SummitPost.org

Hi, does anybody know if it's possible to get to Bodie this time of year? Looks like the 270 might be closed, but wasn't sure. Is there a reasonable approach on foot, or snow show, from somewhere? Thanks for any tips!

granite4brains,
Not sure this helps, but here goes:
http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=509
"Bodie Road, Route 270, is the most direct way to reach Bodie. Bodie road and other access roads are closed seasonally to vehicles due to hazardous travel conditions. Call Cal-trans at 1-800-427-7623 for current road conditions. Often the only way to reach the park during the winter is with skis, snowshoes, or snowmobiles. During the Spring and or the Fall it is possible that you may have to hike 1.5 miles into the park dependent upon weather and road conditions.
The park is closed during periods of inclement weather."

This might be interesting:
http://adventuresportsjournal.com/snow_ ... prudence-2
http://forums.mammothmountain.com/viewt ... 21&t=12737
Good luck on your adventure!
Salud,
JM

Haven't been out that way in quite a few years, but it was closed in late October 2004 when I wanted to visit the place after a climb in the local hills. It typically gets closed in winter after the first good snowfall - that area gets a lot of snow (as much as Mammoth Mtn), and its just too big a hassle to keep it open. A good rule of thumb is if Tioga Pass is closed, the 270 will also be closed.

You might also try accessing it from the road on the north side of Mono Lake (the 167?). The turnoff is about 5 miles in from the 395, and it would make a little shorter trip than off of 395 (about 11 miles vs 20 miles). If you're a really good XC skier and want to overnight, it would make a great trip in good weather conditions (no trees back there, so very little wind/storm protection).

But it is an interesting place to visit, so if you're in the area, you have a 1/2 day free, and the road is open (spring through fall) make an effort to go check it out.

Thanks guys. JM, those links were very helpful. Sounds like we're better off waiting until the road is open. A potential 20+ mile round trip snow shoe sounds like a bit more than we were looking for! Park hours are kind of a bummer too. Was hoping to get a night sky, milky way photo over a snowy Bodie Ghost Town.

Will check it out when the road opens for sure. After 15+ years of hanging out on the East Side there's something wrong with the fact I haven't been to Bodie yet.

There's lots of places like Bodie on the East Side. Years ago I started developing alist of places that I could visit if I had some extra time (climb ended early, waiting for an open permit spot the the Whitney Zone, etc). One of the cool places was Manzanar before it was developed into a full-on national monument - you could go through the old stone gate then walk around through out the brush and get a feel for what was there - dirt roadways, building outlines, pottery/dishwear shards, an occasional old shoe or other item, graded patches (gardens?), and an outline of what appeared to be a baseball field out back(!!!). Pretty cool stuff. Amazing what history there is out there that most people just drive by on their travels up and down 395.

FWIW, Ansel Adams's photographs of life in the Mazanar internment camp (euphemism) include a photo of a baseball game, among other aspects of daily life, possibly on that field.

http://www.loc.gov/pictures/collection/manz/highlights.html look under "sports"

Read the "about," "background," and "book" links for context.

From the CHP website:

SR270 (BODIE) RE-OPENED AS OF 12/23/13 AT 0856HR

Thanks for that Greg. Your post made us decide to go check it out and it was indeed open. Surprising number of people back there too. First visit to Bodie. Loved it!