[pct-l] JMT: getting from Lone Pine back to SFO after the trail

[dude at fastmail.ca (dude)]

> Still going over some of the remaining important details of my JMT
> planning, I am trying to figure out how I can get back to San
> Francisco from Lone Pine using public transportation.

I dunno about 100% public transportation, but if you hitch-hike and use 
public transprotation, it should be no problem.

> Is anyone ware of the [Crest] time schedules?

I am not aware of the Crest schedules, nor have I ever used the bus 
service.  AFAIK, the Crest service only sprang into action in 2002 
after the Greyhound service stopped serving this area.  You might try 
calling the Chamber of Commerce for Bishop, Independence, Lone Pine, or 
Mammoth.  One of them will know for sure.

> Also, even if I make it to Bishop with this bus, what will get me to
> San Francisco in time for my plane (apparently neither Greyhound nor
> Amtrack provide service in Bishop)?

This is correct. Niether Amtrack, nor Greyhound provide service on the 
east side of the Sierra.  I suggest that you do not go back to Bishop, 
but rather go back to Yosemite, then Take the YARTS shuttle through the 
park all the way to the town of Merced on the west side of the park, 
which has both Amtrak and Greyhound service to SF.  Like I said, I have 
never used Crest, but from what I understand, it goes to Mammoth and 
you can catch the YARTS shuttle from there.  You should double-check 
this for sure since I have never actually done that.

Another option is to take the Crest Shuttle or Hitch-hike all the way 
to Lake Tahoe, where you will be able to find all kinds of 
transpotation to SF.

I have hitch-hiked from Lone Pine back to Yosemite 2x with no problems 
at all.  Very efficient also.  More efficient than the Crest bus at the 
time.  We did look into the Crest bus and found that we had missed the 
only one for that day and would have had to wait till the next day.


> Is the only option to rent a car? If so, is "one way" rental possible
> in the US (renting in Bishop, drop-off in SFO?)

NO!  There is no one-way rental available from the entire east side of 
the Sierra.  We tried this in 2002 and there only a few local car 
rental places that are not affiliated with national chains and require 
that you return the car to them.

> Or is hitch-hiking an option in California or is it officially
> prohibited?

I dunno if its against the law, but I've done it a TON along 395.  2x 
from Lone Pine and 2x from Yosemite. Both times were super-easy.

 
peace,
dude

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