Pioneer Basin/Mono Divide

“I just talked with the ranger lady (real nice) and since I already had a reservation she "borrowed" two spots from Sunday. There is still one left to borrow. So, Aussie can have one and Mark?

But I do need to know who has their permit already. Does Karen and Jerry have theirs?The option of 12 same day permits is open.”

“So I need to phone again now to get one ?”

“No, you can have one of the two I just got.”

“Oh - great. Thank you !

So if I've understood correctly.....there's 12 spots open but can only be obtained the same day we go in....?”

“Right, they are same day walk-up reservations.”

“Does anyone need me to get that last permit? Anyone? Anyone?
last edited: 2/24/06 2:28:25 PM”

“Steve, am I on your permit now with those 2 extra spots? Hope so.”

“No matter what I will needa permit since I am definite on this hike.”

“Steve, are we on your permit? I'd say scoop up the extra one, just in case. I'd be happy to pay for it.

Wingding, thanks (sort of) for the links. Cox Col will be a challenge, I can see.

Stovestomper, bummer. Any chance things will change?”

“Yes, I have spots for Mark, Karen, and Jerry. I'll get that last one.”

“and done.”

“Thanks, Steve. Are there people still needing permits?”

“My work schedule is all screwed because of all the hurricane damage here.
I work in a shipyard and it's very important I be available when the ships have to be given their 'test drives'.
That is the main reason I am employed, for those time periods. The rest of the year I am underworked, and why I'm on TT so much during the day. ;-)
The ship schedules are hosed and I can't commit to being on the hike this far out.”

“Karen, I'm not sure. There are still people signed up, and maybe they have the other permits that are issued.”

“Billy boy needs a permit. I guess I can always do the walk-up or go in the day before.”

“Steve - I'm on yours too, right ?”

“You can have that last permit”

“OK. That's super-dooper of you to do that for me, Stevie! Thanks!”

“Stovestomper, that sounds like a 'maybe' to me.

After the permit roll call, I'll volunteer to go early for the same-day permits, if need be.
last edited: 2/24/06 8:01:06 PM”

“Does everyone have a permit?”

“Not me, :( I'm still trying to firm-up a biz thing so I can make it... do you have an extra??”

“I purchased 7, which are slated for: me, Rockman, Matt, Cubfan, Aussie, wannabp, and Landscaper. Those others who signed up (ie Phil, BearCrossing, Baume 66, jvz, wanderer, and whoever else I missed) will have to obtain a sameday permit; cuz there's no mo phone in permits available, Jack
last edited: 2/27/06 6:53:52 PM”

“southern boy without a map has a question,
Where is the trailhead? Is it near Mammoth? I was just wanting to see if we are needing to have a slumber party Friday night before we hit the trail, and possibly the night we come off trail.”

“matt, there is a town called Tom's Place at the road to the trailhead. I found info on it when I was researching this trip.
http://www.tomsplaceresort.com/
I was considering coming in to CA a day or so ahead of the trip and maybe staying here to help acclimate myself.
last edited: 3/06/06 6:43:26 AM”

“I highly recommend a day of acclimating before hitting the trail... the first day you go over Mono Pass @ 12,000 ft., and that's after a pretty decent climb up. Even though I live here & always hike the Sierra that's still a lot of elevation gain after a lot of exertion, just what many think brings on altitude sickness!

Last time I we did this we camped the night before at a small campground right near the trailhead parking lot. Kinda' nice to wake up & be right at the trail!”

“There's an online store called 'Latta Outdoors' that sells the map you need...... ;-)”

“I've actually changed a few things about that website, so I'm now out of the direct sales business.”

“I was going to stay at a place at Lake Tahoe (6,400 ft) on Friday night then drive to the Th that morning (Starbucks on the way, jack). Its about a 3 1/2 hour drive though, but that days mileage is low so we could get a later (10 am) start.

The Tom's Place Resort looks very cool. But Tom's Place is pretty small and the dining choices will be limted. This place will also be a good choice if people are returning to LA. Mammoth Lakes will have better choices for both lodging and food.

The peeps flying in may dictate the entry/exit lodging situation What say you?”

“I say I go where ever my driver takes me. For those needing a walkup permit, how far is the ranger station from the TH? Just curious.”

“I think there's a ranger station in Mammoth. We are picking ours up in Bridgeport since its right on the highway.

Matt, do you need to be chauffeured around when you get here? Aussie? Do you any flight info?”

“I would be eternally grateful for a chauffeur, ok, atleast I would be grateful for the duration of the trip. Yes please.

I haven't looked into flights yet. I guess I will start looking at a Friday morning flight in and flight out on the next Friday.”

“Yeah, that looks good. Ideally, the earlier the better on the in-bound on Friday, August 4th.”

“Coming from the north, I always stop at the Mono Basin Visitor Center right off Hwy. 395 at Lee Vining to get my wilderness permits for the area. It's quick and easy and the visitor center is my favorite. They know me there too, I go so much. It's like a bar.

"Hey Buck, the usual? Mono Pass by yourself with two dogs?".
"Yep, that'll do it".
"You're extremely good looking and you get better looking each time you walk through those doors".
"Thanks. Bye now!".
"You take care out there, see ya next time!"”

“Thanks Buck! Maybe its the ranger station at Lee Vining; I'd better check the permit.”

“A quick glance at airplane tickets and it looks like most early flights arrive around 1PM - 2PM. If I want to take the extremely early flight (leaving at 6 AM), I might be able to squeeze it to about 11AM. I'll wait a few more months before I buy my ticket.

Buck, any chance that a stud muffin like yourself would want to associate with only a slightly good looking person like me?
last edited: 3/06/06 12:09:42 PM”

“Sure, I associate with ridiculously average looking people all the time.”

“Matt, an arrival time of 1 pm - 2 pm would be great. Work in the morning, then beat the traffic getting out of Sacramento.”

“Buck,
Heidi and Sierra don't count”

“I would also like a ride and will fit with the chauffeur's schedule. I will fly in sometime Friday 8/4. Like Matt, I will also leave it a ilttle while before booking flights.”

“Sounds good.”

“FYI,

The breakfast at Tom's Place is incredible!!”

“I will vouch for the great food at Tom's Place. Breakfast, lunch, or dinner. The bathroom is rather shoddy, but the food is very good. I will admit I eat there AFTER coming out of the wilderness, so know my review of the food is based upon starvation and basic cravings, but it is good.”

“With that said; my vote is for the Tom's Place Resort. I love funky older resorts.”

“What is everyone plan on lodging on our exit day? Lodging at Tom's Place, Mammoth Lakes, or just drive home?”

“I haven't thought that far ahead.”

“I haven't really thought about exit day accommodations either - at this time I don't have any strong feelings abotu any option. I plan on staying at some kind of hotel that night and flying out Friday morning.

Regarding the night before.....have we decided on staying at Tom's Place Resort ?”

“Hi all - I've decided to switch trips, I'm gonna try to hook up to Paige's "Kearsage Pass out at Piute Pass" trip, just because I've already done Mono Pass / Pioneer Basin & the other hike hits a couple areas I've been meaning to hike but just haven't got to yet.

You guys will be going on an AWESOME trip, I LOVE Mono Pass, to this day I have a couple pics from my last hike there as my desktop display on my PC so that I see it every time I boot up!

Enjoy! We'll compare pic's at the conclusion.”

“Do I need to get my own permit??”

“Oh, yeah, Tom's Place has great food, good burgers and whatnot... I've been going there since I was little (I grew up in Bishop) :)”

“BC, I'd try to call in for a permit, but I think none are left. In that case, you'll have to get a walk-up one on the entry day”