View Full Version : Need Advice On Connecting With Flight Options From Lone Pine
My wife and I are hiking JMT north to south late July 2011. Can anyone share advice regarding best ways to connect with a flight back home (eastern US) - leaving Lone Pine? We're not particular what city we fly out of.
Thank you in advance for any info you might provide.
You can bus to an Amtrak Station and then go south to LAX or north to Bakersfield or Fresno. The C.R.E.S.T bus does not run on week-ends or Wednesdays, however. The bus left Lone Pine mid-morning. The train ride is peaceful.
In LA just go up stairs to the street level and catch a direct bus to the airport right from the train station. It is only a 20 minute ride to the airport and buses run frequently.
You can also go north on the CREST bus to the Reno airport. The bus goes right to the airport terminals.
http://easternsierratransitauthority.com/wb/
It is the "Lancaster Metrolink" where you catch the train for LA. Mammoth-Lancaster Bus Route.
You can fly out of either Reno or Los Angeles. You want the CREST bus system done by the Eastern Sierra Trasnportation Authority. You can take the Bus north to Reno or south to Lancaster where you can get connections to LA. For the trip north to Reno, you may not be able to take a bus the whole way on the same day unless you hitch to Bishop first (this seems to change from year to year so call for current bus info ahead of your trip). Going south to LA you'll have several options to the various LA area airports. However, the easiest is probably taking the Metrolink communter train to the Burbank Airport rather then LAX since its a direct run from Lancaster.
http://easternsierratransitauthority.com/
http://www.cityoflancasterca.org/index.aspx?page=235
Kerosene
10-10-2010, 17:18
Great logistics info guys. To me, the hardest part about backpacking is getting to and from the trailhead.
If I was finishing a JMT thru-hike in Lone Pine I would look at flights back to the east coast from 4 larger International Airports in the area - Fresno/Bakersfield(probably the closest to Lone Pine, although not sure how you would get to this AP or if it's entirely possible using public transportation, the CREST Bus will take you as far as Ridgecrest, from Ridgcrest to Fresno I don't know if there is public transportation, I hitched to Fresno AP once from the Sierras after a hike and hitched to Sequoia/Kings Canyon NP once from this AP without much ado though), LAX(through Lancaster/possibly Ridgecrest? as Rambler has mentioned), San Francisco(by taking the CREST/YARTS connecting buslines from Lone Pine to Yosemite Valley to Merced, then taking Amtrak to San Francisco), or by taking buses north from Lone Pine to Reno AP.
As Miner has said I don't think you can take one bus all the way to Reno from Lone Pine
In my experience flying to/from Reno is probably your most expensive option. I'm about 50 miles east of Reno right now and I just shelled out what I feel is way too much money to fly from Reno to LAX in 3 wks.
I was interested so I found out that EasternTransitAuthority(used to be called Inyo Mono Buslines) does offer A bus from Lone Pine all the way to Reno AP. You can also take the same bus company to Lancaster or Mojave where you can catch an AMTRAK bus to the train to ??? The AMTRAK bus leaving from Mojave goes all the way to Las Vegas. I'm wondering how that Amtrak Bus to Las Vegas works? For example, do ypu have to have or display a valid Amtrak ticket to ride that bus? Lots of low priced airline tickets can be had to/from Las Vegas
Helmuth.Fishmonger
10-11-2010, 09:29
I'd take the bus to Reno (CREST 0 and fly from there. Anything else is rather time consuming.
http://easternsierratransitauthority.com/wb/pages/bus-routes/crest--lone-pine-reno.php
garlic08
10-11-2010, 09:43
That Eastern Sierra Transit Authority bus looks like a great thing for hikers. It formed in 2006. I wish it was around in 2004 when I hiked. I was trying to get from Bridgeport to Reno for a flight to attend a friend's wedding. Short of hitching on Hwy 395, it couldn't be done, and it had just taken me five hours and three rides to hitch from Sonora Pass. Take advantage of that bus.
