Hi,
I've read some posts on the best ways out of LP but couldn't find specific information about hitchhiking options.
We will be ending the JMT on Sunday September 4th and we want to get south where we will rent a car. Ridgecrest could be an option but we're looking at a one-way rental and the price is just too high there. So we are looking at either Bakersfield (preferred) or Lancaster.
ESTA don't run on Labor Day so the earliest we could go with public transportation would be Wednesday September 7th and we don't want to wait that long. So we're definitely looking at hitchhiking out of LP: either all the way to Lancaster, or all the way to Bakersfield, or to Mojave and then take the Greyhound bus to Bakersfield.
I've read that finding a ride in the valley on US 395 was pretty easy so I'm not worried about it. Nevertheless it seems that people heading back to Yosemite go north on US 395. Do you think hikers returning to the Bay area would go through Bakersfield? Do you think hitchhiking could be tough after leaving the valley to head to Mojave or Bakersfield, or being a thru-hiker would still help?
I'm from Europe and I have no idea how hitchhiking can be in the US so your help will be very appreciated!
Thanks,
Ben