Date:         Sat, 7 Jul 2007 15:57:15 -0700
Reply-To:     Jack <john.cook58@VERIZON.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jack <john.cook58@VERIZON.NET>
Subject:      Re: Heading into hell (up 395) -- any last words of advice?
In-Reply-To:  <469000A2.2090508@gmail.com>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII

Mike,

Once you climb out of the Mojave into Owens Valley, it will not be so
unbearable (4k-5k elev.).  Hot, yes, but much less humid than what we're
experiencing in s. Calif. now.  The first serious grade is between Inyokern &
Little lake.  The worst grade on 395, though, is north of Bishop before
Tom's Place.  Watch the temps and plan to use the pull outs if you can't
keep the temp down.

There are eastern Sierra campgrounds accessible from Lone Pine,
Independence, Big Pine & Bishop; ie, virtually all the way up 395.  Stop in
the ranger station in Lone Pine (on the right near the s. end of town) & talk
with the folks there.  Perhaps get a FS map.  Too late to ask about a AAA
camping map.  There's another ranger station in Bishop, again on the right,
but near the north end of town before 395 swings left.  Stop again there if
you didn't get needed info before.  Some of the CGs are BLM, not USFS.
Some don't have potable water.  The latter, of course, are less apt to be
full.

It's been too long to give you more specific pointers because things may
have changed.  But I'd give a lot right now to be heading up into heaven's
country - not hell, but any means.

Let us know how it all works out.

//Jack

Date sent:              Sat, 07 Jul 2007 14:07:46 -0700
From:                   Michael Elliott <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:                Heading into hell (up 395) -- any last words of
advice?
To:                     vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Send reply to:          Michael Elliott <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>

> So tomorrow morning at 4am PDT, I'm leaving Carlsbad, CA and heading
> north. First on I-15, then onto highway 395 to points north. The
> National Weather Service tells me that by the time I get to Bishop, CA
> (lunch-time-ish) the temps will be in the 100's and breaking records. My
> original plan was to get to Deadman Canyon (near Lee Vining) in the
> afternoon, but the heat may melt me.
>
> Where around Bishop (other than a motel) might a fellow camp that would
> not be totally sun-blasted nor require climbing so many thousands of
> feet of elevation that his Westy might overheat?
>
> --
> Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott
> 71 Type 2: the Wonderbus
> 84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana")
> 74 Utility Trailer. Ladybug Trailer, Inc., San Juan Capistrano
> KG6RCR
>
>
> --
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