Getting Home From JMT

imported
#1

PLEASE help !!! Heading out this summer to sobo the JMT. G Man and I are trying to finsh the planing so I will be asking a few questions over the next few weeks. Starting Aug. 18th and ending Sept. 8th. === When we hit Whitney Portal what is the BEST way to get to a airport ( also which airport works out the best ) to fly back to the east cost. We are thinking that it would be GOOD to do one over night to take a shower ( that way they will let us on the plane ) plus we would love to have a little time to celebrate !!! Any ideas would be GREAT, THANKS

Brother Buzz

#2

You can actually get a shower (maybe $5) at the Whitney Portal store. I have hitched twice from Whitney Portal to the LA area. What I did was talk to hikers up on Whitney about potential rides - helping with gas money etc. and I had multiple offers both times by the time I got down to Whitney Portal.

Metrolink (commuter train) can be picked up from Lancaster and a bunch of other towns closer to LA. So a combo hitch/train might work as well.

If this fails, you could still easily hitch to Lone Pine, stay at the Dow Villa Hotel and then figure things out in the morining…

Happy Trails!

freebird

#3

At the Whitney Portal Store they have a contact for transportation to lone Pine and the now have a very nice cheap Hostel in Town. Check out the Whitney Portal Store Web Site. We hiked the JMT last year in 16 days check out our journal. Good Luck!! Unbreakable

unbreakable

#4

Skywest (United) has 3-4 flights a day from Inyokern (IYK) to LAX. Pretty pricey but reliable. Price is reasonable if tied to a United flight to the east coast. Should be easy to hitch or get a bus fm Lone Pine.

booger

#5

You can also take the CREST bus from Lone Pine to the Reno airport. Check out www.easternsierratransitauthority.com.

ducky

#6

This is based on rt from Portland, Or to/from SFO: Night 1: Stay in Lone Pine; Day 2/night 2: Depart Lone Pine on CREST at 10:25A (only runs M, W, F) & arrive Ridgecrest 2:50P. Spend night in Ridgecrest; Day 3: Depart Ridgecrest via shuttle flight from INYOKERN to SFO. Then SFO to PDX. This itinerary based on discussions w/others along the west coast & the Essential Guide by Elizabeth Wenk (Author), Kathy Morey (Author). All depends on your departing flight.

trek-or

#7

I hitched from the portal to Lone Pine. I’d recommend a night at the Dow Villa and as many meals as possible at the Alabama Cafe. Then you can hitch or take the bus from there…

weez

#8

There’s a hostel there too. Just opened last year called the Mt. Whitney Hostel or something. Looked nice. Right on the corner where the Portal rd and 395 meet. I stayed at the dumpier place behind it, for the private room, then wished for the social hostel atmosphere.

As far as the airport, Horizon is flying from Mammoth’s airport to LA for $80 or something at about 3:30PM everyday. It flys over the Sierra Crest and is now my favorite way to get out of Mammoth.

For me it was a relatively easy hitch from Lone pine to Mammoth. Left L Pine at Noon got to Mammoth at 3pm

guinio

#9

Hello Brother Buzz! Glad to hear you’re onto the JMT. We met late in Maine on our 05’AT thru, with the likes of Bubble Boy, Blaze, and Peter Pan. Actually, Ms. Pan is thruing the JMT this July herself, Sobo I believe. Good Luck, Whitney’s a long way up from those Cape Cod sand dunes!

fishngame