Environmental Press Releases

Trail Report - Last Updated: Jul 24, 2008 10:10 AM

With the recent opening of Upper Velocity, the Mammoth Mountain Bike Park is 100% open and in awesome condition. New terrain features have just been added to Kamikaze Park. Open trails include:

Easier Trails

Downtown

Paper Route

Shortcut

Uptown

More Difficult Trails

Beach Cruiser

Bearing Straights

Big Ring

Brake Through

Bridge the Gap

Gravy Train

Juniper

Lakes Trail

Lincoln Express

Mountainview

Off the Top

Seven Bridges

Timber Ridge

To Minaret Summit

Trail Home

Most Difficult Trails

Bullet DH

Chainsmoke

DC10

Flow

Follow Me

Kamikaze

Kamikaze Park

Pipeline

Richter

Shock Treatment

Shotgun

Skid Marks

Techno Rock

Velocity DH

 

The Mammoth Mountain Bike Park holds trails for beginner through expert riders and is open from 9am to 6pm daily. Bike Park passes and Kona bike rentals are available at the Adventure Center across the street from Main Lodge or at the Mountain Center in the Village at Mammoth: $39 for adults (13+) and $20 for kids (12 and under). Lower mountain trails are serviced by shuttle between The Village and the Adventure Center every 30 minutes from 9am to 5:30pm.

 

This season the Bike Park will offer guided tours, private lessons and two camps: Freeride Camp, August 1-3, and Women's Camp, August 15-17. Lessons are available daily from 10am to noon and 2-4pm.

 

Road Report - Updated: Jul 25, 2008 5:30 AM

US 395
no traffic restrictions are reported for this area.

SR 203 (main st)
no traffic restrictions are reported for this area.

SR 120 (tioga pass)
no traffic restrictions are reported for this area.

[yosemite natl park]
for yosemite natl park road information call 209-372-0200

SR 108 (sonora pass)
1-way controlled traffic from 2.3 mi east to 2.6 mi east of sonora (tuolumne co) from 0700 hrs to 1700 hrs monday thru friday thru 7/25/08 - due to construction - motorists are subject to 10 minute delays

1-way controlled traffic at various locations from 3.6 mi west of pinecrest to sonora pass summit (tuolumne co) from 0700 hrs to 1630 hrs 7 days a week thru 8/15/08 - due to permit work - motorists are subject to 10 minute delays

Detailed temperatures from around the mountain.

Updated Jul 25 at 5:22 AM

Event Details

July 26, 2008

Villagefest & Rib Cook-Off

Back for its 5th year, this has become a Village tradition! At 8,050 ft this is California's Highest Rib Cook-off! This event also features tribute bands from the 70's. Free.

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Event Details

July 26, 2008

Fireman's Canoe Races & Picnic

This annual event is the Mammoth Lakes Firefighters’ Association’s largest fundraiser. Along with assisting the training of local volunteers, a large portion of the funding is redirected back into the community in the form of scholarships and special needs projects and donations. Festvities start on Saturday at 11am at Horseshow Lake and on Sunday at 11am at Shady Rest Park.

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Event Details

July 29, 2008

Movies Under The Stars

Don't miss "August Rush" under the stars in the Village. 60 seats will be provided. Seating is based on first come first serve. Please bring a blanket as it could get chilly. Make sure to arrive early for a Ben & Jerrys sponsored animation before the movie. Fresh popcorn and cool drinks will be available - all proceeds will benefit the Mammoth Lakes High Schools soccer teams!

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Event Details

July 31, 2008

Movies Under The Stars

Don't miss "The Waterhorse" under the stars in the Village. 60 seats will be provided. Seating is based on first come first serve. Please bring a blanket as it could get chilly. Make sure to arrive early for a Ben & Jerrys sponsored animation before the movie. Fresh popcorn and cool drinks will be available - all proceeds will benefit the Mammoth Lakes High Schools soccer teams!

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Daily Photo - Updated: Jul 24, 2008

Daily Photo Gallery

Fishing Report Details

Hot Creek  

Last Updated Jul 21, 2008 by Harry Blackburn: Game on! 6-7x tippet and match the hatch. Hot Creek remains fishing well. The weeds are starting to fill the channels in a lot of places, playing hide and seek with lots of places for trout to rest. Still a strong hatch of Caddis and the wind has not been a factor lately!!!!. The Caddis, still a few little Yellow Stone flies, More Trico's in the morning and evening! PMD'S and Baetis. Fish are starting to become more selective and a good drift is always productive.

