just starting out,
this shuttle would be cheaper than the $7 Reds/Devils Postpile bus,
and it gets you to the Horseshoe Lake trailhead, which will save you a
fair amount of climbing out of Reds at the beginning of a trip
(heavier pack and all that). It's 3.5 miles to the PCT at Upper Crater
Meadow, but you will miss that burned out area above Reds, more's the
pity.
http://www.visitmammoth.com/docs/SummerSchedules.pdf

I found out about this having just spent two weeks cooking for a
couple of PCTA trail crews who were doing a trail re-route there.
Anyone who travels this part of the JMT/PCT will be walking over the
new trail and 2 new stock bridges. The trail re-route was done to keep
the trail out of the meadow and out of the habitat of the endangered
Yosemite Toad.

And oh yes, there are a few pictures of the crew in action, moving 3000lb logs!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pikahiker/sets/72157601180656841/

Good luck with your hike!
--Pika (the other, not-Bob Pika)

On 8/12/07, Randy Forsland <randy_forsland at hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> I'm planning on hiking a portion of the JMT starting Labor day. I was
> thinking about getting on at Reds Meadow and probably exiting at Kearsarge..
>
> I've visited the CREST Bus, greyhound, and YARTS transportation sites, but
> almost all of the schedules with connections  make this a 1.5 - 2 day event
> to get down to Reds Meadow from the SF Bay Area.
>
> So I was thinking...maybe I should drive my old Honda beater to Circus
> Circus in Reno and leave it in one of their 3000+ spots for the two weeks
> that I'll be gone. I can get a free shuttle to the airport and catch the
> Crest Bus there to Mammoth..
>
> I've stayed at Circus Circus in the past for 1 week periods and don't recall
> anybody messing with my vehicle or asking me to show that I was actually
> staying at the hotel. Has anybody ever tried something like this ??
>
> Or does anybody have any better suggestions for where to stash a car near
> Reds meadow ?/
>
> Just thinking out loud
>
> Redwood
>
>
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