CortezBlue
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Totally off topic Travel Question for Twin Lakes, CA
Ok, since retiring, I am getting ready to take a long road trip with my newly rehabed 26 ft Skyline Nomad trailer.
So, for my friends in norther California, I am thinking of going south from Portland down to Twin Lakes in the Sierras.
I was wondering if anyone can tell me how the roads are for a virgin trailer hauler? I have a new f150 with eccoboost.
Let me know if the roads are steep and twisty? Good shape? Etc!! 
“Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe.”
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Barry A.
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Could you be a little more specific---------there are several "twin lakes" that I know of. Are you referring to the ones near Mammoth Mt. ski area in
the Eastern Sierra??
Barry
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DianaT
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Barry A.
Could you be a little more specific---------there are several "twin lakes" that I know of. Are you referring to the ones near Mammoth Mt. ski area in
the Eastern Sierra??
Barry |
Yes, there are more than one Twin Lakes.
If you are talking about the Twin Lakes outside of Bridgeport, CA, they are one of my least favorite areas as it is privately owned and quite
commercial, IMHO; but still pretty, good fishing there and close by, and bears. The Twin Lakes by Mammoth is popular, but not quite as commercial,
but the bears are there also. Just do not leave any ice chests out!
Highway 396 --- part 2 lane, part 4 lane. The 2 lane part north of Reno has wide shoulders --- wide enough to avoid being hit head on by a crazy
driver as we discovered recently.
Going just to the Twin Lakes by Bridgeport, you will drive on a winding mountain road with a couple of passes, but they are not really super steep or
narrow --- I know nothing about your towing power. And there are a couple of places where the wind can blow quite hard at times --- there are always
warning signs.
South of Bridgeport there is a long pass, Conway Summit, but it is four lanes in that area.
Can give you a few ideas for visits after you drop the trailer. This is truly one beautiful area with so much to see and do -- unfortunately, you
will be hitting the height of tourist season, but it is also fishing season.
[Edited on 5-28-2014 by DianaT]
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BajaParrothead
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If it is the Twin Lakes out of Bridgeport, then the roads are definitely trailerable. You should have no problem getting a 26 footer up there,
however, if I remember right, you might want to check on the RV sites to see if they can accommodate your rig.
Also, don't leave your ice chest laying around. Lots of bears up there.
Good luck and enjoy.
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bajaguy
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Route
What will your travel route be???. US 395 is a really good highway and they are working to improve it with additional 4 lane roadway.
If you can't get into Twin Lakes for whatever reason, you might want to look at Convict Lake, just south of Mammoth.
You might want to consider the Carson Valley Inn & Casino RV park. The JT Basque restaurant is a short skip away
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DianaT
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| Quote: | Originally posted by bajaguy
If you can't get into Twin Lakes for whatever reason, you might want to look at Convict Lake, just south of Mammoth.
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One of our favorite exercise walks is the 3 mile walk around Convict lake --- no real steep ups or downs, just good for conditioning, good fishing for
some, and good dog swimming at the far end. --- We enjoyed it again today.
If you go there, I don't recommend the restaurant at night as they have a dress code and are quite expensive. Then again, we hear they are good, just
a bit snooty and expensive for the mountains, IMHO
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DaliDali
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At Twin Lakes forest service campground near Bridgeport, I can personally attest to bears being there.
One morning earlier this month and after fishing, I returned to my camp site and was alerted by the camp neighbors that a bear was just behind my camp
site.
Sure enough, there he was at 10:30 AM, chopping on my plastic jug of CoffeeMate coffee creamer.
When he got tired of the creamer, he meandered over to the camp table and proceeded to knock off some plastic cases.
All this time I was about 30 feet from him, at the ready to jump in my truck, snapping photos as quick as I could.
Then the brute found a can of mosquito spray. He bit into it and it sprayed right in his face.
A shake of his head and he rambled off to the nearby Robinson creek for a wash.
First time ever in my life had I seen a bear in the here and now.
