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John Muir Trail / High Trail / PCT loop

on Labor Day Weekend 2019
Previous
Introduction

Friday August 30, 2019
El Granada to Mammoth Lakes
Next
Saturday August 31, 2019
John Muir Trail from
Devil's Postpile to
Gladys Lake




2019/08/30 07:38

Ray flew into SFO early Friday morning so we could start the 6 hour drive to Mammoth Lakes.



2019/08/30 13:05

We made the mandatory stop at Olmsted Point to see Half Dome and Clouds Rest



We saw some workers rebuilding Tioga Pass Resort, which partially collapsed in 2017.
The signs said it should be open again in  2020!



Kent texted us to tell us to stop at the roadside Lee Vining water spigot get the world's coolest frestest water



2019/08/30 14:09



2019/08/30 14:27

We had lunch at the Whoe Nelli Deli in Lee Vining

I had my first ever seared ahi years ago in the Whoa Nelli so I felt obligated to get it again.
It's still fantastic.



2019/08/30 14:27



2019/08/30 14:48



2019/08/30 14:48



2019/08/30 14:49




First stop in Mammoth Lakes was to pick up our permit

The ranger gave me a third degree interegation for about 5 minutes with such questions as:

How far away from water sources do you need to dig a toilet pit?
How deep does your toilet pit need to be?
Where are you planning to build your campfires?

I guessed higher / deeper than necessary for the toilet questions wanting to be on the safe side.
I told her I wasn't planning to build any fires... which was good since she replied that fires aren't allowed.
I already knew fires weren't allowed, I was a little confused by her line of questioning.
Then she warned me that rangers would be out this weekend and they would be enforcing the rules, and eventually I was given my permit.
I didn't say anything of course but I seriously doubted that we'd see any rangers.
In two prior trips I've seen only one ranger who didn't seem to be enforcing any rules.
Instead he was just letting people without bearboxes or a permit know that they really should have a bearbox and a permit...



2019/08/30 15:31




2019/08/30 15:51

We found the grocery store



2019/08/30 16:28

Then checked into our hotel
Sierra Lodge was fine, but the hot tub was small and a little greener than I prefer.
Didn't take long to decide to take a pass on that.




2019/08/30 17:26



2019/08/30 17:27



2019/08/30 17:27



2019/08/30 17:27



2019/08/30 17:44

We then wandered up the street to Mammoth Mountain Brewing Company for dinner.
The menu was a little plainer than I remembered - they don't have anything fancier than a burger.



2019/08/30 18:06



2019/08/30 18:06



2019/08/30 18:06



2019/08/30 18:15


Previous
Introduction

Friday August 30, 2019
El Granada to Mammoth Lakes
Next
Saturday August 31, 2019
John Muir Trail from Devil's Postpile to Gladys Lake