Mammoth Lakes to Fresno or Clovis (Los Angeles, Bakersfield: to rent, to live, groceries)

[BillyBobJoeBobWilly]

Looking at Google Maps it looks like there's no direct route/road to either of these cities... so, by google maps, it would like like 6 hours for a round about trip to drive.

Is this correct or is there a way directly to Mammoth Lakes from Fresno.

Thanks,

[esmith143]

The only route that is more direct than the detour via Bakersfield/Ridgecrest is the shortcut through Yosemite (route 120), and it is closed November through May.

[ferretkona]

Originally Posted by BillyBobJoeBobWilly

Looking at Google Maps it looks like there's no direct route/road to either of these cities... so, by google maps, it would like like 6 hours for a round about trip to drive.

Is this correct or is there a way directly to Mammoth Lakes from Fresno.

Thanks,

Yes, air travel. With the pass closed I would have to allow 16 hours each way.

[FresnoFacts]

The San Joaquin River Trail, a hiking/equestrian/mountain bike route is nearly finished. It runs from Friant Dam outside Fresno thru the river gorge to Devil's Postpile outside Mammoth (about 80 miles) if you have a few travel days.
SJRTC.ORG |

[Lovehound]

Originally Posted by BillyBobJoeBobWilly

Looking at Google Maps it looks like there's no direct route/road to either of these cities...

Originally Posted by esmith143

The only route that is more direct than the detour via Bakersfield/Ridgecrest is the shortcut through Yosemite (route 120), and it is closed November through May.

That is why Mammoth Mountain is the private skiing area for Los Angeles only! People on the western side of the Sierras are better off skiing Yosemite (Badger Pass) if they want close and small, or if they're going to fly they might as well skip Mammoth and ski at the Lake Tahoe areas.

Fisherman from Frisco are of course welcome to share our Mammoth Lakes fishing. The bond among fishermen is closer than regional competitive differences.

[esmith143]

Originally Posted by FresnoFacts

The San Joaquin River Trail, a hiking/equestrian/mountain bike route is nearly finished. It runs from Friant Dam outside Fresno thru the river gorge to Devil's Postpile outside Mammoth (about 80 miles) if you have a few travel days.
SJRTC.ORG |

I'd expect that the trail would be under 5 feet of snow most of the time. What's the maximum elevation?

[BillyBobJoeBobWilly]

Well, I was thinking about taking a job there but if it takes 6 hours to get to anywhere significant then I'll pass on the job. Also, given the difficulty getting supplies it's probably expensive as sin to live there.

[esmith143]

Originally Posted by BillyBobJoeBobWilly

Well, I was thinking about taking a job there but if it takes 6 hours to get to anywhere significant then I'll pass on the job. Also, given the difficulty getting supplies it's probably expensive as sin to live there.

Define "significant". You're 3 hours from Ridgecrest and 3 hours from Carson City. Both significant cities. And it's not that difficult to get there. 395 is a nice wide freeway that's open year round. (As opposed to, say, Big Bear, where you can't get without chains 3+ months a year.) So it shouldn't be very expensive to live. I'd guess $800/month to rent a studio, and a 10-20% premium on groceries and gasoline, compared to large cities.

[FresnoFacts]

Originally Posted by Lovehound

People on the western side of the Sierras are better off skiing Yosemite (Badger Pass) if they want close and small, or if they're going to fly they might as well skip Mammoth and ski at the Lake Tahoe areas.

Instead of Badger Pass a lot of Fresno area skiers go to China Peak.
http://www.skichinapeak.com/
China Peak? Who knew? : Slope Dope

Originally Posted by esmith143

I'd expect that the trail would be under 5 feet of snow most of the time. What's the maximum elevation?

I'd have to doublecheck a topo for the exact number but I believe it tops out somewhere around 10,000 feet. I never said it was easy, just that it was a Trans-Sierra route between Mammoth and Fresno.