Kearsarge Pass resupply

imported
#1

Anyone hired a packer to resupply your JMT hike by coming in over Kearsarge Pass? What did it cost? Contact info?

Thanks, Len

Len

#2

This is an e-mail I received last year when researching hiring a pack outfit to resupply over Kearsarge Pass:

Thank you for your inquiry. We do provide resupply services to Charlotte Lake as well as several locations. It’s where you need us to be for you. The flat rate on the one day of service areas, with one packer and one mule (maximum weight = 150 pounds) is $500.

We meet you when you need us to, and can backhaul any stuff you need taken out (trash, mail, etc.).

If we might assist you, our direct email is pinecreekps@aol.com, our winter phone is 760-387-2627, just north of Bishop, CA.

Sincerely,
Mrs. Dee Berner

We opted to meet family at the Onion Valley Trailhead, a 16 mile round trip. There are no services at the trailhead, you would have to hitchhike to Independence to pick up supplies if no one met you.

Snowball

#3

Thanks. I was hoping for something in the $200 range at most. I talked to a Brit who was doing the JMT last summer who I thought said he paid about that much…

Len

#4

After the initial shock, I didn’t look much more into it. You might want to try:

http://www.easternsierrapackers.com/members.htm

This is a list of packers that work the eastern Sierra.
I have also heard of a few llama packers. That might be another option.

Snowball

#5

Last year my brother and I hiked half way over the pass (~9 miles RT) and left bear cans hidden in the bushes. We then picked them up as we went through, leaving our garbage and other unwanted items in another bear can on the way out.

At the end of our hike, we hiked back over the pass to pick up the second bear can full of garbage.

If I had to do it again, I would have just carried the garbage all the way out and avoided the second trip over the pass. Still the resupply was worth it.

Jalan

#6

I too have been searching for info on resupply between MTR and Whitney - Taboose or Kearsarge preferably. Anyway, spoke to Rainbow Packers - was referred to them after contacting Eastern Sierra Packers They wanted to resupply via Bishop and gave an estimate of $600 for what would be for them a 2-day trip. Someone else had suggested Berner’s and I was planning to contact them, but looks like that’s not gonna be much less costly. Had several people suggest purchasing a Bearikade Expedition which they indicated they had carried 12 days of food in - after repackaging freeze-dried items. Another suggestion was contacting King’s Canyon to see if they would hold a package at Road’s End - see High Sierra Topix for details. For me the problem is keeping my wife’s pack at 35 lbs or under - she small.
Anyway, sorry to say I haven’t yet found a good alternative. If you find one, please pass it along.
Doug

Doug

#7

Do people really pay that kind of money for this kind of thing?

Smack

#8

Yes, it is expensive to hire a commercial packer, but I live over here (Eastern Sierra) and from what I see I don’t think any of them are getting rich doing it. Remember, they have to pay overhead, insurance and commercial permit fees, as well as paying an employee for two days of work. One way to lower the cost would be to coordinate with several other hikers who need resupply. As Snowball noted, a single animal can carry up to 150 pounds, a LOT more than one hiker (or even a couple) could want. So if you were able to coordinate, 5 hikers could get 30 pounds of food each (still probably more than you need) for $100 each, which is a lot more reasonable.

Kanga

#9

FYI, here’s a response I got from Sequoia Kings Pack Trains:

Thank you for your request. The minimum rate is $420.00 in
August. Sometimes, we can combine with another party. We have to meet the parties in the field, according to NPS regulation, sometimes we can arrange to leave provisions at Charlotte Lake if less than 24 hours.

Please advise if you need our help, or have further specifics.

Regards,

Ms. Dee Berner
Sequoia Kings Pack Trains
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Len

#10

Am I missing something? Why not just use Muir Trail Ranch for $40?

Mike

#11

Mike, I’m coming in via Bishop Pass, not thru-hiking. I tried to do a N-to-S thru last year, go sick and left via BP. So I’m hoping to do the rest this year.

I did resupply at MTR last year. I carried 10 days food (I guess I am a slow hiker) out of there. I would prefer not to do that again. If I start out of South Lake/BP this year I’ll have to carry the same amount - plus a heavier bear can, yikes! Resupplying over Kearsarge, to break up the load, seemed like the only feasible place to do so.

Len

#12

FWIW, I got a follow-up response from the above packer when I responded that $420 was, ahem, probably more than a one-person party would want to pay.

If you can get out to Onion Valley, you can pick up your stuff at their pack station for $50. Of course if you invest the time and effort to get that far, you might just prefer going all the way into Independence. But this could save some hassle. And they have a campground and showers too! (At what cost, I don’t know.)

The full text:

Mr. Glassner,

Realizing economics, we do have another option which allows some
of the hikers a convenience of resupply. One can hike out to
our station in Onion Valley and pickup their stored provisions.
We charge $50.00 per party. It can be sent to Pine Creek Pack
Station by UPS or FedEx and we take it down to Onion Valley when
we go. We also own the pack station at Pine Creek. If we
receive the resupply by US Postal Service, we charge $25.00 to
retrieve it from Independence or Bishop post offices. We offer
hot showers and overnight camping nearby each station. So, I’ve
attached our resupply information for your convenience.

Cheers!

Ms. Dee Berner

There is some contact info at the very bottom of this page:

http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/inyo/recreation/packstations.shtml

Len

#13

bernerspack@yahoo.com

Len

#14

Unfortunately, Muir Trail Ranch is not a convenient choice for resupply. It is only 4 days or less from Red’s and another 10 days or more to the portal. I don’t care what Bear can makers say. It is next to impossible to fit more than 7 days of palatable food into an approved bear canister (Garcia). What are you gonna do, carry a second canister? Or an UrSack? Or chance hanging your food? Or hope that you find camps with bear boxes? It would be nice if there was a good, economical choice near Bishop pass or Kearsarge Pass, but there isn’t.

Clay

#15

That 7 day limit has driven my planning schedule- partly because I want to do the trip in about two weeks.

I think you can squeeze a bit more food in the can. Considering the first lunch and dinner don’t need to fit, and the last day can be hiked on a few powerbars and willpower, I think a Garcia can will support 8 days hiking easily.

Bearikade Expedition holds 900 cubic inches vs. 630 for the Garcia, so it ought to go 10 days. They are available to rent- I’ve heard if you call there’s a JMT package price. wild-ideas.net

If you take it easy the first half, build up your strength, then have a pig-out zero day before or at Muir Trail Ranch the second half can be hiked at a daily rate that would seem impossible on day one.

JimQPublic

#16

Reports on www.whitneyportalstore.com website that one of the wranglers employed by the Sequioa Kings Pack trains was seen beating a mule that had fallen on the switchbacks near Kearsarge Pass. She was alread injured and the guy beat her and screamed profanities. I’d have a hard time using an outfit that was cruel to their pack animals.

JXM

#17

I don’t know anything about that outfit, and have no horse in the game (so to speak). But I’d be hesitant to generalize about a company based on the undesirable behaviour of a single employee. Any company that has a meaningful number of employees will have at least a few idiots on staff…hopefully they investigate incident and apply disciplinary measures appropriately.

Loup