The Solemates
10-11-2010, 15:39
My wife and I are hiking JMT north to south late July 2011. Can anyone share advice regarding best ways to connect with a flight back home (eastern US) - leaving Lone Pine? We're not particular what city we fly out of.
Thank you in advance for any info you might provide.
bakersfield. thats what we did in '05. easy commute.
Canadian Dude
10-11-2010, 21:56
I went to Reno.
Caught the ESTA bus in Lone Pine at 6.15am (Statham Hall) and it drops you off right at the Reno airport before noon the same day. One simple shot, one brief stop for snacks along the way. EASY.
That Eastern Sierra Transit Authority bus looks like a great thing for hikers. It formed in 2006. I wish it was around in 2004 when I hiked. I was trying to get from Bridgeport to Reno for a flight to attend a friend's wedding. Short of hitching on Hwy 395, it couldn't be done, and it had just taken me five hours and three rides to hitch from Sonora Pass. Take advantage of that bus.
Last yr, after finishing a thru-hike of the Sierra High Route at Twin Lakes, I came down out of the Sierras into Bridgeport. The Eastern Sierra Transit Authority bus stops in Bridgeport. I took that bus to Reno AP. The bus also goes south to Lancaster/Ridgecrest.
I'm curious. The Solemates, how did you get to Bakersfield from Lone Pine?
Dogwood, the CREST bus from Lone Pine will drop you off at Ridgecrest and from there you can catch a connecting bus to Amtrak at Bakersfield, so I am sure you could find public transportation to the airport. Amtrak from Bakersfield runs south to LA or north to Fresno and San Francisco.
In August, this summer, I left Yosemite on YARTS to Lee Vining, but the YARTS arrived around 7PM, too late for any bus to Reno. Motels are scarce in Lee Vining so I spent the night in the bushes. Next morning CREST from Lee Vining arrives in Reno around 1PM. I had to wait several hours in Reno for my flight connection, so I walked to REI then went to a movie.
When I hiked the JMT, 2009, the CREST bus left in mid-morning, so one could fly out of LA and be back in Boston that same day. There are many more flights out of LA than Reno, including a non-stop red eye, leaving LA around 10PM arriving in Boston around 7AM next morning.
Remember CREST does not run weekends or Wednesday. I spent two nights in Lone Pine. There are plenty of places to stay and I just walked in after hitching from the Portal.
When I used CREST I e-mailed them for a reservation on the bus well in advance. Although I do not remember getting a reply, my name was on the list that the driver had. The bus both trips was not nearly full, there were plenty of seats for walk-ons.
BTW I was also pleased to find how easy it is to mail back a rented bear canister. No packaging is necessary, just mail the empty can. There is a post office in Yosemite Valley and Lone Pine.
In 2009 I hitch-hiked from Whitney Portal to Lone Pine - took me half hour to get a ride. Spent the night in a motel in Lone Pine then took the CREST bus to Mojave and caught the bus to Los Vegas from the McDonalds there. I got a cheap hotel in Vegas for the night and flew out of McCarron the next morning.
ALL the info you need to get out of Lone Pine is at mtwhitneyshuttle_dot_com
The Weasel
01-21-2011, 14:07
Hints:
1) Fresno/Bakersfield aren't major airports, so the fares may not be great. Make sure you check all the Los Angeles area 'ports (Kayak.com makes this easy - check the box for "other nearby airports"), some of which have fantastic prices (such as Long Beach LGB) and most if not all can be gotten to by rail/bus/subway.
2) Check Las Vegas. It's a major hub, with excellent fares, and not hard to get to from LP.
3) If time isn't an issue, look for promotions on Amtrak, which can be cheaper (coach) than air and a fantastic way to decompress).
4) To determine how to get to ANY of these places (or anywhere else) use Google Maps and then use the "public transportation" function. It is excellent.
TW
verysimple
06-04-2014, 13:26
All the flights out of Reno to East coast are in the morning. Bus gets there at noon.. Pretty much 1 night has to be spent in Reno Airport hotel?
Any suggestions?
All the flights out of Reno to East coast are in the morning. Bus gets there at noon.. Pretty much 1 night has to be spent in Reno Airport hotel?
