[pct-l] Hitch-hiking

[scott garner]

I heard many a story about that gas station last winter when I was doing some ice climbing in Lee vining/Bishop area. I heard they sometimes have trapezee artisit and live bands playing at that Mobile station and I also heard the rumor about the chef being from spot in the Bay Area. I can wait to check it out when its open!!! Flip
 
> Date: Wed, 15 Dec 2010 10:35:59 -0800
> From: baidarker at gmail.com
> To: dthibaul07 at gmail.com
> CC: pct-l at backcountry.net
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] Hitch-hiking
> 
> Hitching wasn't too much of a problem accept for Steven's Pass, where I
> stood in a cold drizzling rain for quite a while becoming hypothermic,
> getting out of the lava and into Sisters Oregon, where I gave up after an
> hour as I really didn't need the zero, and Tuolumne Meadows trying to get
> down to "The Mobil" for dinner. Several of our party made it down, but
> Smiles and I waited and waited and waited, and finally gave up and had pack
> food that evening. We were teased unmercifully by our com-padres who made
> the hitch, and had a great meal. They told us they were treated to dinner
> by the trail angels who picked them up in the first place. Cold shot, and
> probably a lie.
> 
> If you're not familiar with the Sierra yet, or Hwy 395, which runs down the
> length of the range on the east side, the Mobile gas station is one of the
> places it's worth getting off trail to eat, even though you've just picked
> up a mail drop at Tuolumne. It's a small restaurant and store at the Mobile
> gas station at the corner of Tioga Pass rd. and Hwy 395 just south of Lee
> Vining. Foody friends in the Bay area tell me that the proprieter is an ex
> chef from Chez Panisse in Berkeley. I don't know if that's true, but the
> food is fabulous, and the view of Mono Lake, gorgeous. It's more pricey
> than a burger joint, which it used to be, but you ain't getting just a
> burger here. Anytime I get near, I make a run down the mountain to eat
> there. Part of the fun is just getting such great food at a gas station
> mini mart and standing in line with stinky hikers, that would be you and me,
> and folks who have just driven up from Mammoth, or sometimes down from Tahoe
> simply to eat there.
> 
> >From start to finish, the trail angels are amazing, but the trail north of
> Truckee, all the way up to Firefly's home at Old Station, became known at
> the land of the trail angels, as there were so many official, and unofficial
> trail angels up there, such as Piper's Mom and the Williams' at Buck's Lake,
> who will give you a lift, clean you up and often feed you, or get you to
> good food. Several times when crossing a paved or even dirt forest service
> road we came upon notes with tel. numbers to call for a pick up. Simply
> marvelous people. Two guys I later hiked with, said that this section of
> trail had restored their faith in humanity. If you're just blasting
> through they will slow you down, but if you have the time to enjoy the
> incredible hospitality, the trail angel experience is right up there with
> the trail itself in terms of wonderful. And please leave a tip or something
> to help keep them going.
> 
> The potentially bad hitch into Etna, due to so little traffic, was solved
> for us as Max Chill's parents had driven out from Minn. to meet their trail
> weary son and his dirty friends. His mom made several trips into town to
> get us all there, and later took us back to trail. Incredible folks, but
> sorely disappointed that Mango was not with us at that point, as they had
> been following his journals and wanted to meet him. Most of the trail
> angels followed several journals and loved getting news from us first hand
> about their favorite journalers.
> 
> At Siskiyou Pass we had breakfast at Callaghan's resort where we met
> Hummingbird who had just finished her first 60 mile day up from the Klammath
> valley. The hitch out of the parking lot is potentially bad and the
> waitress took such an interest in our stories, or maybe just to get the odor
> out of the place, that she offered to give us all a lift into Ashland. The
> breakfast business picked up and she was not able to get away, so the owner
> of the resort piled us all into the resort van and drove us himself. Wow,
> patronize this place! The waitress later caught up with us in downtown
> Ashland and bought us each a beer. You simply meet the most marvelous
> people being a thru hiker.
> 
> I agree with what's been said earlier, shmooze up the day hikers you meet
> even though they smell funny and perfumey, and set up your rides before you
> get to the trail head whenever you can. People who care about hiking are
> often just pleased to help out, simply to be part of the experience
> themselves.
> 
> Shroomer
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