[pct-l] VVR resupply info

[Ellen Shopes]

I've been to both Muir Ranch and VVR a couple of times in the past 3 years. 
>From my perspective, the costs are about equivalent.  The store at VVR is 
more equipped to help fishermen resupply (lures, line, etc) than act as a 
place for hikers to resupply.  They do a great job meeting the needs of all 
comers, but their remote location does enforce some limits.  Here's what I 
see as the choices:
    MTR:  very organized in how they treat your shipment.  They can find 
your resupply rapidly, and sell fuel by the ounce for white gas and alcohol 
stoves.  As Brian mentioned, they are friendly and have set up a nice shaded 
picnic area for hikers to sort thru their gear and lunch.  They have a very 
limited 'store', no food service, but we bought a hat there to replace one 
we had lost.  Friends were allowed to use their internet service (not sure 
what they were charged).  They generally won't let you use any guest 
facilities (including the toilet).   They did have water available from a 
spring tap.  It's a very short detour off the trail to get there.  The hot 
springs are a nice detour if you're sick of feeling grungy.
    VVR is a long detour off the trail.  Either you head down a different 
trail (Bear Ridge?) or hike around the lake (about 5 miles) or rely on the 
ferry service (twice a day and worth the price!).  They are super friendly, 
but a bit less organized.  Never had problems getting my resupply, but they 
sometimes were busy with multiple tasks, or didn't have it as organized (?). 
They do provide laundry facilities (one washer and one drier) outside the 
store, and showers, all for a fee.  That's the thing with VVR; folks have 
been known to rack up a huge bill, between the ferry, the package holding 
fee, laundry, shower, eating at the small restaurant, buying stuff at the 
store, etc.  They had a sat phone you could use (again for a fee).  They had 
a nice campfire outside the restaurant/bar for socializing in the evening. 
They let us set up our tent in the woods nearby, or they had a policy of 
one-night-free in the canvas bunking tent for hikers.  They also provided 
one free beer on arrival.  The main food I remember in the store was chips, 
beer, soda, and candy.   They had a wonderful set of registers with comments 
from hikers coming thru.  The food at the restaurant was 'greasy grill' fare 
(I guess good if you are a starving thru hiker!).  They do a good job with 
hamburgers.  I had them make us some grilled ham and cheese sandwiches for 
the road; those sandwiches easily fueled us up the hill the next morning! 
VVR did let some hikers 'earn their way', ie, work off their bill.  Our 
second time there, we caught the morning ferry to VVR, ate, sorted resupply, 
showered and did laundry, and were able to catch the afternoon ferry back to 
the trail.
    I guess the short of it is that they both have good points, depending on 
how you want to resupply!
Ellen

> --- On Tue, 12/23/08, kmurray at pol.net <kmurray at pol.net> wrote:
>
> From: kmurray at pol.net <kmurray at pol.net>
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] VVR resupply info
> To: pct-l at backcountry.net
> Date: Tuesday, December 23, 2008, 11:21 PM
>
> Hey y'all...the info I have read so far on VVR is incorrect. I looked
> online and found that resupply pickup is now $18.00. Make sure you read
> this so you get your packages:
> http://edisonlake.com/site/content/view/25/42/
> Also the fare has gone up to $10.00 one way for the ferry
> http://edisonlake.com/site/content/view/26/43/
> I'm wondering if it would be cheaper to just buy all the food and stuff
> there as opposed to having a package sent for resupply. Food + UPS +
> pickup at VVR...hhhmmmmm
> Also people with dogs:
> http://edisonlake.com/site/content/view/29/56/
> patti
> ===============================================Patti, a little
> perspective on VVR:
>
> VVR is a tremendous convenience for many PCT/JMT hikers. Most (but not
> all) have a great time there. When you consider that they have to cart
> all the packages 30-some miles on mountain roads, in their private
> vehicles, that is still a deal. Muir Trail Ranch, just up the trail,
> charges $45.
> 5 or so years back, the resort was bought by Jim Clement, a
> mountaineer/hiker who changed the focus from being a cowboy haven, to a
> hiker haven. He has struggled to make it financially, partially because
> of what he was left with.
> If you think that running such a place is, day in and day out, a real
> dream, one might consider the previous owner, Butch, who ended his
> tenancy with a gun in his mouth.
>
> I've seen Jim do all sorts of things to help hikers out, at his own
> expense. He is an environmentalist, not common in the vendors in this
> part of the backcountry.
>
> I'm not sure your point about the dogs. People who don't/won't control
> their dogs should leave them home. Virtually no one comes in off the
> trail with a dog, as the parks to the south don't allow them. Jim also
> has to console 4-5 people a year who wander out with their dogs, who
> wander off, never to be seen again. Denali was a very nice dog.
>
>
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