[pct-l] Arriving into USA this Sunday !

[msaenz at mve-architects.com (Mike Saenz)]

Ooog...

Geographical distance bears little significance to the term "near" in
LA. It's ALL about traffic.

>From LAX, you have ONE freeway to get to Downtown, the 110.
Getting to Santa Monica (about as "west" as LA gets) from LAX is a
simple bus ride up highway 1, but you're not making progress toward the
PCT/JMT via Yosemite from Santa Monica...

Do yourself a favor: avoid LA. It looks MUCH better from the airplane as
you approach LAX than it does at street level on 6th and Grand...

Depending on your itinerary, you'd do well to get at least as far as The
Valley (San Fernando) which is about 30 minutes up the 405 freeway (at
1-2 am!) or about an hour and a half during rush hour...
If you can get as far as Santa Clarita (up the 5 freeway, which is your
route to Yosemite), you'd have gotten past the urban sprawl of Greater
Los Angeles and the rest of the travel to Yosemite is a pleasant road
trip.

But if Ceanothus is offering her assistance, JUMP ON IT! Having someone
assist you who's familiar with the area and what you need to accomplish
by the time you get to the trail is priceless.

Re: buying stuff in Yosemite: expect prices to be a "bit" higher
there...

As you're arriving this weekend, you may or may not have enough time to
get a good deal on a shuttle flight to Fresno (a very good idea that
Brick suggested). Flights are hovering around $200-$300 round trip from
LA to Fresno.

Again, Good Luck!

M i c h a e l   S a e n z
McLarand Vasquez Emsiek & Partners, Inc.
A r c h i t e c t u r e    P l a n n i n g    I n t e r i o r s
w  w  w  .  m  v  e  -  a  r  c  h  i  t  e  c  t  s  .  c  o  m


-----Original Message-----
From: Marshall Karon [mailto:m.karon@comcast.net] 
Sent: Wednesday, June 16, 2004 8:56 AM
To: cmkudija@earthlink.net; Philip McHugh; pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Arriving into USA this Sunday !

Good idea. But, isn't West LA nearer the airport than downtown and
probably
easier to get to? Why go east then west then east again (like the PCT?).
So,
I'd go there first. Then take public transport to Union Station. Aren't
there other stores even closer to the airport?

Marshall Karon
Portland, OR
m.karon@comcast.net

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <cmkudija@earthlink.net>
To: "Philip McHugh" <usaphilip@acr.net.au>;
<pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net>
Sent: Wednesday, June 16, 2004 8:14 AM
Subject: RE: [pct-l] Arriving into USA this Sunday !


> Another Phil from Oz!
>
> Here's a suggestion for you on arrival in downtown L.A.  - (are you
staying
> in a hotel there, or do you have other options for lodging?)
>
> 1. Rent a car (if you can adjust with jet lag to driving on the wrong
side
> of the street.  Sunday traffic is not horrible.)
> 2. Drive to Adventure 16 in West Los Angeles, about 12 miles from
central
> downtown L.A.   http://www.adventure16.com/discover/locations.html ;
>
http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?country=US&countryid=250&addtohisto
ry=&
>
searchtab=address&searchtype=address&address=11161+W.+Pico+Blvd.&city=Lo
s+An
> geles&state=CA&zipcode=&search=++Search++  for a great selection of
> backpacking gear, food, advice, etc.  Use Mapquest for directions to
this
> location - you should be able to stay on surface streets to get you
there;
> although Mapquest may direct you along a freeway route.
> 3. Alternatively, (a more time consuming alternative), use public
> transport - http://mtaweb5.mta.net/ is the online trip planner for Los
> Angeles Metro (bus & subway).  You'll need to know either
intersections or
> addresses for planning your trip.
> 4. Downtown Los Angeles has little in the way of supermarkets
("downtown"
in
> L.A. is a bit of a misnomer compared to other cities), but you'll
likely
see
> some on your way to Adventure 16.   Major supermarket chains are:
Ralphs
> http://clients.mapquest.com/ralphs/mqlocator , Vons
> http://www.vons.com/Weekly_Process.asp , Albertsons
> https://www.albertsons.com/shared/shop/default.asp (navigate to "store
> locator" link on top of page), Pavilions
> http://www.pavilions.com/StoreLocater_Process.asp ; "organic" stores
are
> Wild Oats and Whole Foods (also represented on the "Westside" of
L.A.).
> 5. Email me off-list if you'd like with more questions.
>
> I hope this is helpful!!
>
> Christine "Ceanothus" Kudija
> PCT partially '94
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: pct-l-bounces@mailman.backcountry.net
> [mailto:pct-l-bounces@mailman.backcountry.net]On Behalf Of Philip
McHugh
> Sent: Wednesday, June 16, 2004 7:40 AM
> To: pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net
> Subject: [pct-l] Arriving into USA this Sunday !
>
> I am also flying in from overseas (Australia) to hike the JMT
southbound,
> leaving Yosemite June 21. As I have decided not to attempt to carry
any
food
> into the USA, I will need to supply in downtown Los Angeles during the
> "Sunday" before departing from Union Station for Yosemite Valley. My
base
> pack weight will be around 10 lbs, with a great effort being made to
keep
> the entire pack weight to no more than 25 lbs.
>
> For my initial supply, which will get me to VVR, could you advise me
as to
> the best place to pick up backpacking foods in Downtown Los Angeles on
a
> Sunday. I usually put together my own dehydrated meals and buy things
off
> the shelf in supermarkets, but this time I might also consider a few
freeze
> dried backpacker meals. Also, as my resupply will have to be made up
of
> whatever I can purchase at VVR, can anyone tell me just what they have
> available to sustain life until I get to Mt Whitney ?
>
> One last thing. I am aware that the snow melt has come quite early. Is
it
> still necessary / wise to carry an ice axe ?
>
> Thanks for your assistance
>
> Philip
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> pct-l mailing list
> pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net
> unsubscribe or change options:
> http://mailman.hack.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l
>
> _______________________________________________
> pct-l mailing list
> pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net
> unsubscribe or change options:
> http://mailman.hack.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l

_______________________________________________
pct-l mailing list
pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net
unsubscribe or change options:
http://mailman.hack.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l