Transportation Advice for Mammoth-to-Yosemite P2P

[kozz]

Hey, Folks!

I did a quick search but couldn't find info that nailed the answer to my question, so posting to hopefully gain from the community's collective wisdom.

I'm heading out for a solo Mammoth-to-Yosemite trek next Tuesday (June 18), and I need some intel/advice on the best way to manage the transportation to Mammoth on Monday (and the trailhead -- Red Cones -- on Tuesday). I'd take YARTS, but it doesn't start service until July 1, so I'm currently planning to rent a car to drive, drop it off at MMH, grab a cab back to town (and perhaps the trailhead) and go from there. (My wife will meet me in the Valley at the far end, so that's wired.)

From R&D on various sites, it seems like Uber/Lyft is not a dependable option and it looks like cabs may need to be reserved ahead of time as well. Any better thoughts, suggestions, tips, from folks in the area or who have done this before? (My previous solos have all been loops or out-and-backs.)

Thanks in advance!

cramer

[Wandering Daisy]

It may be easy to hitch a ride up to the Red Cones trailhead from downtown Mammoth Lakes. Lots of day-hikers and campers up there. It is only about 5 miles- I suppose you could walk it last resort, but I bet if you are walking the road someone would pick you up.

[c9h13no3]

Walk and/or hitch.

[shawnterustic]

Where are you coming from? ESTA runs buses into Mammoth along the 395 corridor, and you can connect with the free town / Lakes Basin trolleys to Horseshoe Lake to start your hike.

Otherwise, you might look to see if any of the local shuttle services are cheaper than a one-way car rental: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DO ... 489230.pdf

[kozz]

Thanks for the input, everybody!

@shawnterustic, I'm coming from the Bay Area, so across Hwy 120. I'll check out those services to see if there's something workable. Backup option is to hitch. Extreme backup is to alter my itinerary and do an out-and-back or loop from Mammoth, and just drive my own car. (Sometimes simplicity is the best option, and I can re-up the planned route either later this year or next year.)

[shawnterustic]

Ah, got it - I do think your most straightforward option is probably to do a one-way car rental to Mammoth. You *could* do public transportation to Yosemite Valley from the Bay, but it's a really long day - and then you'd have to hope for a hitch out of the Valley all the way to Mammoth (or Lee Vining). Once you're in Mammoth, the public transport system is ace and easy to navigate - the Lakes Basin trolley will get you to the trailhead the next day! You can see a map of the whole system here: https://www.visitmammoth.com/travel-inf ... ng-around/