[pct-l] PCT international hopefuls seek local knowledge

Tue Jan 21 23:28:34 CST 2014

Actually, Paint, we're mostly east and just a tad north of LA. And I've
never heard of the Los Angeles Crest and can't find any information about
it--there's the Angeles Crest Highway, but that's over in the San Gabriels,
which are the part of the range north of LA. We are proudly (or sheepishly,
really) in the San Bernardinos over here.

Big Bear is about two hours from LA. (The 10 freeway to Highway 18 up along
the Rim of the World is the straightest shot).

Also, I hope to one day rack up enough trail time to come close to your
down time. I can't quite decide if hiking with you would be a bad thing
(since you seem to find a good deal of trouble) or a good thing (since you
seem to be an injury magnet, maybe it'd miss me). You are a hiking rock
star, sir.

Professor Errant

On Tuesday, January 21, 2014, Paint Your Wagon <n801yz at hotmail.com> wrote:

> Bingo!
>
> Mammoth Lakes has a hostel.
> http://mammoth-guest.com/
>
> The population is 8,234. The elevation is 7,880’. It is a mountain town
> surrounded by conifer forests. It averages 583 inches of snow a year.
> I stayed there for over thirty days nursing an injury. Davison Street
> Hostel. It’s a three level A frame (ski chalet).
> Mammoth Lakes has everything you asked for. Hiker outfitters. Grocery
> stores. Bike rentals.
> There is snowboarding, downhill skiing, mountain bike riding, skate
> boarding, hiking, biking, running and equestrian trails,
> music festivals, the highest brewery in the sierras, free shuttle buses,
> you name it!
>
> The rate is about $30 a night, but they have reduced rates for long term
> renters. A month would be considered long term.
> They give PCT hikers a discount. There is a coed dorm room with bunk beds
> (10 spaces).
> There are four individual rooms with one bed to multiple beds. One or more
> people can rent them for any number of nights.
> The kitchen is well stocked with everything a personal residence would
> have.
> Andy is the manager’s name, and Maggie and Carl, are the owners; whom live
> in the San Diego, CA., area.
> It’s possible to work some of your rent off, if chores are available. Just
> ask.
>
> The PCT is about 5 miles west of Mammoth Lakes. Part of the year, a
> shuttle runs out to Red’s Meadow, (mile 906.6 of the PCT),
> sometimes daily, and sometimes weekly, depending on the weather. A trail
> at nearby Horseshoe Lake, will take you to Red’s Meadow (and the trail).
>
> The YARTS shuttle runs a route to and from Yosemite NP.
> The ESTA shuttle runs up and down HWY 395, connecting Reno, NV, in the
> north, to Lancaster, CA., in the south.
> You can catch it in town- daily.
>
> Kennedy Meadows (south).
> http://hikethepct-km.com/
>
>
> https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Kennedy-Meadows-Toms-Place/130890000335758
>
> Home of the Cyber Café. A vintage Airstream travel trailer with computers
> and internet service.
> This is a trail angel’s personal 5 acre spread, populated by vintage pull
> behind camper trailers.
> affectionately referred to as canned hams. I stayed there for 56 days,
> nursing an injury and while awaiting some planned for funds, that were
> held up due to human error.
>
> Tom handles the bear vault loaner program for hikers needing one. Kennedy
> Meadow’s sign says there are 200 residents,
> but the locals swear that is a lie. Lower, much lower. This is the start
> of the high sierras. The elevation is 6,427’.
> The Milky Way is stunning at night here, weather permitting. It’s high
> desert; very arid. A fork of the Kern River is nearby.
> Fishing with a license is OK. A free bath is possible, depending on how
> cold, or how warm it is.
> There’s a USFS campground 3 miles north.
>
> There is a 9 hole disc golf course, which I was privileged to help build,
> and is addictive as heck.
> Tom, the owner, and whoever else is there, plays a round in the morning
> and another round in the evening.
> There is an outdoor movie theater with rustic bench seating set up ala
> amphitheater style.
> US Navy fighter pilots from China Lake, love to serenade the audience by
> cutting donuts overheard
> (circling in the night sky) in their F-18 Super Hornet fighter attack
> aircraft.
> I believe they are curious about the outdoor movie screen,
> which captures their attention causing them to turn a radius overhead.
> It’s quite exhilarating for the audience down below.
>
> There is an indoor/outdoor kitchen that’s somewhat primitive but stocked
> well enough,
> to allow Tom the ability to cook and feed 30, 40 or 50 hikers at one time.
> The location is isolated a bit. It’s an hour by auto travel to Ridgecrest,
