<DIV>They were using the lakes to generate power. Low rain fall last winter plus high summer demands equals empty lakes.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Robert<BR><BR><B><I>Donna Saufley <dsaufley@sprynet.com></I></B> wrote:</DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE class=replbq style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #1010ff 2px solid"> <META content="Microsoft Word 11 (filtered medium)" name=Generator> <STYLE> v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} .shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);} </STYLE> <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:SmartTagType name="PlaceType" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:SmartTagType><o:SmartTagType name="PlaceName" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:SmartTagType><o:SmartTagType name="City" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:SmartTagType><o:SmartTagType
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class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">VVR is an interesting place and I’d say definitely worth a visit. With regard to the mudhole, they were draining both <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:City w:st="on">Florence</st1:City> and <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Edison</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Lakes</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> last year around August or September for some kind of dam maintenance. I don’t know what the expectation is for the coming season.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">The eclectic camp at VVR is a lively place in season
with a convergence of fishermen, intrepid four-wheelers, campers, JMT south bounders, and nobo PCTers. I really enjoyed the boat ride to and from. The food was excellent and reasonably priced for a remote location, and the store was stocked with many hiker-type items. Everything single thing there is hauled in by the proprietor and crew many miles on a rough mountain road, so everything is a precious and limited commodity for which they rightfully charge. Consequently, hikers have found that by the time they add up their food, beer, phone calls, laundry, etc. charges, they have a bit of a tab. Keep in mind that most hikers are on a limited budget, and paying up for anything tends to be painful to them and a source of complaint. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT
face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">I sent my resupply box to Muir Trail Ranch (so I could carry seven days of food instead of nine) and then stopped at VVR. They’re extremely nice folks at MTR, and there was good stuff in their hiker box. They are more set up for their dude ranch group activities than for the needs of thru-hikers, but it was worth the short side-trip to go there. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Hope that helps.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV
class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">L-Rod<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <HR tabIndex=-1 align=center width="100%" SIZE=2> </SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><B><FONT face=Tahoma size=2><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">From:</SPAN></FONT></B><FONT face=Tahoma size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma"> pct-l-bounces@backcountry.net [mailto:pct-l-bounces@backcountry.net] <B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">On Behalf Of </SPAN></B>Robert W. Freed<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Sent:</SPAN></B> Tuesday, January 08, 2008 10:47 AM<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">To:</SPAN></B> pct-l@backcountry.net<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Subject:</SPAN></B> Re: [pct-l] VVR -- 2007ers, should I
avoid in 2008?</SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></DIV></DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">I spent a night there in early June and found it great. One of the best steaks I think I have ever had. Of course after a couple hundred trail miles everything tastes good. Showers, laundry, food, beer and a free tent cabin if there is room. Bears a plenty at night but with food lockers and ear plugs I never noticed them.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV></DIV> <DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> On the other hand, on the way there I heard horror stories about VVR. Over crowded, out of control bears, the mud hole that used to be Lake Thomas A. Edison, etc... But I had a good time and plan to stop there in
'08.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV></DIV> <DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV></DIV> <DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Robert<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV></DIV> <DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV></DIV> <DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">>>>>>>>>Patrick Beggan <<A href="mailto:meta474@gmail.com">meta474@gmail.com</A>> Wrote:>>>>>>>>><BR>I've been reading Yogi's guidebook and also reading around the <BR>internet and it seems that since 2003 VVR has developed a bad <BR>reputation. Have they gotten a handle on things in 2007, or was it <BR>just as bad as 06/05/04?<BR><BR>I'd like to
stop in there but I'll avoid it and use Muir Trail Ranch <BR>or something, if necessary.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV></DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt">No virus found in this incoming message.<BR>Checked by AVG Free Edition.<BR>Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.17.13/1214 - Release Date: 1/8/2008 1:38 PM</SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></DIV></DIV><BR> <DIV><FONT size=2>No virus found in this outgoing message.<BR>Checked by AVG Free Edition.<BR>Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.17.13/1214 - Release Date: 1/8/2008 1:38 PM<BR></FONT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE><BR>