Zero / Nero highlights

[cburnett]

Which places made peoples top 5 / 10 list of places to hang out and rest? why?

[Token Civilian]

I'll bite....

Idyllwild. Cool little town, quite hiker friendly, compact, full service.

Wrighwood. Everybody was SO nice. I was walking around town on my zero day after leaving the hotel, on my way to the trail angels place and some one pulled up and asked if I needed a ride to the trail. Didn't even have my thumb out. Compact, full service, lots of trail angels.

Mammoth. A nice break after the physical stress of the high Sierra. A well stocked, full service town with great outfitters and good food. Sweet free bus around town, PO right next to the Motel 6. The folks at the ski area went out of their way to send a person to the stock room to get some supplies that weren't on the shelf - VERY cool of them. The town is a bit spendy, but worth it if you have the budget.

Etna. Just a cool little town. I really liked it here. Brewery rocked. Cheap/free place to stay at CCTG or the Hiker Hut. Great sunday at the old school soda fountain. Full service and compact. Easy hitch / ride back to trail.

Ashland. Cool vibe, full service, decent bus service around town, reasonable priced motels out by I-5 (if split 2 or 3 ways), quite a few dreds (and not in Cali - you'll be glad for this fact when you get there.)

Top 3 for me - Etna, Idyllwild and Wrightwood. Mammoth and Ashland are honorable mentions.

[Ender]

Aside from the towns (Mammoth Lakes being among the top for me), we took a nero day at Whitewater Creek, which is a bit before the high sierras... it was fantastic. A great stream running with cold clear water and good friends made the day for me. Next day was a bear with a 19 mile, 6000' elevation gain hike to be done, but it was worth every bit.