Next Mail Drop After Kennedy Medows?

[PINE]

What is the next typical PO, hostel or store to send a mail drop to after Kennedy meadows general store.

[Sly]

You could do Kearsarge Pass to Independence, which splits up the section between KM and Vermillion Valley Resort. It's about 8 miles but fairly easy trail that's incredibly scenic.

[BrianLe]

Yup, that's what I did. Lone Pine seemed to come too soon. I went to Independence, then from there I did MTR rather than VVR, about one day less food to carry, and less time off the trail, you can dash in to MTR rather efficiently, pick up your food and you're on your way.

Note, however, that Kearsarge IS a pass, it's a fair bit of work and a long hitch to Independence, which in turn doesn't have very much. But if you time it right, there are often people at the trailhead when you get there, and you can have a box mailed to Independence, or bus to --- is it Bridgeport? I just got a box mailed.

Some people like to bring enough food to stay continuously in the Sierras until VVR, but I don't see it myself. My load going out of KM was plenty heavy enough as it was.

[Penguin]

After Kennedy Meadows, I just mailed maps to the Mammoth Mountain Inn front desk. I didn't know if I would hit Mammoth on a weekday for the post office, so the Inn worked great since if you go into Mammoth you will end up 50 ft from the MMI. Then the next drop was maps to the Brattens in Nor Cal

[PINE]

Gadget ! met you on my 2010 AT Thru-hike stayed at a hostel with you and moose. then saw you later on in the whites. i finished July 31

PINE

[BrianLe]

Hi Pine! Nice to hear from you. Didn't occur to me that you might be someone I'd met ... it's a small world once you start hiking multiple trails (I hope to see several folks I know from the PCT on the CDT this year).

You finished July 31? July 29 for me, I finished (in driving rain) with Mage and Flameboy, and Moose did the final climb the same day with his brother.

Best of luck on the PCT! Supposed to be a high snow year (ditto, unfortunately, for a CDT SOBO ...). Might be a good year to start a little on the late side, and have some sort of flip-flop option in mind in case the Sierras seem to be melting out too late.

And don't let the rodents get into your olive oil supply this time! :-)

[Miner]

After Kennedy Meadows you could hitch from Cottonwood Pass into Lone Pine but it is too early for most. I used Keasarge Pass into Independence (most people arrive in the morning and leave in the afternoon so plan accordingly). Some people perferr to carry 10-12days of food and go straight from kennedy Meadows to Muir Trail Ranch (MTR) or Vermillion Valley Resort (VVR) where they mailed a package for a large fee. I personally had no interest in carrying that many days of food and the trail over to Keasarge Pass is very scenic. After VVR is Red's Meadow/Mammoth Lakes.

[Dogwood]

Many savvy hiker responses so far. Recently, I've been taking Sly's approach. I've hiked that segment several times and I usually go out at Kearsage Pass to do a small resupply IF I need to. And, that depends on how fast(MPD) I'm hiking(greater MPD translates to less food wt. between resupply pts or greater distance hiked between having to resupply, if I've already got a bear canister in tote, more wt, etc), and the hiking conditions. If I'm planning on hitting the deeper white stuff and colder conditions and consequently have the added wt that implies I'll also do Kearsage Pass to lower the wt between resupplying breaking up the segment between KM and VVR but that's me;I can be anal about wt! I agree Cottonwood is too soon for most PCT NOBOers unless you bypass KM as a resupply pt.

Whether I do Kearsage or not I REALLY enjoy stopping at VVR. Always have! Opinions vary though. Last yr I sent a package there for $25 holding and handling fee. THIS IS NOT THE AT. It is in a remote area and the owners have to bring up your package almost from Fresno and HOLD it for you in a bear proof container unit! VVR has some purchased resupply, possibly some hiker box food(55 gal drum, they often have some food in that drum), and VERY GOOD and LARGE fresh chef cooked meals! The first night in a canvas tent built on a raised platform sleeping on a cot is FREE for PCTers! There are other amenities but just the FREE night and those huge well prepared meals are worth the stop, IMO!

