Eastern Sierras / Hwy 395

Mono Lake is pretty cool.

how /out/ are you? there's phenomenal climbing, hiking, and backpacking through there. though with this year's snow the backcountry is still going to be pretty fucking white in may.

>Driving from LA to Tahoe to SF and to one more place in Eastern CA then back to LA within four days.

Alright.

>>1232830
in a van that op probably won't want to drive more than 25 mph on northern 395 and across hwy 88.

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>>1232830

How is this some impossible drive? I've driven more in 2 days. I'm taking a bus back to LA. And my rent was extended by a free day so now it's 5 days.

>>1232835

It's a Dodge Grand Caravan, not some VW hippie shack or monster RV. And my impression is there isn't much adverse weather up there by May.

>>1232552

I'm fine with hiking, though probably not over 3 hours away from the main road considering it's my first real outdoor excursion. I've biked all over the Marin hills before, though I know that's not comparable to the Sierras, but I'm fairly fit.

>>1232544

Cool to visit, kayak, walk around? I've heard the flies can be a pretty big nuisance.

>>1233369
>Mono Lake
All the times I've gone out there I've just walked around. You can kayak though. The brine flies don't get heavy until late summer.

>The Route
I haven't checked to see what roads are open yet, but this winter the Sierra got almost double the historical average of snow. You should make sure that the roads you want to take will be open by May. Right now it's looking like many of them won't have thawed out enough for the plows to get to until around Memorial Day.

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>>1233380

I'm aware of the snow, it's around 190% and I've already talked to the Yosemite NPS, other than 50 and 88, it's unlikely any of the southern routes will be open before July, maybe even later. Whether I take 50 or 88 will depend on whether I want to swing by Sacramento.

That's sort of why I'm going up to Tahoe anyway, I'm sure it's very nice but I would've preferred the Tioga Pass through Yosemite.

>>1231717

Good luck crossing the Sierras this year before July, let alone in 4 days. Snowpack is insane. Take it from me, just drive into Redwoods, or King's Canyon, and go hiking. King's in particular is incredible, and should be manageable come May.

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>>1233403

Does Hwy 50 or 88 still count as 'crossing the Sierras'? The webcam is perfectly clear and I haven't seen any traffic advisories in the week I've been monitoring Caltrans.

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>>1233369
unless you bring snow shoes you probably won't get more than 3 hours from 395 anyways. but all the eastern sierra trailheads (except whitney) are free and permitless to day hikers. north fork of the big pine was gorgeous, and i made it to second lake in 3 hours carrying 3 days of camping and climbing gear. not my pic, but about what i expect you'd see considering this year's snowfall.

>>1231717

It's snowing in the Sierras right now and there's forecast to be more next week.

Depending on when you're going, you might want to bet on a longer winter than usual.

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>>1231717

You may not ski, but a buttload of people will.

A lot of snow. A lot of fucking powder.

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Wow...lots coming.

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>>1231717
I've driven up 395 from LA to mammoth many times. I did it 2 summers ago with my gf in July. We drove from LA to Mammoth where we stayed two nights at the Tamarack Lodge on Twin Lakes and then two nights at the Westin.

I've never gone up in May so I'm not gonna talk about the snow conditions as I don't know.

Bottom line you have to stop at Schat's Bakery in Bishop. The real one in bishop, not the fake one in mammoth. If you're smart, you'll eat sandwiches there and then grab multiple loafs of bread to enjoy on the rest of your trip and when you get home. I like the cinnamon pullapart bread and the cheese bread with the peppers.

https://www.yelp.com/biz/erick-schats-bakkery-bishop-2

When we when up, we enjoyed Twin Lakes and we did the hike to Rainbow Falls. Rainbow Falls is basically a whole day commitment and I dont know how it's gonna be with the snow in May.

There's some bomb fucking restaurants in Mammoth. If it's int the budget and you wanna eat good, go to Petra's or Mammoth Rock Brasserie. If you want something more affordable and family friendly, Kitchen 53 is great also.

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Also OP if you only have 4 days I wouldnt even waste time going to SF unless you really want to drive the coast home. Though you say youre taking a bus so it's probably gonna go down I-5 aka the most boring, miserable stretch of highway in america.

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>>1236856

I have to go back to SF to drop off the van, I'm not staying there at all. But I very much appreciate the advice, I'll pen in the bakery stop.

Do you know if any parts of 395 are dangerous, twisty? I'm trying to be as vigilant as possible given all this weird weather.

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>>1237229
you can pretty much hammer all of 395. 89/88 are pretty twisty, though. go as slow as you want, but for the love of god, if someone comes up behind you PULL OVER IN A TURNOUT AND LET THEM PASS!
>mfw fucking flatlanders who don't know how to drive in the mountains pile up a line of 20 cars by driving 15 miles per hour and never letting anyone by

>>1233427
50 has roadwork and landslides, take 88.
>http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/roadinfo/display.php?page=us50
>http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/roadinfo/display.php?page=sr88

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>>1237229
No it's not dangerous it's easy as fuck. The only sketchy part is when you have to get brave and drive into oncoming traffic if you wanna pass someone. There's parts where it's only one lane in each direction.

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Ski businesses are going to make fucking bank all year.

There's Manzanar and those bristlecone pines. Also, Deep Springs is secretly the best college in the nation.

>>1237706

Wow, talk about exclusive. How can a ranching school send people to Ivy League?

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>>1237706
>24 dudes brokebacking it in the desert for 2 years
>best

>>1238351

That flick is retarded as hell.

>>1238808
/tv/ plz go

>>1238351

How is that not paradise?

>>1231717
as a person who grew up in tahoe,
i hope you dont go there
tourists from la are the worst

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>>1241456

Have you considered...building a wall?

>>1231717
Beautiful scenery and country. Just drive by Mono Lake, it isn't really worth it. You will see the entire thing driving by in the car. My favorite part about the drive is all the small little towns along route. That and Mammoth hiking and climbing makes it a great trip.