The good news is that the Pacific Crest Trail is open in the Red’s Meadow area and cleared of downed trees from the November 2011 windstorm. The road from Red’s Meadow to the town of Mammoth Lakes is closed to the public however, so PCT hikers are not permitted to walk on the road until the windstorm cleanup is all complete. Many downed trees from the windstorm remain to be cleared in other areas, see the Inyo National Forest link below for the latest updates.
The best access for PCT hikers to re-supply in the town of Mammoth Lakes and return to the PCT is via the trail over Mammoth Pass [3.7 miles south of Red’s Meadow] to Horseshoe Lake. Local bus service between Mammoth Lakes and Horseshoe Lake will not begin until June 30. Red’s Meadow Resort is closed at this time as well as all Forest Service campgrounds. There are no services available in the Red’s Meadow Valley.
From the PCT to Horseshoe Lake by the trail over Mammoth Pass is approximately 3.5 miles, from Horseshoe Lake to the town of Mammoth Lakes by road is approximately 5 miles.
It’s likely that the shuttle buses between Reds Meadow and Mammoth Lakes will begin running around June 16 solving Mammoth access issues for hikers.
Hikers could also resupply at the Tuolumne Meadows store, 35.8 miles N of Red’s Meadow on the PCT.
For more information contact the Pacific Crest Trail Association at 916-285-1846 or the Mammoth Lakes Welcome Center at 760-924-5500.
This notice will be posted on the trail south of Red’s Meadow at the Mammoth Pass trail junction:
Attention PCT Travelers:
The Pacific Crest Trail from here to Red’s Meadow as well as the trail to Horseshoe Lake from here has been cleared since the windstorm. The roaded portion of the Red’s Meadow Valley including the road to Minaret Summit and Mammoth Lakes is closed to the public at this time until clean-up work has been completed. PCT travelers may stay on the trail through the valley but are not permitted to hike on the road out of the valley to get to Mammoth Lakes. The trail to Horseshoe Lake leads to a trailhead in the Mammoth Lakes Basin which is connected by paved road to the town of Mammoth Lakes. This is the best access point for PCT hikers to re-supply in Mammoth Lakes and return to the trail. Local bus service between Mammoth Lakes and Horseshoe Lake will begin on June 30th. Red’s Meadow Resort is closed at this time as well as all Forest Service campgrounds. There are no services available in the Red’s Meadow Valley. For more information contact the Mammoth Lakes Welcome Center at 760 924-5500. Thank you for your cooperation.
Links:
Halfmile’s map of the alternate route to Mammoth Lakes over Mammoth Pass:
http://www.pctmap.net/pctdownloads/ca_section_h_mammoth_alt_map.pdf
[note: if you are using Halfmile’s PCT maps you already have a similar map on California Section H – Page 22A – Mammoth Pass Area]
Inyo National Forest Windstorm Updates:
http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/inyo/home/?cid=stelprdb5355082