Some Kearsage Pass thoughts. It is scenic heading out on rather gradual but uphill trail to the Pass. The Pass has been regraded on the way up out of the Sierras. You'll notice the older route. After summitting the pass, going down and out to the TH, that experiences a fair amount of traffic during typical PCT thru-hiker season, the trail can be badly degraded on shifting scree. It's not too long though. Like someone said it's about 8 miles out. Although I've never done it taxis have been known to pick up and drop hikers off at the TH. People do call(get cell ph service) from the TH parking lot. I've never had to wait more than 10 mins for a ride into INDY though during typical thru-hiker season. Hitching back to the TH is often harder! Might want to take a shared taxi back to the TH.

Check the INDY PO hrs. They may not have open Sat hrs. Although, I've never sent a package anywhere else in Indy other than the PO there are some places(hotels, B and B, etc) that will/MAY hold a package(look it up and call ahead of time to check out the package holding policies). There are also buses that run on a limited schedule/hrs that can take you north/south from Indy to BETTER resupply pts.(Lone Pine, Ridgecrest, Bishop, etc) I think there was a bus schedule posted at the bus stop last time I was in Indy.

Some limited resupply buying opps in INDY too but it seems they change/open/close every once in a while so you should check up on that ahead of time if you decide to resupply via that route. There is a good sized gas station(I think Shell) convenience store, a Subway, a restaurant and another smaller gas station convenience store in INDY last time I was there last yr.

Penguin, would Mammoth Mountain Inn hold a resupply box for you? Did you have to stay there for them to hold a box/maps/etc?

NO WAY would I try to make it from KM along the PCT to Mammoth Lake on one resupply. Too much wt for this hiker even if I could manage the MPD.
Besides, would never want to hike that fast through the scenic Sierras in order to accomplish that feat. I don't even hike from Kearsage to Mammoth on one resupply although I can do that.

[Guy]

I know you asked what's typical, and this isn't, but it actually worked out well for me.

You can go send a box to Lone Pine, get there through Whitney Portal, and return to the trail from Cottonwood Pass.

[Penguin]

Dogwood, I have sent stuff there before. They are in the guest service business, so they won't turn you down. They also have pools, showers and laundry available. They want five bucks for using the pools hottubs and showers for the whole day, and laundry is 2.00 about. I worked there the last five winters, just went back to school now and Im missing it.

I only sent maps though. I did a full resupply in Mammoth. The small town has everything for any style of backpacking. It's a recreation based town, with a ton of gear shops, and a large grocery store, small health food store with bulk dehydrated stuff like soups and various instant dehydrated beans for cheap prices. Full hospital too with an allegedly awesome sports medicine department if any weird things happen. Two car rentals, one is in the Chevron gas station. And a bunch of hotsprings on public land which are truly awesome.

[Geo.]

After KM I went through to Red's Meadows for my next drop. Mainly because I didn't like the idea of detouring. At over 200 miles it did as some have said, make for a heavier load though. The good news was, as I realised I was making good time and wasn't going to get held up, I was able to eat much more than had been normal!

.

[wandering_bob]

Pine -

You didn't say when you were doing this section. It makes a difference. The Onion Valley Pack Station will hold resupply packages for a fee, but they don't usually open until late June. Contact Dee or Brian Berner at Sequoia Kings Pack Trains. pinecreekps@aol.com or bernerspack@yahoo.com; Phone 800-962-0775, 760-387-2627, 760-387-2797; or mail requests to PO Box 968, Bishop, CA 93515.



You'll still have to cross Kearsarge Pass twice (a truly beautiful trip well worth the time and elevation change; especially the vista west from atop the pass), but you skip the hitch into Independence.

The pack station also offers showers and camping - both for a fee - or there is a USFS fee-paid (not "free") campground at Onion Valley. It has water and picnic tables. Bathrooms and water in the main Onion Valley parking lot are open to everyone.

Allow 1/2 day each way between the PCT and OVCG.