St. Anton #37 at Mammoth Mountain, Mammoth Lakes - Trip Check List http://www.mammothcondos.com

Here is a check list you can review before your trip.  I rely on this myself. I will update this list as I forget stuff. Last update 10/1/07.

Auto Check List

• map to Condo
• Get the combo to office lock box for late arrival - your key is in the lock box
• map to Supermarket
• CalTrans Winter Driving Tips
  • Make sure your brakes, windshield wipers, defroster, heater and exhaust system are in top condition.
  • Check your antifreeze and be ready for colder temperatures. The parking garage at St. Anton will minimize freezing but extra antifreeze is a good precaution. Replace your radiator cap every 2 years! Inspect your hoses and belts Carry a gallon of water for your radiator if possible.
  • Check Tire Pressure - This is a  hassle but I did get a flat once on the way to Mammoth due to tire pressure.
  • Oil should be 10w/30
  • If you don't have Four Wheel Drive (FWD) - carry chains. Make sure they are the proper size for your tires and are in working order. You might also want to take along a flashlight, gloves and chain repair links. Chains must be installed on the drive wheels. Make sure you know if your vehicle is front or rear wheel drive. Install the chain at home in your driveway before you leave so you know how they work. The chances are extremely remote that you will need chains with FWD. I have never seen these conditions.   It is rare to have snow in Lone Pine / Bishop. A more common place to have a chain stop is 15 miles south of the Mammoth 203 junction. Crews can be hired to put your chains on at these points chain-up points. If it snows hard in the Valley, try to follow large trucks. Can act as snowplows because they are heavy. The drivers of these trucks are usually experienced.  The trucks will light your way when visibility is reduced.
  • If you get in "white out" conditions stop your car on the side of the road if you can see / find the side of the road.  Many people don't chain-up and they end up doing 360's in the middle of the road or spinning off the road into snow banks. You don't want to hit them in a white out. If you can't see, don't drive. Visibility will get better if you wait.
  • Where there is snow or ice in intersections stay about 5-10 feet back of the intersection. It is common to see cars doing 360's in the intersections. You don't want to be too close to the action.  When stopping always keep a good distance between you and the car in front of you and keep an eye in the mirror for people who are sliding behind you. You want to have some space to pull forward if it looks like you will be rear ended.
  • Carry  an ice scraper or commercial deicer, a wisk broom for brushing snow off your car, a shovel to free your car if it's "snowed in", sand or burlap for traction if your wheels should become mired in snow and an old towel to clean your hands.
  • It is also a good idea to take along water, food, warm blankets and extra clothing. A lengthy delay will make you glad you have them. Weather or mechanical breakdowns will cause you to need these items.
  • Coat your wind shield with RainX. This product repeals rain, sleet and snow.
  • If you drive on roads with snow, then park your car, your wheels may get ice frozen on them and this may cause you wheels to be out of balance until the ice freezes off. This out of balance condition causes your wheels to shimmy a bit a high speeds but this will go away once you get to lower altitude.
  • If you travel to Mammoth often and you are an AAA member, add the extended towing option. If you break down in Cartago like I did you will be glad you upgraded. Depending on what breaks you may be looking at getting towed over 100 miles. Millers Towing in Lone Pine 760 876 4600 is a good place to stop along the way/to be towed to if you have mechanical problems. They are next to the airport in Lone Pine. They are honest and they tow and repair.
• Route / Traffic
  • Getting out of Los Angeles - On Weekdays depart LA between 10:00am - 1:00pm if you can, otherwise, leave around 7:00pm. Consider using the 110 to the 5 to the 14 if the 405 is moving slow. Once you are on the 14 traffic usually moves along. Click on this link for a traffic report -  http://www.sigalert.com .   
• Wind  / Ice
  • Strong winds in Mojave. If you are carrying items on your roof top here is where you will lose them. You may want to stop in Palmdale just to make sure things are secure before you reach Mojave. I mention this because I had a "freeway flyaway incident" 5 miles south of Mojave
