MTR, Reds, resupply questions

If you're just doing the JMT, it's probably overkill to be mailing yourself new socks, shoes, and clothes. You can easily wash the ones you have at the myriad lakes and streams there and dry them on the back of your pack. You can also pay to do real laundry at Red's Meadow or VVR. I don't think MTR has real washing machines. If you start with relatively new gear, neither your shoes nor your socks should be worn out after 200 or so miles. If your socks really wear out, it probably will still be cheaper just to buy new socks at those places. You can mail yourself fresh clothes at Lone Pine for the journey home.

Blayney Hot Springs near MTR do not smell like sulfur, but I don't have the most sensitive nose. If you just want hot springs, there are publicly available ones near the ones that MTR owns. You cross the river and then bear right and will eventually find them. You also can detour off the JMT to visit Iva Bell hot springs which is just south of Devil's Postpile.

FYI you really only need to mail a bucket to MTR due to how it's transported there. Cardboard boxes are fine for Red's Meadow and VVR. Shipping buckets is quite expensive.

I work at MTR most summers, so think I can give some good feed back.

1. You can mail things from MTR, but I will warn it is expensive. We have several different sizes of boxes. If you need to mail a few to fit everything, you can do that. The reason its so expensive is that from the Ranch it has to be drove out 4×4 to Florence Lake, then loaded on the ferry, ferried across and unloaded from the ferry onto a truck or van and then driven all the way down the mountain to the post office to be mailed. Short answer…yes you can mail stuff.

2. The natural public springs across the river do have a slight sulfur smell. Not as bad as Sykes though. The two private springs at the ranch (only available to ranch guests) do not smell bad at all. In my opinion (separate from working there) those springs are WELL worth the cost of a cabin for a night.

3. if you rent a cabin each has FLUSHABLE toilets. The tent cabins to not have attached toilets. There are restrooms you can use that are flushable as well as a few pit toilets.

4. Laundry- You can do laundry as a guest, but it is a hand spun washing machine, and hand crank ringer for drying. After putting clothes through the ringer, we have cloths lines to hang dry from. They do work well, and most backpackers find it kind of fun, and sticking with the minimalist idea of backpacking.

I think a night at the Ranch is well worth it when doing the JMT.. especially since its about the half way point on the trail. its nice to sleep in a clean bed, do some laundry, and get a really tasty fresh meal. Lots of fresh produce (which is nice after a few weeks on the trail). Nice place for a lay over day to just lounge around the ranch…chat with other guests, staff and backpackers and just relax. Just my two cents….

Hope that helps. Feel free to PM me with any other questions about MTR.

Mailing the buckets home is usually not worth it. Each location charges a significant fee for outgoing mail. It would probably be cheaper to toss your old socks and underwear (or put them in the hiker box… maybe in a plastic bag) and buy new ones when you get home.

Reds does have some very nice modern laundry facilities.

Blayney Hot Springs is across the San Joaquin River from there. I found it to be pleasant. On the large pool, the outside is too cool and the center is too warm, so you have to seek your equilibrium. Crossing the river to get there can be challenging if it is early in the summer when the current is high.

–B.G.–

Thanks guys, great info so far.
Another dumb question: Is there a trick to aligning timing w/ MTR cabin reservations (besides the obvious strict trip itinerary).

It's common for me to go on a 7 day trip and end up finishing 1-2 days early. All depends on how I'm feeling, camp spots, etc.
In the case of MTR, if I book something but show up a day early am I out of luck?

First find out if the week you are considering has space. Often the entire MTR is booked by a single entity/group.

Then it "just depends". If you get there late in the day, you greatly reduce your chances of getting a spot.

Last, I'd read their cancellation clause carefully – because you'll be cancelling your original reservation on short notice.

I think it is for that very reason why some backpackers choose to bypass MTR and keep going, then get a food resupply at LeConte Canyon or Charlotte Lake.

–B.G.–

After my two trips I have to say, MTR just leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Yes, I hear it's different for folks with reservations, but the place is so snooty to everyone else that I just have no desire to give them any of my money.

VVR, on the other hand, is one of my favorite places. They are so welcoming, and laid-back, and the food is wonderful, and the atmosphere is fun and relaxed…it really was a great time. Granted, now that Lake Edison is barely there it does take a bit of extra work to get there, but honestly, I didn't mind it a bit.

Also a LOT cheaper.

Just my 2 cents.

You might want to try both VVR and MTR if you have the time and want to gain an opinion, and could modulate depending on how your schedule is going so as to make the reservation date. I prefer 5+ days between resupplies, so going southbound VVR comes up too soon, I find it depressing to look at a dry Lake Edison, and the hike off-trail is not rewarding. MTR tent cabins are great, the washing machine is adequate, and the two spas are clean and fun. The communal dining and lodge are also fun if you are social, they provide a different way to interact than the trail. No snootiness encountered at all, but some welcome eccentricity. I stuff two .5L box wines in my barrel. Great for a zero day.

"I find it depressing to look at a dry Lake Edison"

For the last three years, California has been experiencing a severe drought. Some call it the worst in 100 years. Others call it the worst in 1200 years. Lake Edison was trying to disappear from all of that, and it was all visible to those who diverted from the PCT to visit VVR.

However, just in the last few days there has been one serious rain storm. Some areas received more rain in a 24-36 hour period than they received in all of 2013. I'm not claiming that the severe drought is finished, but if California can get a steady stream of rain storms for the next few months, Lake Edison might be overflowing before summer.

–B.G.–

The problem with MTR, is many dont know how fast they can hike.

If going in july-aug, as soon as have permit you need to make MTR reservation. This is jan-feb timeframe.

Plan conservative if need to, and go slow if have to. Thats just what you do.

VVR is great. Lake edison may look dry from the drawdown, but the far end nearest the JMT is deeper, that the end they quarried the material from to build the dam.

VVR actually fills to capacity most years, the problem is that Edison Power Company usually decides to drain Edison first, to keep other lakes more full. However, this summer Edison will be doing work on the damn at Florence Lake which means Florence lake will be most likely drained. if they drain Florence, Edison may stay full later into the season….

"doing work on the damn"

Is it the dam, or the damn dam?

–B.G.–

hahah good catch Bob….Dam

Reactivating an old thread here.

It appears there are community showers, but no towels?

What do most people do about that?  Ship themselves a towel in a bucket then throw it away afterwards?

You could ship yourself paper towels

Most people have some worn towels they wouldn’t mind throwing away

Another question:

Has anyone arrived at MTR 1-2 days ahead of schedule and still scored a room?  What is their policy on this?  I’ll be arriving early/mid sept so I’m hoping my chances are better?

I’ve heard that MTR fills up way ahead of time. I resupplied there on 6/25/2015 (midweek, relatively early in the season and they did not have any openings). You might try emailing them any questions. I found them very responsive via email in the off-season.

+1 on the emailing.  Sometimes the entire place is booked up by family and/or group of friends for an entire week with no openings at all.

K

Thanks guys!   I emailed them and they responded quickly!

Sounds like if I show up a day early and there happens to be a cabin available, they’ll accommodate that.  :)

I think the problem is the “if-there’s-a-cabin-available” thing.