Easy Coast Into VVR

The "Trail" to VVR

We're anxious to get out early to make the taxi, a light brekkie of coffee, biscotti and bars and we're off at 7:30, make the trail cutoff by 8 and as we approach the short trail down to the taxi landing I see an older hiker packing up a lotta gear slowly, I stop to chat while Elena goes on to keep a place in line for the taxi.

We talk for a minute about the trail and the taxi, it's no problem to get aboard, they have plenty of room and it's still early so time to chat, we talk about resupply and I mention the spread sheet kept by a guy in San Francisco named John Ladd which helps hikers coordinate resupply to keep the cost down, and he says "oh, that's me, I'm John Ladd", what a pleasant surprise to see him out on the trail like this, also headed into VVR to rest and resupply.

He's camped in a great spot, right on Mono Creek, it feeds the nearby Edison Lake and is quite a flow of crystal clear water into the lake. John is recruiting for the JMT hiker survey for 2017, trying to gather info on hikers, their health, illnesses on the trail, blisters, mileage, weight loss etc, I get the link to fill it out when we're done.

VVR Water Taxi

On to the ferry landing, there's a primitive looking bar set up nearby, it looks like someone had a party last night by all the empty bottles around. There are a few hikers around waiting for the taxi, doesn't look like too many and they basically carry everyone who shows up.
It's a beautiful trip across the lake, the taxi doesn't move too quickly and we have plenty of time to admire the views, the Vermilion in the valley eludes me though, and the taxi driver doesn't seem to know too much either.

We're at VVR just after 10am, they keep the kitchen serving brekkie for the arriving hikers, good thing 'cause we're getting hungry by now, the special is blueberry pancakes with bacon, yum yum, John sits down with us and offers us his shower, he got the last room available and we'd be happy to take the opportunity, the showers (like everything else) cost bucks.

Mono Creek Spills Out Into Lake Edison

At lunch we meet a couple named Katya and Jim, I overhear them talking and discover that she's Russian, it's gonna be a lighter lunch, just a salad and some beers. VVR has no wifi for now, we hear conflicting stories of why not, one that the dish got knocked around in the snow and wind from winter, which sounds a bit dubious, and another that they got hacked and don't wanna offer the service for now, which sounds more likely.

There's a group consensus that we need wifi or a cell signal, so we pile into John's car in search of "can you hear me now". Alas no signal close to VVR, despite rumours to the contrary, so John agrees to drive down the (rough and narrow) road into the valley, where Mono Resort has rumors of signal. Alas still no cell service, the camp store claims to have wifi for $5 so John signs up and we share the password, only Elena's phone get's it to work and the rest of us are outa luck, bummer, I wanted to check messages as well.

 John Ladd, a Fixture on the JMT

Back at VVR and steak is looking good for dinner, and copious quantities of wine, they bought a nice case of local CA wine, mostly gone now and we get the last bottle, other options are not so great and it's a holiday weekend so no resupply for VVR till Monday, we'll have to make do with cheap wine.
John is leaving on the morrow, we use that advance knowledge to grab his room for the next night to get a night in a bed and a hot shower.