Driving from Reno to Mammoth: Anyone done this?

[deathpunk dan]

Flying into Reno around 12 noon on a saturday, driving to Mammoth Mtn CA for 4 days of skiing and general idiocy with 2 friends.

Anyone here make this drive before? What is the best route? Any tips? I'm glad we will be able to drive out during daylight, hoping for some good scenery.

Anything we should see or do in Reno before we head out of town?

Getting excited - I've been skiing for 20 years, was a jr ski patroller in high school, but have never been out west to ski.

[speeder]

All I know is that Mammoth got 12 feet of snow last week.

Some friends of mine were snowed-in there all week. Have fun!

[Steve F]

The scenery is to die for! You are in for a treat as long as the weather is good. Some of the most beautiful mountains there are,bar none Walker river area has a lot of black ice, so be careful

[look 171]

I would stop by Tahoe if you have the time or sky there as well. Great secnery and food both North and South Tahoe. The drive around the lake is to die for. This is the year to ake the high Sierras. Have fun.

[Seahawk]

Great drive, be prepared: The Mammoth Web | Road Conditions

[9dreizig]

Dude, we've been getting hammered!!!! Friends just left for Mamoth a few minutes ago.. 395 is the way to go.. but why ?? skiing is much better here ..
Call me when you get in town we'll have a cocktail or two

[vash]

RENO? pawnshops and cabelas.

hahahha...drive safe friend.

[Rick Lee]

I rode up to Mammoth from Phoenix via Death Valley in mid-November. Man, that went from 80 deg. at sea level to bone chilling cold at 10k ft. Gorgeous scenery up there.

[gatotom]

deathpunk dan, be prepared to be blowen out of your mind with scenery that takes your breath away.

When you go to the top, take the easy way down first time and then after figuring out that western snow is much grabbier than the east cuz its real snow, kick some good turns on the cornice run or climax or dave's run. I think its cornice run that they aways groom, incredable groomed skiing.

ENJOY, your brains out, you will never be the same... and above all take it easy the first day, you are at high elevation, take 2-3 days before you ski from start to finish of the day.

Sad to say I haven't been to Mammoth since 1990 but it was the best 2 weeks I had in the sierra's in a long time.

[Monza_dh]

I've done this drive a few times a ways back when I lived in Tahoe. As others mentioned the scenery is awesome. Mono Lake is like a another planet. A moonscape with water, if thats possible.

I wouldnt waste too much time in Reno but would recommend stopping in for a beer at the"oldest bar in Nevada" in Genoa. Real old western type of bar along the way:

Genoa Bar and Saloon, Genoa Nevada - Come visit us, anytime!

Carson City is famous for its "ranches", Google it and you'll find out.....

Mono Lake:

[LakeCleElum]

395 has more than one pass at 8,500 ft....Watch for black Ice, conditions can change in a heartbeat.......Personally, I'd ski Tahoe area. Perfect scenery.......

[911mnypt]

Made this trip many times, HWY 395 is one of my favorites...Back side of the Sierra Nevada range is awesome! Take your time and enjoy the view!

Regards,
Richard

[deathpunk dan]

I voted to ski Tahoe as well, but we are staying at a mammoth village condo that belongs to one of my friend's friends. She is a producer or something for some MTV reality show and lives in LA. She's off that week and will be coming out to give us the grand tour of Mammoth.

Also, the other friend that is going went to Mammoth last year and has been obsessed with returning ever since.

Shouldn't have told me about the ranches, Monza.
Bad move.

[Moses]

Mammoth is spectacular. No question. Go to Angel's for some BBQ and the best blackberry cobbler with vanilla bean ice cream you'll ever have.

Burger Burger makes great...burgers.

[Joe Bob]

It's doable....bring chains.....