Posted by Northern Calif Dave on Thursday, June 01, 2006 at 4:05PM :
In Reply to: Coming to Holister; Question for you California guys. posted by Keith in Washington on Thursday, June 01, 2006 at 1:30PM :
Keith:
You don't have a ton of choices here. US 395 would be a great route from Mono Lake on up to Reno, but Hwy 120 over Tioga is still closed due to snow. Tioga is very used to campers, although the grade into Lee Vining/Mono is steep but multiple lanes. Remember Tioga is about 10,000ft. If you do get over Tioga by then, there is a town called Bodie off 395 thats interesting. Genuine old west ghost town about 5 miles off 395. Looks like someone just walked away one day and never came back.
Hwy 4/49 (north through Angels Camp, Sonora, Jackson, Placerville) is a great drive through the rolling hills of the gold country. Take it easy and enjoy the drive. Wine taste and antique shop along the way and no problem. Cut over the mountains on Highway 88, then turn north at Gardnerville, NV. Or 50 takes you over Echo Summit, through South Lake Tahoe to Carson City. Hwy 4 over the mountains may not be open past Bear Valley due to snow. Check with CalTrans.
If your really concerned and want to make time, backtrack to Hwy 99, into Sacramento then over I-80 direct to Reno.
Yosemite Park is spectacular right now with so much water pouring over the falls. Once in every 10-20 years kind of thing. Very worth seeing in the Valley. The higher elevations might not be open yet, although Glacier Point may have opened already, and worth the drive up there. Bring a coat.
Follow Ups: