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Post by trailman1 on Apr 29, 2019 19:30:54 GMT -8
Looking for best transportation route to Mammoth Lakes from DFW Tx. Air fare has doubled from last year. I want to access Rae Lakes from Onion Valley Camp Grounds via Kearsarge Pass. Trail head entry date is 7/21 exiting 7/26 via Onion Valley. Then back to Independence to spend the night and back to Mammoth to fly back to DFW. Need to be home by 7/28. Any help would be appreciated.
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markskor
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Mammoth Lakes & Tuolumne Meadows...living the dream
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Post by markskor on Apr 29, 2019 21:59:46 GMT -8
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zeke
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Post by zeke on Apr 30, 2019 4:48:11 GMT -8
IMO, exiting on the 26th will hardly leave you time to insure being back at DFW on the 28th. There is a flight out of Reno at 1 AM on the 28th that would get you into DFW about 6 AM, so that would leave you with all day on the 27th to get to Reno.
The road to Onion Valley leaves out of Independence, which is a ways from Mammoth Lakes. I am assuming you have reason to go to Mammoth. The same bus that goes from Reno to Mammoth continues on down to Independence, but I am not sure about the Saturday schedule since they list none on any weekends.
Hitching is easy enough on that section between Reno and Independence as locals are used to seeing backpackers. The only time I did that route, we left a rental car at the trailhead for the week.
Or, you could exit a day early, making sure you were at the bus stop by 6:30 AM on Friday morning. That's what time it leaves Independence.
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Post by High Sierra Fan on Apr 30, 2019 5:44:51 GMT -8
Just note the bus schedule ESTA doesn’t run the bus to Reno weekends.
SO peculiar.
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toejam
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Post by toejam on Apr 30, 2019 10:58:58 GMT -8
we left a rental car at the trailhead for the week. I've done that a number of times for convenience and flexibility. Your quickest drive to a large airport from Independence is LAX. That may give you the most time on the trail and the fewest transportation hassles. |
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Post by High Sierra Fan on Apr 30, 2019 13:33:40 GMT -8
Reno or LAX is 6 of one, half dozen of the other. And to/from Reno is far more scenic. Mono Lake, Bodie, Tuolumne Meadows if curious. Also airport car rental surcharges can be a nasty surprise: fwiw, if there's an Enterprise within cab distance of the Reno airport I’d add that to the mix. I routinely use the San Bruno Enterprise out from SFO and save something like half the cost when I do multiweek trips and flying into the state.   |
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Post by johntpenca on Apr 30, 2019 13:40:25 GMT -8
Vegas, a rental car and ESTA.
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Post by High Sierra Fan on Apr 30, 2019 14:15:16 GMT -8
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Post by High Sierra Fan on Apr 30, 2019 14:26:28 GMT -8
Oh and Las Vegas is two times three.  |
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Post by johntpenca on May 1, 2019 17:45:26 GMT -8
Oh and Las Vegas is two times three. Yer right HSF. There are never any wrecks or traffic jams on the 710, 5 or 14. That said, Reno is prolly the best choice to maximize public transit. |
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Post by stevet on May 20, 2019 17:53:23 GMT -8
Suggest looking at two options and comparing the cost/convenience.
1) DFW to Reno, ESTA to Independence, Shuttle to Onion Valley Trailhead (works for weekdays only)
2) DFW to Las Vegas, rental car, leave it parked at the Onion Valley Trailhead (work any day of the week)
My logistics are Albany, NY to either Reno or Las Vegas. Routing to Las Vegas with the rental car is an extra $50 for me. Worth it considering the risk of missing the ESTA bus due to a late in bound flight, and extra day it takes me on the return.
A 3rd option is fly into LAX and rent a car. Haven't priced this.
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on May 21, 2019 18:38:58 GMT -8
Problem with flying in/out of LAX is that you have to drive all the way across LA. In my experience, that’s no fun.
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Post by High Sierra Fan on May 21, 2019 22:35:05 GMT -8
One aspect. Renting a car from within the airport adds significant extra fees: hundreds and hundreds of dollars worth. Versus a rental office just offsite. I’ve frequently used the San Bruno office of Enterprise. It’s a short/cheap taxi ride and they’ drop me back off at the terminal when I turn in the car. I’ve done this for multiple two week trips to Yosemite when I wanted maximum flexibility on trailhead choices etc. and SFO flights are to s main airport so reasonably competitive. But the offsite rental branch works anywhere.
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