[pct-l] skip VVR unless...

[david_tibor at yahoo.com (David Tibor)]

... they have sorted out problems since last year.

i think everyone that i ran into last year that went
to VVR in 2004 had a marginal to bad experience. the
SHORT list of what i thought were problems in 2004:

1. a general rudeness - i expect casual and mellow,
but not unprofessionality and sort of a vague level of
rudeness 
2. junior staff being dressed down in front of guests
by other staff. sitting a foot away from the frazzled
young waitress in the breakfast room while she gets
railed on by her boss isn't cool.
3. poor value (i know stuff's expensive, but c'mon...)
and a general feeling that the staff just wanted to
get cash out of you
4. at least one woman feeling uncomfortable about
unwelcome advances of male staffperson
5. and the ultimate insult to a thru-hiker - the store
RESELLING food from the hiker BOX! you HAVE to be
kidding me...

everyone i ran into had a bad story about VVR in 2004.
people who had been there in previous years (e.g. when
hiking the JMT) seemed quite disappointed at the vibe
of the place in 2004.

so unless things are different, i'd say AVOID the
place, and instead carry a bit more food to get to
Reds Meadow. there you can get some reasonably-priced
food at the restaurant, buy some snacks, i assume get
a box mailed (though i forget the details on this),
and BEST OF ALL take a free (donations please!) hot
spring shower whilst drinking a cold Fosters. heaven.

that's how i'd do it in 2005.


		
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