Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board sleeping at altitude near LA?

Hi all -- the Ahwahnee discussion prompts me to admit that I'm a wimp and prefer to sleep in a bed. Camping is okay, but I finally realized that what I really like is hiking / climbing / views / etc. Of course sometimes going overnight is necessary for that, in which case I'm happy to do it, and sometimes it is indeed fun to take a longer trip and spend some time alone or with good friends.

But my question is: if I want to acclimatize a little for high sierra trips, and I prefer to do at least some of that in a motel or hotel or equivalent, where should I go? (I live in LA.) Is there anywhere south of lake tahoe that's over 6000'? I'm sure I'm being an idiot and forgetting something obvious, but no towns come immediately to mind.

thanks!
julian

p.s. The Starbucks and strip mall on the summit of Whitney don't count...

The Mammoth or June Lake areas both have some nice places to stay and get you some altitude.

In case you change your mind about camping:

San Gorgonio summit is 11,500 ft.

Dry Lake View in the SG Wilderness is approximately 10,400 ft.

Shields Flat, Trail Fork Springs, Anderson Flat, High Meadow Springs and Red Rock Flat in the SG Wilderness are all 10,000+ ft.

Mineshaft Flat in the SG Wilderness is approximately 9,700 ft.

Dollar Lake and Dry Lake in the SG Wilderness are 9,300 ft.

High Creek in the SG Wilderness is approximately 9,200 ft.

You can also try Long Valley, a short walk from the Palm Springs Tram.

If you can't handle camping, try Mammoth.

Big Bear is close to 7k. Probably highest lodging in CA outside of Sierras (actually as high or higher than anyplace outside Mammoth)

Somebody else recently started a thread on this topic at Cities/Hotels with the highest altitude . Big Bear or Angelus Oaks are high areas near LA. Bishop Creek and Rock Creek Lake (see my link in that topic to the Orientation Notes) are places at least 9000 feet, higher than Mammoth Lakes, and less than 2 hours from Lone Pine.

Thanks all!
Big Bear would eventually have occured to me (I hope), but Bishop Creek looks quite nice (even if it is an hour plus on the wrong side of LP from LA) and is definitely new info. Fred -- I knew I should have checked the orientation threads more carefully before posting

julian

There has occasionally been a bed and breakfast operation located at Cerro Gordo. It is much closer than Bishop Creek but considering the road, it may not be less driving time.

Dale B. Dalrymple
http://dbdimages.com

Since you mention LA, there are a couple of options at the base of Mt. Baldy.
If you are a Sierra Club member, you can stay at their hut, Harwood Lodge, at 6,000 feet, for $12 a nite when it is open:

http://angeles.sierraclub.org/lodges/harwoodlodge.html

Across the street is a motel, I think the Crestline Lodge (although that could be wrong)

Both are within walking distance (few hundred yards) of the Manker Flats trailhead to the mountain.

It seems to be called Snow Crest Lodge, with cabins available... another good alternative... thanks!

Julian,
The Sierra club hut on Baldy (where we went last week) is quite pleasant -- not quite motel style, but a lot nicer than camping. It's at perhaps 8k, and 1 1/2 hour hike from Manker Flats area. $15 for non-members for a night, but it's not staffed on weekdays (I don't think), so if you were planning on acclimatizing for a weekend trip (i.e. our Whitney attempt) it won't help much.
The link is <a href="http://angeles.sierraclub.org/lodges/sanantonioskihut.html">san antonio ski hut</a>
-Stephen