Mammoth Lakes June 29th-July 4th

OK Boys and Girls, we have returned from our Recon mission to Mammoth to find a home for La Famila and we have great news:) After a long hard day of fighting off bears and pissed off cows Kathy and I found an awesome campsite in the pines with room for more than 20 large rigs and easy access. There are no bumper dragging dips or any off-camber hilly crazy stuff to worry about.
The area we found is about 3/4 miles southwest of Big Spring campground. So we will still be close to the river and have great access to the trails.

The new directions are as follows-----
1. From the 395 Turn East onto Owens River Rd
2. Go 2.4 miles and turn Right onto Forest Rd 2S85
3. Stay on 2S85 for 1 mile and you will see camp on your right.

Now that was easy!!:D

Notes.....
As your driving down Owens River Rd about 1.5 miles in, you will start to go down a small grade SLOW WAY DOWN cause Big Spring Rd will quickly come up on your left and then 1/2 mile after Big Spring Rd you will be turning Right onto 2S85.
The GPS for the intersection of Owens River Rd and 2S85 is....
37 44' 58.37 N
118 55' 55.96 W

And then the GPS for the campsite on the 2S85 is.....
37 44' 31.10 N
118 56' 53.47 W

Also if you need to fill up fresh water, just to the South of Owens River Rd on the 395 there is a Rest Stop that is very large and has 3 water fill-up points. 2 by the buildings on the northside of the lot and one on the southside of the lot.
Also I will place large Orange traffic cones at the intersection of Owens River Rd and Forest Rd 2S85 just so ya know your at the right place:)
One more quick note....
The right turn onto 2S85 is not a U turn but close. This won't be a problem for trailers and 5er's but a large MoHo with a trailer may take a back up or two. If you feel it is a bit tight of a turn for ya, you can continue down Owens River Rd for 1/2 mile and turn around at intersection head back to the West and pull straight in:D
Well here are a bunch of pics, and I know I am probably forgetting something but I know you guys will remind me. I'll post up the fuel info after dinner:)
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Comming up on 2S85 on right
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View of right turn onto 2S85
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Head on down the road
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Stay straight on 2S85 (It is old asphalt most of the way)
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Keep going!
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And going!
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Getting closer!
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Almost!
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Finally:D
Here is a map overview of the area.
Camp2011.jpg


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Rest Stop
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Water
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Bring your skis and snow boards, there is still 8' of snow:eek:
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Twin Lakes is thawed out
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Lake Mary still has ice on it
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Waterfall above Twin Lakes
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Kathy next to Lake Mammie
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Kathy and some crazy guy she found on the side of the road:eek:

Oh, if you're wondering about all those trailers in the pics. They were a Black Powder gun club that goes there every June. We have never seen anyone in there in the past and neither have they. We should have the whole place to ourselves!
 
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George, thanks for the post. It looks like it is still pretty cool. I am not sure if you guys stayed the night but how was the weather in the evening?
 
George, thanks for the post. It looks like it is still pretty cool. I am not sure if you guys stayed the night but how was the weather in the evening?

We did stay the night and it was beautiful:) It was about 78 during the day and high 40's at night. Now we stayed at the Ski Resort as you see in the pics, and it was a bit cooler there as you can imagine. The camping area is about 2000' lower and much warmer:D
 
Thats allot of snow and ice :eek:

Sure is! It's crazy, warm and dry at camp but you go up the mountain a little ways and you're in a winter wonderland in July:eek: All these years we have been going up there, we have never seen snow at the base of the resort. They still have an 8' base and expect to still have the lifts open through the 4th:)
 
Here is the Fuel info! These stations all have good access for large RV's:) Now if you show up during rush hour at any of these locations, I can't be held responsible for any headaches you may develop :eek:
These stations are in order running north on the 395.

