I’m planning a section trip from Toulumne Meadows to Echo Lake. I’m planning to hike about 15 miles a day, so it will take me about 14 days of hiking. I really, really don’t want to have to pack enough food for the whole time, but reading about Sonora Pass doesn’t leave me feeling like it will be an easy place to get supplies. I’m curious what other people have done to get supplies.
Mariann
My brother and I ended up spending a day driving to Sonora pass and Kearsarge pass to drop off two bear cans with resupplies.
It took extra time but it saved us having to carry all the extra food. We also were able to leave our garbage in the bear cans for pick up after our hike.
jalan jalan
If you can drive your caches like jalan said, go for it. If you’re not going to have car access, try sending a box to Kennedy Meadows (Pack Station? Resort?), which is on the road to the west of Sonora Pass. Bridgeport, to the east, is far away and pretty much sucks. IMO.
I wonder if resupplying in Markleeville is doable. Anyone done this?
markv
In '97 I hitched to the East down to Bridgeport with hikers that I found in the Sonora Pass parking lot. Bridgeport has everything that you would need - motels. general store, and restaurants but it can be a bit tricky hitching back up (may take two hitches as you switch onto HWY#108) There are some awesome hot springs nearby in the Owens Valley down there - I spent an unforgettable night camped along the banks of a river at Buckeye Hot Springs - one of the highlights of my PCT thru-hike that year.
In '05 I got a ride with Billy Goat & Meadow Mary (who were camped in the parking lot) West down to Kennedy Meadows Campground. There’s a small general store, pay shower, and cute little restaurant there - again, everything that you might need.
Kennedy Meadows is much closer and faster if time is a consideration.
I think your best bet is to get a ride with hikers from the parking lot - if anyone is there - or hitch in both directions and just see where you end up.
If you’re not comfortable hitching, maybe caching some food as mentioned above would be a good idea.
Happy Trails!
freebird
Sonora Pass was one of my hardest hitches ever. Took 5 hours to get to Bridgeport, even with some trail magic. I hired a local to drive me back the next day.
Bridgeport is a great town, worth getting there. They even have a monument in the town square dedicated to the historical monuments in the area, no kidding.
Garlic
I hiked the TYT in 01 (southbound) and we planned a drop @ that Kennedy Meadows Pack Station. Send it out plenty of time ahead, they don’t go to town often. At the time, it cost us $10 to pick it up from them. The store would have been marginally serviceable for supplies. But the saloon and restaurant were great! We got a hitch fairly easily down there, but were leaving directly from there up the canyon (as we weren’t hiking the Crest) so didn’t need to hitch back.
Bluebearee
Hi Bluebearee – the KM website (last updated a week ago) says nothing about a fire.
Mariann – my trail buddy Mike and I did exactly the same hike you’re doing two years ago. We had checked out Kennedy Meadows while driving over Sonora Pass on our way to another hike and knew they had everything we needed. They do accept maildrops ($10 charge) shipped by UPS only, which is what we ended up doing.
On our hike, we camped just above Sonora Pass the night before, hiked down to the pass first thing in the morning, got a ride with someone who had stopped at the pullout there, ate breakfast, took showers, did a load of laundry, picked up our maildrops, repacked, bought a few things at the store (actually they have a pretty good stock), had an early lunch, and got a ride back up to the pass with a KM employee who was on her way home from work. We were back on the PCT about 1:00. No need to consider Bridgeport – it’s about 30 miles and probably a two-leg hitch. The KM people were very nice. Their phone number is (209) 965-3900 and their website is www.kennedymeadows.com.
Snowbird
Yes, KM north had a fire a couple of years ago and were closed for awhile, but they were back and running in 2008.
markv
Markleeville is doable for a resupply it is not too far from Ebbetts Pass and has a small General Store
unbreakable
We had planned to go to Bridgeport, but we got there at the time of their annual Biker Week. No motels were available for 50 miles. So we went to KM instead with a friend who was supporting her partner on the PCT. It turned out to be a good stop. We stayed at the campground, but did laundry and took showers at the resort and had a very good dinner at the restaurant. I would probably do it again.
Spirit Walker