Nymphing Patterns: Surface emergers, olive/brown scuds, Caddis emerger patterns. San Juan Worms, Pt's. Brassie's Beadhead stonefly patterns are all Standard pattern to start with. 18-22s

Dry Fly Patterns: Bwo's,Schroeder's parachute caddis, Brook's Hot Creek caddis, Headlight Caddis, Low profile caddis, Brooks Baetis sprouts, size 18-22s Headlight yellow Sallies 16s PMDs size 16s, Female compara duns tricos size 18-22s

Attractor Patterns: Small stimulators orange/yellow 18's

Fishing Report Details

Upper Owens  

Last Updated Jul 21, 2008 by Harry Blackburn: Song remains the same. A little more crowded. Etiquette is a must as there is plenty of area to fish here, Water levels are low, as little to no water is being deverted from the Grant lake area via the Eastportal. Caddis and Tricos morning and evenings lots of smaller wild fish taking the dry flies, Both the upper and lower sections are holding plenty of planters as DFG has be planting on a regular schedule. The Mosquitoes are out bring bug repellent!! The area from the Benton bridge up to the power lines as been producing. The water is low and clear once you get above the Hot Creek. Tribs best in the mornings and evenings. Larger fish holding in the pools and cutbank areas. Remember the area above the Benton Bridge is under Special Regulations.

The Upper Owens River is under special regulations. It is best to look at your CADFG regulation booklet for current regulations.

Nymphing Patterns: Beadhead Prince Nymphs, Bead Pheasent Tails, Hares Ears, San Juan worms, Are all good flies to start with.

Dry Fly Patterns: Adams, Orange Stimulators, Bwos, Baetis, caddis patterns in size 16-20s

Streamer: Egg sucking leech, Black or Olive Wolly Buggers, Muddler Minnows you will need some weight to get them down no dip and strip necessary. Size 8.

Fishing Report Details

Crowley Tributaries  

Last Updated Jul 21, 2008 by Harry Blackburn: No change. Water levels have come down and the insects are out. Now is the time, if you want to make an adventure. Stoneflies Caddis, Mayflies, Midge. Water has slowed down and the fish will be in the pools. Approach with some stealth.

Nymphing Patterns: Hares ears, Soft Hackles, PT's, Prince Nymphs. Micro Mayflies lighten Bugs and Midges.

Dry Fly Patterns: Caddis and Mayflies patterns will take fish midday. Try a orange or yellow stimulator! size 16-18.

Streamer: Larger streamers 6-8s.

Fishing Report Details

Lower Owens  

Last Updated Jul 21, 2008 by Harry Blackburn: Hot, as in the weather. It is best to have your line wet early and late! Flows have been holding at the 350 mark making wading tough. Be perpared, by noon it will be hot day-time highs nearing a 100. If you plan to fish, look for the seams, eddies, in the runs to hold the fish. Mostly Caddis,Beatis action. You will need some weight to get your nymphs down if your nymphing. Good Trico and Caddis action this time of year,

Nymphing Patterns: Try nymphing in the mornings with WD-40s and Brassies, then go to Bead Head Pheasant Tails, Olive Surface Emergers, Barr's wet emergers or RS Emergers. Sizes 18-20s 18-22s.

Dry Fly Patterns: Small midge patterns, bwos Beatis, Trico and Caddis pattern 18-20s.

Attractor Patterns: Small Stimulator, Trudes, Wulffs.

Fishing Report Details

East Walker  

Last Updated Jul 21, 2008 by Harry Blackburn: Flows remain near and around 200cfs. The water temps have climbed to the low 70s. Morning will be your best bet! A strong trico spinner fall along with adult Damsel and Caddis. I fished up there for three days this last week with these results. Weather is very warm! Water temps are the largest factor! Fishing was fair at best. Mornings witnessed the most action with mostly smaller fish and a few larger fish feeding on the surface taking the Trico spinners and the females duns. Some fish jumping on the adult Damsel hoovering over the stream. The East Walker is not an easy fishery this time of year but can produce trophy size trout and maybe a fish of a life time. Good drifts and solid understanding of Tail-Water fisheries! Remember high water temps will strain the fish and may harm them. If water temps are in the 70s it would be best to move on to another fishery.

Check out the photo in the 08 fishing gallery of the Trico spinner fall.

Nymphing Patterns: Pheasant Tails, Olive Surface Emergers, Brassies, Red Copper Johns, Bead Head Black and Olive WD-40s, Disco Midges, Barr's Wet Emergers, Zebra Midges, Olive & Natural Birds Nests, Prince Nymphs, and Green Nori's Caddis. San Juan Worm (red) size 14-16.

