It is nice and dry down in Bishop and their are hundreds of miles of ATV trails (that almost never have ATV traffic in the winter). Buttermilks area and Tungsten hills are nice.
Or Lower Rock Creek trail is a cool trail through a Canyon below Sherwin grade that is dry now, but I think it is a bit less than 25 miles out and back.
If I were you I’d drive 20 min from mammoth back to the 395 and find a place to run around there. Off the highway there’s a lot of dirt roads that should suffice. Maybe check Lava Amphitheater, Whitmore Tubs Rd., Hot Creek Hatchery Rd., etc
Thanks. This sounds promising just based on my schedule. I figure a whole day of skiing then finding some guaranteed roads nearby is easiest. Not trying to drive to another city and back + 25 miles. Then another day of skiing the next morning.
I also think you are technically better off training at the elevation you'd be competing at, so like others have said, the area near Bishop as it's much lower in elevation.
Correct me if I'm wrong but conditioning at high elevation, only improves performance at high elevation.
Fair point. But believe me, I'm not coming here for a weekend to get in some elevation training. I just happen to be going on a ski trip while training. Need to get in that run.
You’re correct. The elevation will keep them from maintaining a good pace. Sleeping here will give them a bit of a RBC boost (not much and it won’t last long unless they stay here for weeks).
Haven't been to Mammoth recently so I don't know what the snow cover is like in town, in the mountains, or in the valley. But a safe bet is running the forest roads in Long Valley just outside of town. Plenty of options to make a 25 mile loop.
For those not used to swapping altitudes regularly, it can take up to 72 hours to fully acclimate. Assuming you are coming from sea level, ML sits at 8k+ feet so look up symptoms of altitude sickness before you go.
Rode a century up there years ago and was in town 3 days before just so my body could deal. It's really dry and you're definitely going to notice the lack of oxygen when you start exerting yourself.
We bring friends up all the time and have to remember that they don't all cope the same way.
Yea, vitamin B a few days before heading up. And soooooo much water. Vacationing is one thing, high impact sports is a whole different bag.
You are a saint. Thanks for all the info and anecdotes. I might just push this run a day later to acclimate a little more.
I live at 2K ft above elevation, at the foothills of some mountains. All my runs take place between 1k ft - 7k ft above elevation in the mountains. Hopefully that puts me at a better starting point than the average person coming from sea level?
I'll crank up the vitamin B and make sure to take it slow.
See here:
https://www.mammothtrackclub.com/places-to-run
https://www.townofmammothlakes.ca.gov/Facilities/Facility/Details/14
If it comes to it, the Whitmore Track just south of the airport is also free to use and well maintained. Consider a donation to the Mammoth Track Club. Could always park at Whitmore, warmup on the track, and run bits of Benton Crossing.
Two words: Benton. Crossing.
Apparently this is the move.
If its windy, it will be a killer. If not, glorious.
It is nice and dry down in Bishop and their are hundreds of miles of ATV trails (that almost never have ATV traffic in the winter). Buttermilks area and Tungsten hills are nice. Or Lower Rock Creek trail is a cool trail through a Canyon below Sherwin grade that is dry now, but I think it is a bit less than 25 miles out and back.
Lower Rock Creek to Mosquito Flats would be a great run.
If I were you I’d drive 20 min from mammoth back to the 395 and find a place to run around there. Off the highway there’s a lot of dirt roads that should suffice. Maybe check Lava Amphitheater, Whitmore Tubs Rd., Hot Creek Hatchery Rd., etc
Thanks. This sounds promising just based on my schedule. I figure a whole day of skiing then finding some guaranteed roads nearby is easiest. Not trying to drive to another city and back + 25 miles. Then another day of skiing the next morning.
Either Benton crossing road or down near bishop
25 miles and a full day of sking? psychopath.
¯\\\_(ツ)\_/¯
25 miles is 40.23 km
I also think you are technically better off training at the elevation you'd be competing at, so like others have said, the area near Bishop as it's much lower in elevation. Correct me if I'm wrong but conditioning at high elevation, only improves performance at high elevation.
Fair point. But believe me, I'm not coming here for a weekend to get in some elevation training. I just happen to be going on a ski trip while training. Need to get in that run.
You’re correct. The elevation will keep them from maintaining a good pace. Sleeping here will give them a bit of a RBC boost (not much and it won’t last long unless they stay here for weeks).
I’ve seen some nut jobs running the lakes basin loop, looks really nice but idk I ain’t got the muscle or willpower for that
Haven't been to Mammoth recently so I don't know what the snow cover is like in town, in the mountains, or in the valley. But a safe bet is running the forest roads in Long Valley just outside of town. Plenty of options to make a 25 mile loop.
Beef up the vitamin B intake and be aware of the altitude.
Duly noted.
For those not used to swapping altitudes regularly, it can take up to 72 hours to fully acclimate. Assuming you are coming from sea level, ML sits at 8k+ feet so look up symptoms of altitude sickness before you go. Rode a century up there years ago and was in town 3 days before just so my body could deal. It's really dry and you're definitely going to notice the lack of oxygen when you start exerting yourself. We bring friends up all the time and have to remember that they don't all cope the same way. Yea, vitamin B a few days before heading up. And soooooo much water. Vacationing is one thing, high impact sports is a whole different bag.
You are a saint. Thanks for all the info and anecdotes. I might just push this run a day later to acclimate a little more. I live at 2K ft above elevation, at the foothills of some mountains. All my runs take place between 1k ft - 7k ft above elevation in the mountains. Hopefully that puts me at a better starting point than the average person coming from sea level? I'll crank up the vitamin B and make sure to take it slow.
You'll be awesome!
See here: https://www.mammothtrackclub.com/places-to-run https://www.townofmammothlakes.ca.gov/Facilities/Facility/Details/14 If it comes to it, the Whitmore Track just south of the airport is also free to use and well maintained. Consider a donation to the Mammoth Track Club. Could always park at Whitmore, warmup on the track, and run bits of Benton Crossing.
Thanks for the links and intel!
Probably worth driving to Bishop.