Sacramento ---> Mt. Whitney Road Trip... where 2 stop??

[QuikR12]

Heading down to climb Mt. Whitney this wknd, leaving manana. Where should one absolutely stop along the way, be it for beers, scenery, or anything else worthy of pulling of the road besides for a pee break? We'll be camping one night on the way down (Friday night) so that could accomodate some time checking out a must see area.

Here's the planned route:

Sacramento down into and through Yosemite
Yosemite to Mono Lake (395)
Mammoth
Lone Pine

Yeah, it's probably been covered before, but it's boring as a Sunday in church in this bitch lately, so IDGAF.

[hutash]

Anywhere in the Tuolumne region, lots of great short hikes. Going up the lookers right of Lembert Dome is always a must do for me when I am in the area.

The south tufa towers at Mono Lake is cool, especially early AM/late PM. Lunch/dinner at The Whoa Nellie Deli is an almost must.

There are no great must stop at bars but there are a couple nice places in Mammoth or Bishop. If you are into photograph...nod, nod, wink, wink, is you wife a goer? Say no more. The Mountain Light Gallery in Bishop is worth some time. It is/was Galen and Barbara Rowell's gallery.

If into history, Manzarnar just before Lone Pine is worth a little time. Neat little museum, and quick driving tour.

Which route on Whitney?

[Arty50]

Lunch/dinner at The Whoa Nellie Deli is an almost must.

No, it's a definite must. FYI, the WND is located inside the Mobil Gas Station where 120 meets 395.

Also, Mono Cone just a mile up 395 has possibly the best soft serve on the planet.

[QuikR12]

Thanks for the input

Which route on Whitney?

Meh, the scramble. Hiking Mt. Whitney, I should say.

[GiBo]

Kinda depends what time you're leaving Sacramento and where you want to camp. Forget Yosemite for camping. You're looking at ~4 hours to get to Yosemite. It's 35mph through the park so it'll take you a while to get to Tioga Pass. Realistically, I don't think you're going to have too much f'ing around time if you're going to climb on Saturday.

[QuikR12]

The climbing gear is coming w/ though. We are on Whitney Sunday, leaving from here early Friday morning. Camping somewhere near 395 Friday night.

Frankly i'm worried this hike is going to be a bit easy and monotonous compared to the east side??

[Eastside]

Don't count on Lone pine for groceries. Joseph's by Rite was pathetic yesterday. Had a Mono Cone yesterday-pretty tasty. Stop in Mono Market in Lee Vining and give them a little business. If you are going to camp along the way remember it is hotter than hell in the valley. I wound not consider camping south of Sherwin Grade if you are planning on stopping in the daytime.

I think the Mobil mart is overrated but considering where you are it is OK for a quick bite.

MF

[hutash]

It is easy if you are in shape an acclimated. Otherwise 14,7 will kick your ass.

Assume you mean the regular route, which is a trail to the top, no scrambling. The scramble route is the easy class III mountaineers route. If you have a choice the later is a much better route.

I would not hang around to go to WND if you pass through early in the AM, but definitely stop for lunch or dinner if it works out logistically. While I like the WND, it is getting over hyped IMO. Best food found in a gas station by far, but there are better restaurants if you what really good food/fine dining. Fine dining WND is not, but the food is good.

I have not been, but Convict Lake or Tamarack Lodge have better dining.

[QuikR12]

Cool, ^^ all good to know. I haven't been up to 14,500, but I did two 11,000s this wknd w/ pack. I'm in shape, tho I know I won't be used to the add 3,500 ft. Is the mountaineers route doable solo? Safe? I'm considering a detour from the gaper trail, as we speak.

[Viva]

If you have the time, the Bristlecone Pine Forrest on the White Mountains is pretty sick for both sunrise and sunset photography.

Buy your gas at Lee's Frontier Gas and Deli at the extreme southern end of Lone Pine. Lee is an uber cool and stand-up guy. Free coffee, too. Chevron gas. There's also farm animals running around if you're into that.

Tom's Place Cafe, just before dropping down Sherwin is a nice stop. The new owners have made the place somewhat special again.

[LightRanger]

Priest Station Cafe, at the top of Priest/Old Priest Grade, is as good as the Mobil Mart (aka the Whoa Nellie Deli), and it's co-owned by Conrad Anker and family. You might hit it around lunchtime on Friday.

