The way to the small resort at Red’s Meadow led past a friendly trail crew clearing downed trees and into a large burn zone, the result of a fire sparked by lightning back in 1992. Between the burnt out husks of pine and fir a colorful milieu of purple lupine and white and yellow flowers bloomed, attracting a somewhat alarming number of bees. Hustling under the hot sun, we arrived at Red’s Meadow just in time to enjoy a delicious pastrami and swiss sandwich, the start of a hedonistic bender that would define my time in Mammoth.
Ten days in the mountains can really work up a hiker’s appetite, and as soon we got set up with a room at the Motel 6 in town I proceeded to gorge myself on a truly disgusting amount of food and drink. Coffee, pizza, donuts, beer, whiskey; everything was fair game in my rush to enjoy the fruits of civilization. Unfortunately for my stomach, the extreme mix of foods, caffeine, and alcohol had a rather unsettling effect and I spent most of the later evening in the hotel bathroom. But for those few hours hopping through town from cafe to pub, I was in heaven.
Russell on the Road 