High Sierra Topix

Beware of relying on the shuttle buses for transportation from Agnew Meadows! I hiked out of the Ansel Adams Wilderness at Agnew Meadows, having left my car at Minaret Summit the day I started my hike, because I arrived at about 8:30 a.m., and shuttle buses become mandatory after 7:00. I had no trouble getting onto a shuttle bus from the summit to Agnew Meadows that morning, but I went through an ordeal when I finished my trip several days later. I reached the road about 2:30 p.m. Supposedly there are buses every 20 minutes in each direction. I waited 30 minutes and saw 3 buses pass in the downhill direction. Finally, an uphill bus came, but the driver wouldn't stop because it was full. I waited another 30 minutes or so, during which two more uphill buses went by, also full and not willing to pick up passengers. Meanwhile, the number of frustrated backpackers waiting for a bus at Agnew Meadows was steadily growing. Finally, in desperation, I got onboard the next DOWNHILL bus, in hopes of going far enough down the road in the wrong direction to be able to transfer to an uphill bus that wasn't full yet. While heading down the road in the wrong direction, I talked to the bus driver, who said that this happens EVERY DAY. The bus operators basically don't give a hoot about backpackers at Agnew Meadows. They are mainly interested in meeting the needs of the tourists who will spend money at their concessions and take a few pictures of the Devil's Postpile. So, what should have been a 15- or 20-minute ride from Agnew Meadows to the summit turned into an hour and 40-minute ordeal. So, drive to the trailhead before 7:00, choose a different trailhead, or budget 2 hours for the afternoon bus ride from the trailhead to the parking lot.

Been there...
Better to take the free shuttle- It goes in a loop from Reds (Postpile) to Agnew - and subsequently pick up the $$ uphill bus to the summit where it usually departs...at the little kiosk/building down below, at the trailhead to Postpile.
Once full, (as it usually is all summer), the summit bus does not stop for anybody.

I'm confused, probably because I've never picked up the bus anywhere but Reds (and that only twice). There are two flavors of buses? One costs money and doesn't pick anybody up and the other is free and does? Hmmm... which to choose.... hmmm...

BSquared wrote:I'm confused. There are two flavors of buses? One costs money and doesn't pick anybody up and the other is free and does? Hmmm... which to choose.... hmmm...

Try to help -
Yes two buses, they share some of the same road, but...
One (the free one) only makes ~ 10 mile loop and stays low, a shuttle around the San Joaquin River area...Agnew - Sotcher - Red's - Postpile - Agnew again.
The second one costs and only goes from Red's Meadow kiosk up to Mammoth Tavern main lot and back...It too passes Agnew Meadows bus stop along the way but will not stop if full. If going up to Mammoth from Agnew, best to grab the free shuttle bus going the opposite way desired and transfer at Red's to the other bus up ($7 pp...good all day for round trip).
This tactic avoids the original posters 2-hour misgivings.

I'm planning a 3-4 night trip at the end of summer that tenatively begins/ends at Agnew Meadows and while browsing the forums for route ideas I came across this thread - very helpful!

I've never been to the Mammoth Lakes/Ansel Adams Wilderness area and was wondering if there are any other insider tips that anyone cares to share. Thanks!

I'm also trying to pin down the logistics of driving in on a Friday afternoon from Sacramento for a trip beginning early the next morning. Is there a backpackers' campground near the Mammoth Mountain Main Lodge (long-term parking)?

If insider tips you mean the best places to visit, then use the "search" function
at the top of this page, and you will get numerous hits with many TR's and
advice about the Minarets area.
For example:
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=4252&p=25512&hilit= ... ake#p25512" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=6644&p=46065&hilit=+minarets#p46065" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.doylewdonehoo.com/minaret/minaret001.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

In regards to where to stay the night, either look at this: http://www.visitmammoth.com/things-to-do/camping/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; for a site ahead of time or if you have a truck with a camper or an
SUV spend the night in it at the parking lot.

Thanks for the response, Maverick. I'm definitely utilizing the information available in the forums, which has been very helpful. By insider tips I meant more along the lines of Marksor's shuttle shuffle tip above. Thanks again.