Important info/updates before you come to Mammoth

STAY WELL HYDRATED BEFORE you come up, particularly if you are not used to high altitude. You'll be less likely to be affected by the altitude (especially if you plan to partake in the extreme life) if you are well hydrated. Drink lots of water (high altitude and lower air pressure causes fluid to leak from the capillaries- that’s my nurse spill of the day) the days before you come up and throughout your stay on the Mountain.

EAT A HEARTY BREAKFAST before you join us at the Forest Chapel at Noon. Lunch will be immediately following the ceremony, but it might be some time between the ceremony and the drive back up the mountain, before you sit down and eat, so eat your bacon and eggs in the morning...or pack some tater tots in your pocket or purse...

DIRECTIONS might be affected I found out this weekend that they are doing construction on lower Lake Mary Road, which is the straight shot from the Village / Swiss Chalet to the Forest Chapel. I tried going twice on a weekday AND weekend and I sat there forever. SO, IF they are still doing construction next weekend, here are alternate directions. It basically takes you around in a big circle. Farther distance, but it’s a gorgeous drive (what isn’t out here) and I clocked it at 20 minutes and 5.3 miles.

FROM THE VILLAGE… Turn RIGHT onto MINARET RD (away from the mountain)
cross MAIN ST and stay on MINARET until you come to OLD MAMMOTH RD.

FROM THE SWISS CHALET… Turn RIGHT onto MAIN ST from their parking lot.
TURN LEFT onto MINARET ROAD (away from the mountain) Until you come to OLD MAMMOTH RD.

The directions now are the same:

Turn RIGHT onto OLD MAMMOTH RD. You’ll stay on it until it dead ends at the top of a hill.
You will climb this steep winding road for a while. When it dead ends, you’ll have to turn right or left.
The sign will read LAKE MARY ROAD.

Turn RIGHT onto LAKE MARY ROAD (towards Mammoth)
At approximately 0.7 miles you will make a VERY SHARP LEFT turn towards TWIN LAKES.
Once you make the sharp left you’ll see the Lake on your right and cabins on your left.

Park almost immediately ahead on your right (or where you can find parking)
The foot bridge that takes you to the Chapel is on your RIGHT.

Cross the bridge. You’ll walk about 120 steps keeping the lake on your right and you’ll find the Chapel tucked in against the rock face.
To go back, backtrack this drive, turning back LEFT onto OLD MAMMOTH RD (take this winding road back to MINARET)

TURN LEFT onto MINARET RD.
Stay on Minaret, cross MAIN ST and

Follow MINARET RD all the way to the MAIN LODGE to the MAMMOTH MOUNTAIN INN.
(this will be approx. 4 miles)

Once you arrive you’ll see a parking lot on your right, go PAST IT, pass the PANORAMA STATION/Gondola Station and make your first right immediately after you go under the Gondolas and pass the Zip line on your right into the Mammoth Mountain Inn parking lot. You’ll see the deck where we’ll be right in front of you.