1. Pilot truck stop on right and Arco on the left in Adelanto.
2. Pilot truck stop at Kremer Junction (Diesel in the rear:eek:)
3. Shell Station in Pearsonville (Diesel on North side of building)
4. Chevron at Coso Junction
5. Mobile in Olancha
6. Chevron on right in Big Pine
7. Shell on the right entering Bishop
8. Shell leaving Bishop right side
9. Paiute Casino left side leaving Bishop
 
Mammoth Lakes July 4th Weekend

1. George & Kathy..... 6/29-7/5
2. Trukndave..... 7/1-7/4
3. Grumpsrzr4.....6/30-7/4 or longer
4. Crazywatson.....7/1-7/5
5. Tomcav +3.....6/30-7/11
6. Transformer33....?
7. Bagman.............6/29-7/5
8. Pap.............6/29-7/4 or longer
9.John RZRS (In Spirit)
10.<!-- google_ad_section_end -->
11.
12.

Important Note.....New camp site!! Check out post 181 on page 19!!
 
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Awesome George!! Looks like pure beautifulness up there!! How far would you say it is to get to showers and a dump station from the campground?
 
Awesome George!! Looks like pure beautifulness up there!! How far would you say it is to get to showers and a dump station from the campground?

Less than 20 minutes:) We will be about in the middle between Mammoth Lakes and June Lake. I know for a fact that Mammoth has Free and pay dumps that are simple to get to and several campgrounds that have pay showers. I believe that the June Lake area also has full RV facilities and showers also. Or you could just jump in the river with a bar of soap:eek:
 
George, Thank you very much for all your work to make this trip happen and go smoothly and safely for all of us. I am really excited about this trip and can't wait to get there.
Donna and I will most likely be into camp around noon on the 29th.
 
How much of the riding is going to be on snow covered trails???

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Very little! We may run into some snow on Laurel Mtn on the way to the Laurel lakes. We will have to do a recon run on Thursday or Friday to see if the trail to the lake is passible for the Saturday ride. I talked with the Ranger and was told as of Sat 6/18/11 it was closed to trucks but UTVs, quads and bikes are ok if you can make it:D We have been up there several times while there was still snow on the ground and it was beautiful! It was about 65-70 degrees on top but still snow everywhere:D Most of the riding is on the eastside of the 395 in and around the Owens River Valley (about 7500') The top of Laurel Mtn is a little over 10,000'
 
WE ARE GOING TO MISS YOU GUYS ON THIS TRIP. WE WILL BE @ THE DEL MAR FAIRGROUNDS ROCKIN OUT WITH REO SPEEDWAGON.:D
 
George, Thank you very much for all your work to make this trip happen and go smoothly and safely for all of us. I am really excited about this trip and can't wait to get there.
Donna and I will most likely be into camp around noon on the 29th.

Awesome Bob! You must have known I was thinking about you, I was just getting ready to send you an e-mail to let ya know about the new area and directions:) Give me a call if ya need anything or have any questions! 714-231-4631.
As I mentioned in post 181, you may want to drive past the turn off to the 2S85 on Owens River Rd for about a half mile and there will be an intersection you can turn around in and then come back to the west on Owens River Rd and be able to drive straight onto 2S85:) I think with your long wheelbase and towing a trailer it might require a back up or two. But you will know better than me once you arrive.

George
 
Here is an overview map of the Intersection you BIG BOYS can turn around at if the Right turn onto the 2S85 is a bit tight for ya:)
IntersectionTurnAround.jpg
 
Couple of questions- you guys have a plan for fire wood? Maybe a chain saw and a firewood permit? (not sure how a chain saw would work at elevation)
Anyone bringing a two wheeler?

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Couple of questions- you guys have a plan for fire wood? Maybe a chain saw and a firewood permit? (not sure how a chain saw would work at elevation)
Anyone bringing a two wheeler?

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I'll be bringing a chainsaw.There is plenty of wood out there.George had me using a hand saw last time.A couple times I thought I was going to pass out.I wasnt working to good at that altitude.lol
 
I'll be bringing a chainsaw.There is plenty of wood out there.George had me using a hand saw last time.A couple times I thought I was going to pass out.I wasnt working to good at that altitude.lol

Good thinking Steve! Cutting all that wood by hand wooped my azz too:eek:
I'm gonna bring some wood to get the fire started, but like Steve said there is tons of wood to gather. I drove down Deadman Springs Rd yesterday and there are ton of piles of brush and limbs the Forest Service has gathered up for fire control that we can go get:)
 

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