Syncro Safari, Mammoth 2000
This site contains information relating to the
Syncro Safari
August 26 - September 2, 2000
This event is a planned gathering of Syncronauts (owners of all-wheel-drive, Vanagon Syncros) from near and far to do some off-road trail driving and get to know fellow Syncronauts.
Mammoth? .... What's Mammoth?
The town of Mammoth Lakes sits at about 8,000ft in the eastern Sierra Nevada mountains in California. It is home to the Mammoth Mountain ski resort and is just 35 miles east of Yosemite Village (as the crow flies). Our group's home base will be a campsite north of Mammoth Lakes about 15 miles up US 395. If you live in Los Angeles or the Bay Area in California, chances are you've been to Mammoth before, most likely for downhill skiing. It's an easy 3/4 day drive from either of these places.
Why the Mammoth area?
There's so much to see and do in the Mammoth area it's incredible, but mostly I choose Mammoth because it was close to home. After driving to Moab, Utah for the 1st Syncro Safari and then to the Yellowstone area last year, Yvonne (my wife) pretty much insisted on something not more than one day away. Lucky for us, we can get to some gorgeous places in the Sierras within a day!!
Where can I find out more about the Mammoth Lakes area?
Try these: The Mammoth Lakes Website Devils Postpile National Monument
Yosemite National Park Bodie State Historical Park More Bodie
Mono Lake Mammoth Mountain Ski Resort / Bike Park
What sort of activites and attractions are in the Mammoth Lakes area?
Summer activities include hiking, fishing, canoeing, mountain biking, horseback riding, rock climbing, hot air ballooning, in-line skating, golf, tennis, orienteering/ropes course, sail boarding, nightlife, jet skiing, rock collecting, bicycle touring, swimming, movies, arts & crafts and music festivals (depends on schedule), photography, bird / animal watching (maybe bears!)
Site seeing alone provides beautiful views everywhere you look. Nearby attractions include:
Yosemite National Park(entrance 45 miles, valley 90 miles), hot springs, fish hatchery, historical museums, Mono Lake, Mono Lake tufa, and Mono Lake Canoe Tours, Devils Postpile National Monument, volcanic craters (Inyo Craters, Mono Craters, Panum Crater), earthquake fault, Black Point Fissures, Obsidian Dome, Bodie (ghost town) California State Historic Park, Death Valley National Park (100 miles), decent restaurants, Alabama Hills (site of many western movies), and many historic sites like the Mammoth Consolidated Gold Mine, and Mill City, Stamp Mill ruins & Knight wheel
How far is Mammoth Lakes?
Mammoth Lakes is 309 miles north of Los Angeles and 260 miles east of San Francisco. If you're not in these places you can see how far you are from Mammoth by clicking here: Mammoth Distances
How do I get to Mammoth?
I'll email specific instructions on how to get yo our campsite to each registered participant. In the meanwhile check out:
GeoSystems TripQuest option at http://www.Mapquest.com
DeLorme's "CyberRouter" at: http://route30.delorme.com/
What sort of 4-Wheeling is planned?
We expect to spend about 3 days on mild-moderate off-road trails exploring, seeing beautiful scenery & interesting historic and geologic sites. We don't plan any hard-core crush-your-Vanagon stunts. Days not off-road can be spent seeing many of the area's many pavement accessible sites. We will be very careful to leave these beautiful areas just as we find them. What we bring in, we'll bring out! We won't rip up the terrain with our Syncros. Please see our ecological values at: Ecological Values
Can 2WD Vanagons Attend?
Maybe. Our campsite has limited room and I expect the site to be filled with Syncros. Also, the 4x4 trails will not be suitable for 2WD Vanagons. However, if you are interested in finding your own campsite, condo, or hotel room, you could visit our campsite in the evening and meet other Vanagon owners, talk "Vanagonese" around the campfire, etc. If we don't fill the site with Syncros, I'll accept late registration from 2WD Vanagon owners.
Want to subscribe to an internet mail list to get ongoing information Syncro Safari events?
Visit the following web page:
http://www.onelist.com/subscribe.cgi/SyncroSafari
To view the list archives, visit:
http://www.onelist.com/archives.cgi/SyncroSafari
Want to see a bunch of photos from the Syncro Safari, Moab '98?
Click here: Syncro Safari Moab'98 Photos
Want to know who's planning on attending Syncro Safari, Mammoth 2000 '99?
Click here: NOT YET READY
What's the itinerry for the Syncro Safari, Mammoth 2000?
Click here: Itinerary
Do I need a specialy equipped Syncro?
Not really. You should have at least 5 matching All-Terrain tires and carry with you several important items. You will need to have certain items along with you. For more details look at these lists and please don't skip the "What NOT to Bring" list.
4-Wheeling / Vehicle Items List
Where can I find out more about Vanagons?
Try this: Vanagon.com which has a lot of information about Vanagons and Vanagon Syncros and numerous links to other sites, some of which are dedicated specifically to Vanagon Syncro models.
Costs:
Right now I'm not certain about the costs for this event. The cost will be at least enough to cover the price of our campsite, perhaps a bit more.
Still want more info?
You can contact me, Jim Davis, the organizer for the Syncro Safari, just email me at: SyncroHead@aol.com