> population approx. 27,000,
> which Tom travels to regularly, usually on a weekly basis, and more often
> when the PCT herd is passing through,
> in order to do shopping. US mail/postage is available in town. You can
> probably yogi a ride with Tom,
> providing he has room in his truck. He has two trusted canine companions;
> Kubota (mother) and Clover (daughter).
>
> There is a store within eyesight; Kennedy Meadows General Store, which has
> somewhat sparsely stocked shelves,
> but with an eye (inventory) for what hikers want, and they travel at least
> weekly off the mountain to do their shopping,
> so it’s possible to yogi a ride. There names are Al and Leonna
> Hansen/Hensen???
> I ran into them by sheer coincidence last year as they were shopping in
> Lancaster, CA.
> Also, Al and Leonna, accept packages, and will take them to the post
> office for a fee.
> Cheryl Strayed, author of the hiking/odysseys in life- book; “Strayed”-
> mentions stopping in the store in her book.
>
> The ESTA shuttle runs up and down HWY 395, connecting Reno, NV, in the
> north, to Lancaster, CA., in the south.
> This location is mile 702 of the PCT, and it lies a half mile west of
> Tom’s place.
> Tom operates on the kindness of hiker’s donations,
> and the usual and customary amount proffered by some of the wise sages in
> the hiking community,
> suggest a donation of $20 a night.
>
> One caveat: there isn’t a shower at Tom’s place, but the store has a
> couple of them,
> and they will also do one’s laundry (wash and dry) for a small fee each.
> Also, the store has a short order grill, and each Friday, the local
> customers and the owners get together for a potluck which is excellent.
> Once a month there is a special celebratory weekend event and meal,
> usually running under fifteen dollars.
>
> It’s possible to work off your room and board. If Tom needs help around
> his place, he’ll work something out with you. Just ask.
>
> Big Bear Lake has a hostel.
> http://www.bigbearhostel.com/
>
> It’s located at approx. mile 265 on the PCT, or more accurately stated,
> the first opportunity to reach Big Bear Lake, is when you cross HWY 18.
>
> There are a couple of trail angels in the area. Papa Smurf and Mountain
> Mama, live in Big Bear City.
> Usually, Papa Smurf leaves his phone number at the trailhead. You can call
> him for a ride to the hostel,
> or for transportation to other places by mutual agreement. He’s not
> against accepting a donation for gas money.
> I stayed with Papa Smurf eight days in 2012, while nursing an injury.
> Also, a woman named Tiffany,
> was doing some trail angel support last year. I did not meet this kind
> person, so I don’t have any further details to report,
> other than to say, that if you ask around here on the list serve, perhaps
> someone will offer more information.
>
> Big Bear Lake has everything you asked for. The population is 5,116, and
> the elevation is 6,759’.
> A sister city contiguous to Big Bear lake, is Big Bear City, with an
> elevation of 6,772’,
> and a population of 5,779. It’s easy to mistake one for the other,
> especially when using the postal system.
> There’s a shuttle connecting the two towns, and a large grocery store with
> an inventory to match it’s size.
> When I was there in 2012, there wasn’t a hiker outfitter
>
> The hostel is rustic and hiker friendly. It’s located in a ski town just
> like Mammoth Lakes.
> There’s a modern kitchen in the hostel with well stocked cabinets full of
> dishes, pots, pans, silverware and appliances.
> There are dorm-rooms, and I believe there are a few private rooms and a
> few semi-private rooms.
> Their rate is around $20.00 a night. They offered me a sliding rate for
> staying a number of days,
> as long as I paid for all of the days at the front end of my stay. The
> manager’s name is Richard.
>
> You may be able to work off some of your rent. Just ask.
>
> Getting to your destination however, will be a bit circuitous, compared to
> Mammoth Lakes and Kennedy Meadows,
> although it’s closest to Los Angeles. I would ask someone here at the list
> serve,
> that knows the best way to get to the greater Big Bear area, to chime in.
> The location of Big Bear Lake and Big Bear City, is directly north of Los
> Angeles,
> in the transverse range (east-west) otherwise known as the Los Angeles
> Crest.
>
> I just had the thought that staying at each location for a couple of weeks,
> might give you a great first hand look at the trail, and the
> transportation systems available in each area.
>
> Best of luck,
>
> <>Paint<>
>
> PS Somehow I inadvertently sent out an incomplete post, prior to sending
> this one to you.
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