[pct-l] Kennedy Meadows to Mammoth

[Kevin Cook]

KM to Red's is 203 miles. That's doable without a resupply, you will just
have an enormous pack leaving KM. If you want to avoid VVR and MTR, consider
the suggestion to resupply at Lone Pine or Onion Valley.

As a thru hiker, you just get focused on keeping the pack weight to a
minimum, which leads to more frequent resupplies. Even if snow slows you
down, you can do the 203 miles in 14 days only hiking 15 miles a day. Now it
won't be easy. That's 15 mile days, through rugged terrain, with no rest
days. Doable? Yes. Fun? No. Missing out on the best part of the hike because
you're moving too fast? Absolutely!

After all the talk about VVR, I'm putting it back on my list, and instead am
skipping Mammoth. This is mostly due to the fact I've hiked in the Red's
Meadow area many times and don't mind missing Mammoth Lakes. I'll go from
VVR to Tuolumne.

I'm resupplying via Kearsage also though. I have a friend that is meeting me
to hike KM to Onion Valley with me. We're taking that section nice and slow.
He won't be the hiking machine I'll be, and I don't mind going slowly
through my favorite place in the world! We're planning 10 days from KM to
Onion Valley with a day to climb Whitney. If he is hiking further then 10
mile days, then we will just do a zero on the trail. Plenty of nice spots
for that! ;)

I don't think anyone is saying you can't go from KM to Red's Meadow. I think
we're all trying to recommend you don't. There are inexpensive options to
resupply. You can use Kearsage Pass and resupply in Independence. Heck, if
you're near me, I'm sure my buddy will give you a ride down the hill. I
already told him he should expect a full load of hiker trash on his drive
out. ;)

On Wed, Jan 19, 2011 at 2:09 PM, Mike Chapman <altathunder76 at gmail.com>wrote:

> Thanks everyone! I think im still undecited,im still not sold that it
> will be a heavy winter,its been sun a shining in my neck of the
> sierra. I like the bus from the trail to mammoth and a regular PO,id
> love to shell out $50 for someone to hold my resupply(its not alot if
> you got it),but im not that guy,im the idiot starving on the trail,yet
> saving a few bucks(doh!).Im not big on hitching either,its something I
> cant control and that bothers me,but im sure ill be doing some of it.
> My whole plan is to get to hwy 80 as fast and as cheap as
> possible,then I might be able to let the mighty grasp of my moneyhand
> release a little faster. I think if I get into trouble,VVR and others
> could be a stop gap solution,I dont mind $25 as much as $50,but the
> walking around a lake or $20 on a ferry wont help change my mind. I
> totally understand why it costs so much,but if I can avoid it I
> will,and must. Thanks again.
>
> On 1/19/11, jape1 at cox.net <jape1 at cox.net> wrote:
> > How about trading a resupply at Muir Trail Ranch for the Mammoth
> resupply.
> > It's only two more days to Tuolumne Meadows, and you could send a
> resupply
> > there.  You'd avoid the major dollar sucking machine that is Mammoth all
> > together.  You could still catch a shower and do a wash at the free hot
> > springs showers at Red's Meadow.  MTR isn't cheap, but it's a fixed
> dollar
> > amount against
> > the unknown expenditure in a town that was set up to extract max revenues
> > from visitors.
> >
> > (Bear in mind that the opportunities to yogi around Devil's Postpile are
> > pretty dang good.)
> >
> > ---- Mike Chapman <altathunder76 at gmail.com> wrote:
> >> Has anyone here on the list went thru this stretch without a resupply?
> >> I may have to catch some fish between here,pinenuts,buy from fellow
> >> hikers,carry 50lbs. of food!,who knows? I know this may be a huge
> >> stretch because of elevation and snow(slow miles),but I need to close
> >> some gaps in the budget,I feel like Jerry Brown. Ideas welcome,I will
> >> be starting mid may.Thanks.
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