  • Use extreme caution when you are near the intersection of Benton Crossing and 395  (click for map).  There is a Green Church on the corner of Benton Crossing and 395. Benton Crossing is very close to the Mammoth Airport on flat 65mph boring section of road. Many accidents and deaths have occurred in this area because of ice and strong cross winds. It is not uncommon to see more than one car going off the road here.  If you do spin off the road, be very careful not to get hit by other cars.  After all, you spun off the road so you should always expect others to follow.
• Gas along the way :
  • Palmdale Palmdale Blvd. Ramp(Cheap gas - Arco next to Del Taco - one restroom outside needs a quarter)
  •  Palmdale Costco Exit Avenue L. This gas is the cheapest anywhere. Drop someone off to pick up some hotdogs while you fill up!.
  • Mojave (ARCO - Reasonable gas, single restroom inside with long wait, consider using restrooms at Mc Donalds first)
  • Bishop (Giggle Springs-next to ARCO good store/excellent restrooms. Gas expensive.)
  • Bishop (ARCO bad restrooms outside - The ARCTIC ARCO restrooms.)
  • Bishop (Paiute Palace - north end of town cheapest gas - one restroom inside)
  • Mammoth (very expensive! Top off in Bishop if you must to avoid)
• Food along the way
  • Costco - Palmdale Ave L and Hwy 14. Hotdogs, pizza for really cheap! (2 star)       
  • In N Out - Palmdale 142 E. Palmdale Blvd. (2 star)
  • Mc Donalds - Mojave MapIt! ( 2 star)
  • Mt. Whitney Restaurant - Breakfast and Dinner but breakfast is best;  Lone Pine corner of Hwy. 395 & Whitney Portal Rd. ( 3 star)
  • Amigos Mexican Restaurant - Bishop 285 North Main Street Bishop (11am - 9:00pm) 760 872 2189 (5 star)
• Speed Traps! in 10 miles before and after Bishop( Watch your speed coming down the hill; Observe all speed limits in Bishop), Lone Pine, Big Pine, Independence, Red Rock and Mojave(exiting/entering) they depend on you for their revenue. Don't speed once you hit Lone Pine unless you have a radar detector.  Keep an eye on fast approaching cars from the rear they can be CHP. CHP can nail you on two lane sections coming from the opposite direction. Don't be the first speeding car in a pack when you see an oncoming car going the other way on a two lane or highway that is not divided.   Most tickets get issued 5-10 miles south of Bishop and 5-10 miles north of Bishop. In January 06 I got a ticket in entering RedRock Canyon with my radar detector on. The CHP was headed the other way and coming around a corner with his radar on. My radar detector alarmed. I hit the brakes, but it was too late. He was kind - 80 in a 65.  Don't drink. The CHP has pulled me over for out of date tags at 1:00am. They stick their head in the window of cars they pull over for small violations and sniff the breath of drivers looking for the smell of beer on your breath. Radar detectors work great from Palmdale to Junction 203 but use them as a tool. The CHP knows people have radar detectors so they are adapting.  They go "hunting" in hilly curvy places where radar detectors can't give you early warning. Radar is great if you are on a divided highway on flat ground.  I have to say, all the CHP officers were really nice and they are brave souls driving alone at night in the middle of nowhere with backup far away.
• CDs / Books on Tape for the drive. Click on the link and then go to or link to your local library site to check out the tapes Click here for my favorites..
• Radar Detector - These work really well on the way to Mammoth ( http://www.valentine1.com).  Operate your radar detector in "all bogies mode".  You will get X band false positives in the small towns and also in Cartigo, a small town just south of Owens Lake where they have radar speed readout on the posted speed limit signs.
• Box of Tissues. Because of the climate change I always need these for some reason.
• Beach Towel - for general purpose use in the car.
• Confirm your reservation before you depart.
• Confirm your car has 6' 8" clearance or call the office to make sure you can get parking outside the garage. If you have a Car Top Yakima or Tule case click here. Bring keys to your locking racks. Make sure your the backs of your  board bindings are all the way down if you have ski racks.
• Car sick bag for kids... It happens.
• Flash light
• Cell Phone + AC charger for cell phone ( And they work great on the mountain and in the condo )
• Water. Hydrate yourself and your kids before you get to 8,000 ft to prevent altitude headache. If you are prone to altitude headache, consider taking 2 advil and 16 - 32 oz of water about Mojave.