Full grown he was......not a cub for sure.
Kind of a dark honey color......almost looked like photos of grizzlies I have seen in photos.
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tripledigitken
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Don't miss the Whoa Nellie Deli in the Mobil station at Lee Vining, live musica too! Ample parking.
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Skipjack Joe
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It's paved all the way to the upper twin lake and the climb from Bridgeport is gentle with no sharp turns. Near the docks at upper twin there are RV
campgrounds large enough for yours.
The state record for brown trout was set in these lakes. The window for opportunity is in April.
P.S. As Diana points out - it gets pretty windy at the lakes. It's calm in the mornings and in the evenings. I believe that the heating in the canyon
sucks the air masses up and down that canyon.
[Edited on 5-28-2014 by Skipjack Joe]
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DianaT
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| Quote: | Originally posted by DaliDali
At Twin Lakes forest service campground near Bridgeport, I can personally attest to bears being there.
One morning earlier this month and after fishing, I returned to my camp site and was alerted by the camp neighbors that a bear was just behind my camp
site.
Sure enough, there he was at 10:30 AM, chopping on my plastic jug of CoffeeMate coffee creamer.
When he got tired of the creamer, he meandered over to the camp table and proceeded to knock off some plastic cases.
All this time I was about 30 feet from him, at the ready to jump in my truck, snapping photos as quick as I could.
Then the brute found a can of mosquito spray. He bit into it and it sprayed right in his face.
A shake of his head and he rambled off to the nearby Robinson creek for a wash.
First time ever in my life had I seen a bear in the here and now.
Full grown he was......not a cub for sure.
Kind of a dark honey color......almost looked like photos of grizzlies I have seen in photos. |
I hope you got some GREAT pictures and I would love to see them. The first bear I encountered camping was at Robinson Creek at a Forest Service
campground about 40+ years ago. But at that time, they tended to just come out at night. Today, Mammoth Lakes has a bear problem right in town and
one guy who works to try and scare the bears to leave town so that they won't be put down.
Just have to be aware.
Igor, it was a good April this year for some at Twin Lakes. :-) http://kenssport.com/ Since we don't fish anymore, I have not looked to see if Ken's in Bridgeport still has the freezer of fish out front
showing the most recent catch and we drive through there often.
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bajalearner
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If I understand your words, you are new to towing. I have a good amount of experience. Your truck is light for a 26 foot trailer but it will work if
you understand the limitations. Any driver including big rig drivers with many years, will know the limitations of their truck and trailer and most
certainly know the time it takes to maneuver safely. ( starting, turning, estimating the space ahead, stopping, on and on and on.
I hope I am not insulting your abilities but this is only offered in best wishes for a safe trip. You must realize the weight you are pulling when it
comes to everything from start to stop. You must have a high visual horizon, that is look well ahead to consider what's coming. Like playing chess,
you need to make small moves well ahead of the problem.
I can't tell you everything here about safe towing but you can learn as you go if you realize now that you are like a 16 year old kid starting to
drive. Many new towers learn by crunching a side panel or worse.
Your truck or any other on earth does not have unlimited power or braking to tow. You will be climbing steep and/or long grades and you will need to
use a speed that is not overburdening your truck. You must learn the limitations and how to safely use the machine to it's safe potential.
If you have a mechanical aptitude and understand the truck engine and brakes have safe but critical margins, you will be fine and will learn as you go
safely down the road. (or up the hill)
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Bwana_John
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Buckeye Hot Springs
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CortezBlue
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| Quote: | Originally posted by bajalearner
If I understand your words, you are new to towing. I have a good amount of experience. Your truck is light for a 26 foot trailer but it will work if
you understand the limitations. Any driver including big rig drivers with many years, will know the limitations of their truck and trailer and most
certainly know the time it takes to maneuver safely. ( starting, turning, estimating the space ahead, stopping, on and on and on.