Any suggestions?
I'd avoid the airport hotels. There are free shuttles between airport and downtown plus ESTA continues on to the greyhound station I downtown. The casino hotels are super cheap and nice. I stayed at Harrah's for under $40 after my JMT hike last year.
verysimple
06-04-2014, 13:58
Vegas?
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Vegas?
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no, I'm referring to Reno....
MuddyWaters
06-04-2014, 14:59
My opinion of what is easiest:
Sat, Sun - use your thumb or hire a private shuttle to get out of Lone Pine
Mon, Tues, Th, F - ESTA bus to Reno =$60 Need a 1:30 pm or later flight really. I can get a 430 pm flight that gets me home at 1130 pm
Wed - take Lone Pine Express bus to Bishop (arrives 730 am), rent a car and drive to Reno(3.5 hrs) , or Las Vegas (4 hrs) $150 for one way rental depending on who has better flight. Airfare is cheaper out of Vegas from what I found, plus you get to see some of Death Valley on the way. Cheaper airfare from Las Vegas mostly makes up difference in rental car vs. ESTA bus.
Mammoth Lakes airport flights to LAX are 630pm , and may not have connections to get you home same day, doesnt for me
Last resort is LAX via Lancaster/metrolink on Wednesdays
verysimple
06-04-2014, 15:41
There is a 1:08pm flight.. Will I make it if the bus drops me by airport around noon?
verysimple
06-04-2014, 15:50
Coffee - nice insight. DIdnt even know Reno had casinos.. Looked it up and Harras's got rooms for $38. I catch 6:15am Lone Pine to Reno, get to Airport/Harras the same day, relax in the pool, eat some buffet food, then fly out next morning!
Well done!
I'd avoid the airport hotels. There are free shuttles between airport and downtown plus ESTA continues on to the greyhound station I downtown. The casino hotels are super cheap and nice. I stayed at Harrah's for under $40 after my JMT hike last year.
That's cutting it close. The bus was right on time when I took it last year and arrived at noon but if it is late then you could miss the flight.
Coffee - nice insight. DIdnt even know Reno had casinos.. Looked it up and Harras's got rooms for $38. I catch 6:15am Lone Pine to Reno, get to Airport/Harras the same day, relax in the pool, eat some buffet food, then fly out next morning!
Well done!
I'm not usually a fan of hanging around casinos but I was happy with the arrangement. There are many restaurants and a movie theater in the downtown area so there will be things to do other than gambling in order to pass the time.
Berserker
06-05-2014, 08:43
My buddy and I rented a car with the intent to check the area (Reno) out and maybe hit a nice restaurant for dinner. The rental was like $40, and the hotel we got was $50 (not the best hotel, but it was a place to sleep). We ended up crashing at the hotel (due to still recouping from the hike), and eating dinner at Great Basin Brewery, which was within walking distance of the hotel. So we didn't need the car. Point is that you can rent a car and get hotel fairly cheap if you want to spend a day there.
MuddyWaters
06-05-2014, 20:54
There is a 1:08pm flight.. Will I make it if the bus drops me by airport around noon?
Probably yes.
small chance of no.
You have to get off bus, get your bag, get to the terminal, print your boarding pass, check your bag, etc.
Is the bus late? traffic? Is there a line at baggage check? Do you know where you are going?
Need to mail home anything, like a stove , that cant go in baggage (some airlines like United prohibit it.) Probably dont have time to mail from Lone Pine PO, but you can at the Reno airport.
Too close for comfort for me if it means $200 to change to another flight or such.
saltysack
06-05-2014, 21:59
Coffee - nice insight. DIdnt even know Reno had casinos.. Looked it up and Harras's got rooms for $38. I catch 6:15am Lone Pine to Reno, get to Airport/Harras the same day, relax in the pool, eat some buffet food, then fly out next morning!
Well done!
Did you fly in and out of Reno?
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verysimple
06-05-2014, 22:01
Did you fly in and out of Reno?
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In via Oakland, out Reno. August
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