Food Check list

• Plan your meals ahead of time - look at kitchen items
• Drinks - we have blender and hot tub

Ski / Boarding Check List

• Make Lesson Reservations at Canyon Lodge
• Review lift ticket packages
• Ski Cap
• Helmet
• Beanie to go under helmet
• Whistle
• Ski Goggles
• Neck Gator (you will need this!)
• Socks
• Thermal Underwear or sweats (synthetic material is best)
• Gloves / Glove liners
• Sweater
• Jacket
• Boarding / Ski Pants
• Boots
• Tools for Snowboard bindings
• Spare parts for Snowboard bindings
• Whistle 
• Skis / Board - Waxed
• Poles
• Fanny Pack/Backpack
• Sun Screen
• Chap Stick
• Camera and Film
• Sun Glasses
• Anti-fog Applicant for Goggles
• Snow Seal your Snow Board boots / Snowboard pants / Gloves
• Wrist Guard ( a must for snowboarding kids / smart adults )
• water bottle
• after ski boots
• ace bandage (for snowboarder wrist or skier knee - just in case)
• Hand ski / board Wax (Wax your board each day!)
• Two Way Radios

Financial

• Credit Card
• Costco Card for Palmdale Gas at Avenue L
• AAA Card w/ extended towing option
• ATM Card
• Calling Card for long distance calls in the condo
• Driver's License
• Cash
• Von's Club Card (If you don't have one, go to the customer service desk at the front of the store and fill one out it could be worth the 5 min. of your time )
• Mammoth Season Pass
• Medical Insurance Card
• Medical Care Authorization (if you bring kids that don't belong to you)

Other 

• CDs, MP3s, Ipod
• VHS / DVD Videos
• Bathing Suits
• Sandals for Hot Tub
• Aspirin for altitude headache - Drink water to avoid headache
• decongestant
• lotion for dry skin (some lotion in condo)
• Extra Nintendo 64 Games and extra controllers (we have 1 game and 2 controllers in the condo)
• TV Guide
• lock for Garage Locker
• Paper,Crayons, and Games for kids
• Quarters for pool table or washer. Wet Ski clothes can be put in the dryer at lunch time.
• Laundry Soap
• Blow Dryer to dry your hair and preheat your boots, and gloves.
• Pillows if you would like your own. We have pillows in the condo.
• Large Plastic Totes ~24" x ~ 18" x 12" (found at Costco,Home Depot) fit just right under the bunk bed and can be used to store extra food and ski stuff. 
• Check Calendar in Current Issue of Mammoth Times
• Lap Top Computer / Local Mammoth Phone number of your Internet Service Provided / 802.11 wireless card (may work in condo)

Hiking

• Boots
• Waterbottle
• moleskin
• knife
• Sun Screen
• Sun Glasses
• Topo
• Cell Phone
• Chap Stick
• Hat
• Mosquito Repellant
• Hiking Socks (1 pair per day )
• Pack
• Camera

BackPacking (in addition to hiking check list)

• Pack
• Sleeping Bag
• Insulite Pad
• Cup
• Pans
• Matches in ziplock
• Rope
• Bear Canister
• Flash Light
• Rain Jacket / Plastic poncho
• Plastic Trash Bags to cover packs when it rains
• Fishing License
• Fishing pole
• Fishing rigging
• stove and fuel
• utensils
• can opener
• tarp
• tent
• spare parts for pack
• needle nose pliers for fish
• extra shoe lace
• water filter
• Tea / Coffee
• First Aid kit
• Extra Zip Lock
• Wilderness permit (go to ranger station near off 203 near Old Mammoth Road)

Owner Check List Items

• Keys to Condo
• Owner Closet Keys