Dry Fly Patterns: BWO, PMDs, Hemingway Caddis, EC Caddis, Schroeder's Para Caddis and Adams in sizes 16-18, Orange and Yellow stimulators sizes 14-16.

Streamer: Try Muddler Minnows, Wool Head Sculpins, Bunny Leech's, Woolly Buggers and Dave's Chubs. Use size 6s and see what happens.

Fishing Report Details

Crowley Lake  

Last Updated Jul 21, 2008 by Harry Blackburn: Good news, Crowley lake is waking up! Bad news is it will be a zoo with boats!!! Most of the boats will be camped out on McGee Bay for the next few weeks. The lake level is still dropping!! Overall conditions have improved. This is a normal pattern for this time of year, given the lakes level and the weather pattern, heav-it and leave-it will be the practice in McGee Bay! The Lake Born Mayfly Caliibaetis have make their appearance along with Damsel flys. Water Temps are now in the mid to upper 70s, at the surface, on most parts of the lake by midday. The shallow areas will be the target were cooler water sources can be found. Nothing new here. The algae is the lagest factor along with warm water in the main body of the lake! if the wind blows from the West, the fish bite the best. If the wind blows from the East, the fish bite the least. Strip streamer's will produce, as some larger fish have moved into McGee.

*****Use common sense when driving on the backside of the lake, as there are areas where the ground is very soft, and a tow truck will be costly.

Nymphing Patterns: Gray Midges with Black or red and wire have been the best, size 16-18s. Callibaetis Nymphs size 16. Brown and Olive leeches getting some good strikes!!

Dry Fly Patterns: Adams

Streamer: Olive leeches and Wolly Buggers, Damsel fly Nymphs. Try a dropper fly above your streamer with intermediate sinking line.

Fishing Report Details

Mammoth Lakes Basin  

Last Updated Jul 21, 2008 by Harry Blackburn: Great weather continues at the Lakes Basin and all are well stocked with the exception of Horseshoe. Winds have been calm. Twin lakes & Mamie should have some Calibaetis action mid morning, Also, try the Evening as some ants and beetle winged Termites are getting blown into the lakes. The wild fish will come to the surface along with some Alper's. Try an Adams dry Fly and a PT dropper or a Bead head Zebra midge. If you want to get away, the lakes up from Mary toward Duck pass might be the ticket.

Use streamer patterns in the Olives, Black, Brown. Olive & Browns tend to be the best producer. A local favorite is the Doc's Twin Lake Special. A dropper fly behind the streamer can work well. Beadhead Prince or PT and Hares Ear all can help your odds.

Nymphing Patterns: PTs Nymphs, Beadhead Hares Ears, Zebra Midges, sizes 16-20s

Dry Fly Patterns: Adult midges in the evenings when it glasses off or if it glasses off. size 16-20 patterns

Streamer: Your favorite Black or olive Wolly Buggers. Size 10-12s

Fishing Report Details

San Joaquin  

Last Updated Jul 21, 2008 by Harry Blackburn: Prefect conditions along with a great view of wildflowers. A little crowded on the weekends. Most of the insect hatching is occurring in the later afternoons. Caddis and Mayflies along with some Stone flies. Campgrounds will fill on the weekend and be busy throughout August. The San Joaquin is the Jewel of the Sierras as you are driving into the Backcountry in a true alpine setting! The wild fish are on the smaller size but the colors are great and there willing to pound a dry fly!!

Nymphing Patterns: BH PTS, Prince, Micro Stonefly, Zebra midges

Dry Fly Patterns: Adams, Humpies, lightCahills Stimulator in Orange & Yellows, Size 14-16s

Attractor Patterns: Royal Coachman, Royal Wluff's, Trudes in sizes 16-20s

Fishing Report Details

Bridgeport Reservoir  

Last Updated Jul 21, 2008 by Harry Blackburn: Try fishing near Rainbow Point. Water is clear near that end of the lake. Large fish slurping on the surface taking Blood Midges and Mayflies on the calm mornings. The lake is about 2/3s full. Rainbow Point and near the private boat ramp, in 12' ft of water, adult blood midges have produced some nice fish on the surface, mid morning. Calibaetis are poping and the damsels flies are out. Fish are spread throughout the area. Look for some large rising fish taking adult midges and Calibaetis on the surface.

Nymphing Patterns: Red, Brown, Black/copper wire, midge patterns are working the best. around the 10-14 ft depth. Pts, Hares ears, Damsel fly patterns

Dry Fly Patterns: Adult Midge Some Large(red) ones and Calibaetis Patterns to rising fish.

Attractor Patterns:

Streamer: Large brown or Black leech patterns or hornbergs with a Hares Ear dropper. Damsels patterns,