TWO ESSENTIALS for WINTER TIME!
- Have CHAINS for your car and be sure they fit.
- If you expect to arrive after 5PM and don’t already have the key, call the Mountainback Office (800-468-6225) to be sure they will leave it out for you.
From Los Angeles – 300 miles – 5 hours
Take the I-5 to the Hwy 14 to US-395 up to the Mammoth Lakes exit onto Hwy 203. This takes you through Palmdale, Lancaster, Mojave, Olancha, Lone Pine, Independence, Big Pine, Bishop, Tom’s Place, and Crowley.
From San Diego – 395 miles – 7 hours
Take the I-15 and I-215 to US-395 and continue as above.
From San Francisco – 393 miles
Take the I-80 towards Reno, then US-50 to US-395 South, to the Hwy 203 exit at Mammoth Lakes.
or Fly
with Alaska Airlines – Horizon
Arrival in Mammoth…
The center of the town of Mammoth Lakes is about 2 miles west of the US 395 exit. Turn left and follow the highway (CA 203) which becomes Main Street. Continue up through the two sets of traffic signals, one at Old Mammoth Road, the second (&3rd) up at Minaret Rd. & Canyon Blvd). At this point keep left as Main Street becomes Lake Mary Road
- Continue approximately 1/8 mile where a sign points right for CANYON LODGE.
- Follow it right, up the hill. It is an incline that can be dangerously icy in winter but it is now heated. At the top the incline ‘Ts’ into LAKEVIEW BLVD and even though you don’t have a stop sign be very careful because Lakeview is steep, not heated, and can be busy as you Turn left (west), up the hill.
(If Icy, use extreme caution going down because of cross traffic – you must stop at Lake Mary Rd. – there are gentler alternative routes).
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- The Mountainback Condos are now on your left. There are twelve, separate buildings as you drive up Lakeview.
- You will see the sign for the Mountainback Office which is located midway up, in building #6. There is a lighted sign and swimming pool.
- Our Building #7 is just beyond, the next building up from the Office, and is directly across from FOREST TRAIL ROAD. …a good to know when snow is 15 feet high.
NOTE: IN SKI SEASON, WINTER MONTHS the snow can be so high that you may not be able to see the number of the building. Thus it is really helpful to note that the driveway to our garage is directly across from FOREST TRAIL Road.
UPON ARRIVAL
IF YOU ALREADY HAVE THE KEY, you can go directly to the garage. Unit 72 is the first floor above, west end. You can park in the spot labeled for 72 or in any of the unnumbered spots. You should get a parking pass from the main office the morning after you arrive. Just tell them you are in number 72 – they already have your name.
IF YOU NEED TO PICK UP THE KEY FIRST:
The Office is approximately 3 blocks up, at building 6, just before our building 7. Look for the pool and the Mountainback sign on the left.There are parking spots here. Pick up the key to unit 72 and a parking pass in the office or, if it is after 5PM, from the lock box outside front door of the office. You name should be on your key. There is a 24-hour emergency telephone here, too, in case you have any problems. Return for a parking pass in the morning (no big rush).
NOTE — IF YOU NEED TO PICK UP THE KEY FROM THE OFFICE AFTER 5PM: We highly recommend that you phone the Mountainback office (800-468-6225 or 760 934 4549) on the day you drive up to be certain they know you are coming and will have your key waiting for you, and so that you know the combination to the lockbox — especially if you are going to be arriving after 5PM. Even if we have set your reservations for you, it is wise to confirm with the Mountainback Management office. We’ve never heard of a key not being there but we don’t want to hear it from you!
Most people leave LA in the afternoon and get the key from the lock box at the office as they arrive late. The office, 760 934 4549, has someone monitoring that number or have an emergency number on the door of the office.
CHAINS
CHAINS may be required if the weather is cold and the roads icy. They may be needed any time, anywhere along US-395 but we often find that we can make it all the way to the Mammoth Lakes exit from US-395. Then you often see “Chains Required” signs. You will also probably find CHP as well as people offering to put them on for you, approx. $40. There may be people selling chains but they may not be your correct size.
There are three different categories of the degree of hazard present on snow and ice covered roadways. These categories are R-1, R-2 and R-3.
- R1- chains or snow tires must be on all vehicles except four-wheel-drive;
- R2- chains required on all vehicles, except four-wheel-drive with snow tires;
- R3 requires chains on all vehicles, no exceptions
YAK TRAX – YakTrax are like chains for your shoes. If you are not familiar with ice & snow – or even if you are – YakTrax can save your life. The ski stores all sell them, they’re about $20. www.yaktrax.com
They are great on ice and snow but should be removed from the shoes on bare concrete, stone, and carpet or wood. They can catch on carpet and pull. They can catch on metal grate floors and stairs and cause a fall. Otherwise they are fantastic.
A Dinner Suggestion
We often make it to Mammoth without stopping for dinner. A good tip is that Vons supermarket has amazingly good, hot ‘rotisserie chickens.’ You detour to Vons on the way into town, grab a chicken and maybe ice cream and then head to Mountainback and as you unload the car you can be re-warming the chicken. Of course Nick&Willies Pizza is open late, too, as are others.