A critical component of the Lakes Basin Special Study is information from visitors about their recreation experiences in the area. In order to participate in this survey, please reply to this post in the comment box below. Number your answers to match the questions so that we may properly record them. Contact MLTPA at labss@mltpa.org or call (760) 934-3154 if you need assistance. Thank you for your input!
Tell us about your last visit to the Lakes Basin!
- How many people were you with?
- How did you get to the Lakes Basin?
- What could make getting to the Lakes Basin easier and/or better?
- What activities did you do while visiting the Lakes Basin?
- Where did you go?
- Once you arrived in the Lakes Basin, did you find your way around all right?
- Which two things do you like most about visiting the Mammoth Lakes Basin?
- What are two things you would change about the Mammoth Lakes Basin?
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1. one person
2. private car
3. Private car is fine. We have a dog and gear, so the car is probably best.
4. hiking, kayaking, trying to teach our dog to swim
5. Lakes Mary, Horseshoe, George. Hiked to Emerald and Duck Lakes.
6. Yes, we’ve been coming for 40 years.
7. Hiking, kayaking
8. I want to see wildlife more often, so I guess I’d like fewer people. Also would like some restriction on the motor boat noise.
1. There was one other person (my husband) with me.
2. We drove by car from Sunnyvale CA (located south of San Francisco) thru Yosemite.
3. Driving is the least expensive way for us and easiest.
4. Hiking, walking, sketching and a visit to the Ski Museum (a treasure that we’ve missed on previous visits).
5. My husband hiked longer trails such as Mammoth Crest, Duck Lake, & Bishop Lake. I hiked shorter trails (Heart Lake & Twin Lakes) and walked locally. I also sketched about 4 scenes.
6. We have been coming to the Lakes Basin for over 30 years and are familiar with the area. However, it is difficult to use the bus service. After walking a half mile to a bus stop listed in the brochure, & waiting 40 minutes, the bus passed me by, the stop was no longer on this route. Frustrating–
7. We love the scenery and easy access to hiking trails. It is relatively uncrowded and during the summer the cost is reasonable.
8. It would help to have an up-to-date bus schedule.
We love theEastern Sierra and have skied, backpacked and hiked here for over 30 years. Our thanks to the forest service and all those who have helped make our visits over the years so enjoyable. I had to use the Sierra Health Clinic for the first time this visit and was very impressed with the competent care by Dr. M Akalin.
1. one person with me
2. we drove
3. we need to drive as we live in our cabin on Lake Mary for four months
4. hike daily, fish, visit with friends, bird watch, enjoy nature, bike
5. visit most all lakes in the greater basin, take grandkids to Horseshoe, attend concerts in town and on Lake Mary, take grandkids on rides on the trolley
6. have come here every year since 1955 so know the area well
7. walking around Lake Mary daily and watching the eagles
8. would love to see a bike path built around Lake Mary
I was by myself.
I used the Town Trolley to get to Horseshoe Lake (trailhead) for hike into Red’s Meadow and Starkweather Lake, then took the Shuttle Back to the Main Lodge and the Bike Shuttle back to the Village, and finally the Trolley back to my home. (that answers several of your questions, I think).
I like how easy it is to use the Trolley to get into and then around the basin. I have also used it to make “loop hikes” where I enter and exit at different trailheads. It’s also a great way to get your bike up there (using the bike trailer) if you’re not a good enough athlete to ride UP the new bike path.
If I could, I would change the road around Lake Mary to one lane of travel (meaning one way) in order to use the other lane for walkers and bike riders and also limit parking. There’s not much room to ride or walk when there are cars parked on both sides and then the Trolley and an SUV are passing by.
1. three (adult and 2 children under 18)
2.drove personal car
3.personal vehicle is the only way to fully enjoy the Lakes Basin – - this is the ONLY way to experience the lakes basin for visitors and locals with limited time and /or resources. We live and visit here for easy access to the Lakes Basin. We no longer can enjoy ‘Reds Meadow’ b/c it simply isn’t possible time-wise and money-wise to use the bus system to get there. We aren’t on vacation, so time and money is a factor in our ability to enjoy the Lakes Basin.
4.activites we enjoy are: running, kayaking, hiking, boating, finshing, camping, xc skiing, dining at Tamarack Lodge, taking photos, riding horses, daydreaming – living!!!!
5.Horseshoe, Mcleod, Crystal lake, dragon’s back, Tamarack, Lake Mary, George, Twin, etc, etc, etc – in short we go everywhere!!!!!!!!!!!
6. It is easy to find your way around.
7. Two things we like about visting the Lakes Basin include (1) we can drive up there whenever we want – be it a quick hike or run or a concert at Pokonobe Lodge, (2) the views are amazing no matter where we wander – it’s an uncrowed paradise no matter the time of year or the time of day! Wonderful!
8. Two things we would change about the Lakes Basin include: (1) the amount of fishing line and fishing hooks just left along any and all lakes in the basin – such a sad thing to keep finding, (2) enforce the speed limit! make the drivers slow down. The traffice has never been a problem – it’s just that speeders need to be ticketed whether they are on vacation or locals! Slow down and enjoy the beauty!
NOTE:
*We are concerned that this study will result in a “Red Meadow bus only” situation and that would be a tragedy! While we can see that a “fee” might need to be established to generate funds to care for the Lakes Basin – I would hope that a car pass (day use and/or yearly pass) could be purchased that would allow a personal vehicle to enter the Lakes Basin whenever wanted – without restriction. (ie; Torrey Pines State Park in La Jolla, CA).
If it is deemed important to charge a fee for the Lakes Basin it should not be more than $35/yr or $3/day for drive in use. And please never limit the Lakes Basin to public transportation only – you will have a strong opposition if that direction is taken and that would also steal an opportunity away from those that have limited time and resources to experience this part of Mammoth/Eastern Sierra. Thank you for the opportunity to express our thoughs and taking the time to consider our input.
1. Myself has guest who come and stay and then leave. Aprox 4 guest in a season.
2. drive – live all summer upper falls track
3. * make sure lake marry stays at natural level at least untill Oct 1st. WD often lowers Lake Mary after Labor Day – makes it ugly. Many guest stay into OCT. WD should not be allowed to lower Lake mary untill after Oct 1st
4. Hike Photograph
5. All Trails
6. yes – have written guide books
7. Scenery
8. cant think of anything
1) 3 others
2)Van
3)Works well as is except for a few peak weeks in mid summer.
4)Kayaking and floattubing
5)Lakes Mary, Mamie and Twin
6)yes
7)Fishing and Hiking, x-country in winter
8)Extend shuttle to Lake Geaorge; Put in cartop boat launch spots near the bridge in Lake Mary and in Lower Twin.