Good tip on Tom's Place Cafe, viva, I'll have to check it out.

[hutash]

Cool, ^^ all good to know. I haven't been up to 14,500, but I did two 11,000s this wknd w/ pack. I'm in shape, tho I know I won't be used to the add 3,500 ft. Is the mountaineers route doable solo? Safe? I'm considering a detour from the gaper trail, as we speak.

I have not done it, but it is easy class III as long as you stay on route. If I recall John Muir did the first ascent solo. If you have good mountain skills it should be doable. I believe the only tricky part is finding the route through the ledges down low. (it avoids a lot of bush whacking.) I don't know what shape it is in since we had a big winter. Usually by this time of year it is all rock, but there could be snow in the couloir still.

There are good write ups in the guide books (Secor) and like all routes on Whitney it is well traveled, especially on weekends.

Sleep as high as possible the nights before. There is a big difference between 11K and 14+K.

[hutash]

If you have the time, the Bristlecone Pine Forrest on the White Mountains is pretty sick for both sunrise and sunset photography.

Very true, it is a great place, but pretty far off your route. The Whites are a little visited (relatively) mountain range with a lot of hidden little gems.

Tom's Place Cafe, just before dropping down Sherwin is a nice stop. The new owners have made the place somewhat special again.

When did the change over take place? The last few times I have been there is was questionable (but I have not been there recently.)

[Viva]

When did the change over take place? The last few times I have been there is was questionable (but I have not been there recently.)

Four or five years ago, I believe. A couple bought the place from a group of investors who had owned it for the previous 15 or so years. While there's room for further improvement, it's markedly better. I had stopped going there, myself.

[QuikR12]

I'm home, the trip was great, and I'm sore as shit.

We missed the Whoa Nelly Deli- too late and too early

We did check out the Mountain View Gallery, which was unbelievable. First time seeing Rowell's work, and they both had a great eye. Very inspirational mountain/climbing shots.

The hike up Mt. Whitney on the main route was as I expected, pretty easy. This was my first shot at it, summitting in 4hrs 13mins... So I got back down, sat around camp for a few hours, had a beer, a glass of Zin (not white and started thinking about doing it again. Before I knew it, at 10:30 pm, I was packed and heading up for my 2nd ascent in 24 hours, hiking solo by the light of the full moon. I reached the summit just before 3:00, with a time of 4:27. The descent back down was a bitch, and that's it. A great trip.

[pointemstraight]

I'm home, the trip was great, and I'm sore as shit.

We missed the Whoa Nelly Deli- too late and too early

We did check out the Mountain View Gallery, which was unbelievable. First time seeing Rowell's work, and they both had a great eye. Very inspirational mountain/climbing shots.

The hike up Mt. Whitney on the main route was as I expected, pretty easy. This was my first shot at it, summitting in 4hrs 13mins... So I got back down, sat around camp for a few hours, had a beer, a glass of Zin (not white and started thinking about doing it again. Before I knew it, at 10:30 pm, I was packed and heading up for my 2nd ascent in 24 hours, hiking solo by the light of the full moon. I reached the summit just before 3:00, with a time of 4:27. The descent back down was a bitch, and that's it. A great trip.

TWO four+ hour summits in a day? Hardcore, mag.

[hutash]

Where did you start, at Whitney Portal, or camped part way up? RT twice from WP is impressive.

Glad you enjoyed the Mountain Light (not View) Gallery. The recently had a great show of B/W images from the Vertical World of Yosemite which is a great collection of 60s dirt bag climbing. It was really impressive. If you haven't ever seen that book, look for it, it is a classic.

[QuikR12]

Where did you start, at Whitney Portal, or camped part way up? RT twice from WP is impressive.

Glad you enjoyed the Mountain Light (not View) Gallery. The recently had a great show of B/W images from the Vertical World of Yosemite which is a great collection of 60s dirt bag climbing. It was really impressive. If you haven't ever seen that book, look for it, it is a classic.

Portal the first time, and the family campground below the portal for the 2nd. I am stoked I acted on the impulse and did it again. It was a incredible night w/ the full moon and I have a better sense of where my limit is.

Yes, the gallery was fantastic... I was going through several photo books at the gallery, but don't recall that one.

We made the Yosemite stop as well, but was a zoo as expected this time of year. Did a bit of trad-climbing around the base of El Cap though... Man that at place is a giant playground.