I hope I am not insulting your abilities but this is only offered in best wishes for a safe trip. You must realize the weight you are pulling when it
comes to everything from start to stop. You must have a high visual horizon, that is look well ahead to consider what's coming. Like playing chess,
you need to make small moves well ahead of the problem.
I can't tell you everything here about safe towing but you can learn as you go if you realize now that you are like a 16 year old kid starting to
drive. Many new towers learn by crunching a side panel or worse.
Your truck or any other on earth does not have unlimited power or braking to tow. You will be climbing steep and/or long grades and you will need to
use a speed that is not overburdening your truck. You must learn the limitations and how to safely use the machine to it's safe potential.
If you have a mechanical aptitude and understand the truck engine and brakes have safe but critical margins, you will be fine and will learn as you go
safely down the road. (or up the hill) |
No insult at all.
So I was wrong, it is 22.5 ft. Not sure why I typed 26 ft.
I was driving the other day and the winds here in Fenix and the f150 has a sway control computer. It was really weird when the sway started and the
truck took over.
“Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe.”
- Albert Einstein
Follow Cortez Blue
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AmoPescar
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Cortez...
Twin Lakes out of Bridgeport is a very beautiful area. It is much more secluded than the Twin Lakes outside of Mammoth. They're about 14 miles west of
Bridgeport which has markets, etc. I've camped on Robinson Creek at the R.C. campground a couple of times and it's very nice. I've personally never
seen a bear in that area. Space willing, you'll be able to camp right on or near the creek edge. I love sitting there around a fire watching the stars
at night after a day of fishing and hiking.
The Twin Lakes outside of Mammoth is about 4 1/2 miles west of town. It's really pretty there, with mountains just above and around it. The benefit of
staying there is you can get into Mammoth easily for sightseeing, shopping or if you tire of camp food. You can also visit the Devils Post Pile
Monument which is very interesting. It's just outside of Mammoth ski area and you ride buses into the area to see it. It's in a beautiful little
valley with a stream running through the middle of it. There are also several other lakes near the Twin Lakes which can be visited and fished.
MY BEST TIP FOR YOU: If it works for you time wise, plan on arriving at the campground about 10-12 on SUNDAY morning. Many people will be packing up
and going home, leaving many empty spaces to choose from. We had arrived late on Saturday at Mammoth and got a motel room and then had a nice relaxing
dinner and a spa soak. The next morning we got up and had breakfast before heading out to the T.L. Campground. We got the best campsite in the place
and were very well rested and in no hurry to set up, like we would have been in the dark while very tired and grumpy!!
Hope you have fun up there...it is really gorgeous country and scenery all up and down that side of the Sierras. ENVYING YOU!
Miguelamo  :spin: :spin:
Nomad Amigos...Here\'s hoping you all have safe Baja travels, amazing sunrises, sunny days, comforting breezes, beautiful sunsets, tasty tacos,
cold cervezas and frosty margaritas!!
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PlanB
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consider first night stopping at Collier Memorial State Park on the 97 just north of Chiloquin. Best make reservations to be sure. Perfect place to
take a side trip up to Crater Lake, etc.
Then to trip down past Reno on the 395 is easy, maybe considering a stop at Topaz RV park and Casino and last place to get reasonable gas for that 150
as the eccoboost might not live up to expectations when pulling a loaded trailer.
We camp in Lee Vining Canyon at Natl Forest and county campgrounds - rustic and inexpensive and somewhat protected from the afternoon winds. For
sure, the advice given on before 1:00 arrival on Sunday or Monday is good advice. From there we go up to Saddlebag Lake for wonderful hiking, fishing
and general enjoyment of the high Sierras; then back to the Tioga Road for more lakes, streams and plenty of planted trout for those co inclined, if
not, then it is a hoot to watch the kids catching fish right near to the campsite.
As you might tell, we don't frequent the commercial campgrounds or even Convict Lake unless one is able to get a reservation via Recreation.gov .
Hardly ever available is site 57 on the stream at the eastern end of the campground.
Enjoy!
Que bueno es descansar despues de no hacer nada
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