August 27-31 2024
Similar to last years Where The Hell Is Pizona? I got out for a few (more 😎) days as the weather cools down. But although the forecast was for cooler weather, as launch time approached that forecast went back to heat. Oh well, too late now and I figured for much of the ride I'd be at fairly high elevation, 8k +.
I was somewhat overly ambitious in my mileage estimates and only managed about half of my planned mileage the first day. I could have gone significantly further because the second half was mostly downhill. But I succumbed to the lure of a beautiful campsite in the trees on a running creek, reasoning that I probably wouldn't have made my planned site and the downhill I now faced would be even faster in the morning. Rationalization. A lazy man's best friend. On day 2 I again stopped early because I wasn't going to make it to Lee Vining and I didn't want to make a camp in the open sage and full exposure to the hot sun that was between me and Lee Vining. So I made an early camp under a group of Juniper trees and lounged in the shade getting eaten by no-see-ums. Which didn't really bother me much. You can't feel or really even see them biting you and they don't start itching for a couple of days. I dunno... Maybe it's just me but on the scale of insect annoyance that just seems like a win.
Insert random observation: Why is it (and it's been this way every time) that although you have a full leg of raw meat just hanging out for them, they concentrate and bite just above the sock line?
With all this I ended up taking an extra day to complete the route and that worked out pretty perfect. Day 4 timing put me at the June Lake Brewery just as it opened and day 5 timing was perfect for a Margarita at Gomez's in the Village at Mammoth. I may never be the same.
You want to hear about the route you say? Well then read on.
I parked at Benton Crossing being sure NOT TO PARK ON LOS ANGELES' property. This is another instance of where a private land overlay in Gaia (or Onyx or whatever you use) comes in very handy. And yes I saw LA utility trucks around. I don't know if they would cite you (lots of signage saying they would) but why bother thinking about it? To be clear, day usage is allowed but no camping/camp fires. From there I rode south on Benton crossing rd until turning up Watterson Troughs rd. Years ago Joannie and I had been rather ferociously approached by some dogs that were guarding a flock of sheep while driving up this road. I had this in mind and have to admit that I carried the bear spray from our Alaska trip just in case. Today however, no sheep, no dogs, so now the bear spray was just dead weight. I crested the top, dropped down and intersected the Caldera 500 route. I stayed on this the rest of the day as it climbed into the Glass Mountains, often too steeply, or too sandy, or too rubbly, or any combination of those for my feeble legs and lungs to manage, (AKA hike-a-bike). Views opened up and crossing a ridge a decidedly more foresty forest appeared. (Not the You Tube star) I made camp that afternoon on Sawmill creek. A sweet spot.
Day 2 was a quick descent out of the mountains and a totally optional trip out to River Spring. I enjoyed the spring so much last year on Where The Hell Is Pizona? I just incorporated it again into this route. After the visit, I pedaled back out to hwy 120 then cut off on Dobie Meadows rd. I made an early camp under some junipers, while entertaining the aforementioned insects. Camp 2: 38.058461, -118.774797.
Day 3 was an easy cruise all the way around Mono Lake on Dobie Mdws rd. There were occasional deep sand pits on the north side but they never lasted long and the old lime kiln was interesting. I think RWGPS routed me off of Dobie Mdws right before the turn off down to 120 again. I don't know but it worked out fine and may be preferred over the last bit of Dobie Mdws. Anyway if you ride this route you can look at the route file and make your own choice. I stayed in Lee Vining that night and had a nice tri-tip sandwich at Bodie Mike's.
Day 4 had me a bit worried. Being pretty familiar with the eastern Sierra I was concerned about sand. Leaving LV I climbed to Farrington Siphon rd. A delightful slice of the Caldera route well above and away from Hwy 395. A quite steep and sandy descent (but nothing like Mt. Patterson descent!) brought me to some very nice riding all the way past Grant Lake until the route turns up a utility rd paralleling 395. Several miles of deep sand from mile 101 to mile 105 characterize this section. Now I was following the Basin and Batholith (B&B) route published on Bikepacking.com. I picked up some more water at the ball field then dropped down into June Lake proper. There is a bit of steep single track here that drops down off of Leonard Ave to the park and tennis court. I initially missed this but was only a few yards past and went back and rode it down. I made the mandatory stop at June Lake Brewing. Let me just say the folks there will take care of you. Riding back down toward hwy 395 the route veers and goes into very slow and sandy terrain from mi. 111.8 until you pop out on Obsidian Dome rd at mi 115.6 just before Hartley Springs campground. Thankfully my Binary Kinetik takes 29x3 tires. Fit he fattest tires your frame will take for this route. You'll thank me on day 4. My recommendation is to have UPS drop you off a fat bike in Lee Vining for day 4. (Just kidding?) Obsidian Dome is an interesting geologic feature. I camped that evening on the fringe of the dome. Camp 4: 37.757511, -119.009682.
Day 5 figured to be a relatively easy day. Even though I was still in sand territory it wasn't nearly as bad as day 4. I picked up more water at Glass creek and continued on Basin and Batholith which mostly follows Caldera with some deviations. Approaching Mammoth I continued on B&B and turned up Mountain View singletrack. It goes all the way up to Minaret Vista but I turned off again on another dirt rd that took me out to Minaret rd. I cruised down to the Downtown trail and jumped on it. Where the hell was everybody? Whereas all the forest roads behind Mammoth were packed with OHV'ers, this, perhaps the most popular trail at Mammoth on a popular holiday weekend was empty! I scoured my memory trying think of all the good deeds I must have done to deserve this. Nope. Nothing there. Another unanswered mystery of the universe. The Downtown trail ends at the Village in Mammoth. Well then! That calls for a Margarita at Gomez!
Afterwards it was an easy cruise back down to hwy 395. The B&B follows some back roads and dirt to get there but I just coasted down the pavement. Crossing under 395 the B&B makes its way out to Hot Creek Hatchery Rd, which it then follows to Owens River Rd, and so to Benton Crossing Rd. and back to my truck. It was still there and no citations under the wiper blade. Forgot to mention. Met Colton Johnson, the originator of the published Basin And Batholith route. He was out for a day ride and we had a short nice chat.
Stats: 153.6 mi. 10,336 elevation gain
Bike setup: Binary Kinetik 29+ hardtail with 29x2.8 tires. Full bikepacking bags.
Special Note: I also think B-fat tires would excel on this route. (27.5xI45 wheel set & 27.5x4" tires. Something like Cake Eaters but definately NOT Maxxis Minion.) It's what I would chose if I did this route again.
Route File: https://ridewithgps.com/trips/217137585
The video is finally out!