A great double-play for skiers and hikers: Death Valley and Mammoth
Submitted by Carson Now Reader on Tue, 04/13/2010 - 8:37pm
With so many of the mountain resorts staying open well into May there's a marvelous chance to combine skiing and hiking in one glorious wind-up of a great season.
I did this once and enjoy it immensely, hiking in the low and then turning around and skiing on the high. It was May of a couple of years ago when I loaded the car with camping gear and tucked a pair of skis on the roof rack. I headed south down 395, inflated with the idea of hiking around Death Valley National Park and then stopping off at Mammoth Mountain on the way home to ski.
I got off 395 at Twin Pines and began the long descent to Death Valley, getting some odd looks from people as the skis seemed out of place. Never mind, I wound my way into the park and wound up at a camping area up by Scottie's Castle, the dream in a magical setting. The campground was practically empty, what with the hot season starting, but I was comfortable in my tent.
The hiking wasn't spectacular, but Scottie's was interesting --- the dreams of past times in stone and brick. I drove and hiked, stopping at the movie site up behind the plush motels. Not much of a crowd out but enough to keep things interesting.
Three days were enough of Death Valley. The lowest spot in the United States wasn't much more than a sign along the road. So when I packed up, I checked off Death Valley as a figment of my youth when there was radio show about the place --- one more national park to chalk up.
The drive out of the Valley was quick, no traffic and only a few sights to see along the road. Back on HIghway 395 everything seemed dull until I got to Mammoth. Off 395 and up the winding road to the Mammoth Lodge, a comfy 100 yards from a lift base.
Check in, slip into ski pants and hit the hill. The change from the Valley was like a kind of mountain high. I spent the day on the slopes, skiing until the corn turned to mush, and then wandered Mammoth for something to eat, found a sushi bar that i had tired before and nursed an ale and some tekie-maki sushi.
What wonderful wind up to a season!
And you can do it now, pack up and go.
--- The Senor Skier
