By Dave Dolan
Many years ago, as an avid backpacker, I did several trips every summer to hike in the Sierras. Over the past few years this area was left off my destination list. My wife and I decided to put this area back in our trip rotation. This turned into a five week rv/ camping/ fishing trek.
I drive a Ford F 350 dually diesel and pull a 28 foot 5th wheel trailer. We are fully self contained wherever we go. We like to stay at the national forest service campgrounds. A nice feature now is that a limited number of these sites can be
reserved in advanced. We spent one week each in sites waiting for us in Convict Lake, McGee Creek, Mammoth Lakes, June Lake and Bridgeport. No more arriving at campgrounds late at night to see the “Campground Full” sign out. If you want to camp and make things real easy, try Adventures in Camping,www.adventureincamping.com. They will spot a fully equipped trailer at the site of your choice. I saw them at work, they are a first class operation.
Of the five different spots, our favorite was the Coldwater campground in the Mammoth Lakes basin. This campground is on the shore of Lake Mary and bordered by Coldwater and Mammoth Creeks. The mountain scenery is spectacular. The nice thing about this spot is that you have the lake, stream and back country fishing at your door. And all the conveniences of the town of Mammoth are just a 10 minute drive away. For all the information you need on Mammoth, see them at www.visitmammoth.com The stocked lakes around Mammoth and June Lakes are well stocked with trout. This recreational fishing was pretty much limit almost whenever you wanted. But after a certain point, enough was enough. What I really enjoyed most was hiking to the high country lakes for fishing. I found lakes that were a brook trout on almost every cast. These are not trophy size fish. But remember, these lakes are frozen over for six 
months plus. What you do catch is a brilliantly colored, wild native catch and release trout.
months plus. What you do catch is a brilliantly colored, wild native catch and release trout. I did catch one trophy on a lake at the 10,000 ft. level above Mammoth Lakes. I caught my first ever Golden Trout. This fish was more colorful than a lit up dorado.
If you ever tire of the fishing, there is a wealth of recreation in the Mammoth area. The area is covered with hiking and mountain bike trails. There are many old mine sites to 
explore. We particularly enjoyed a day trip to the ghost town of Bodie. This is probably the best preserved mining ghost town in the West. Another day trip we did the Devil’s Postpile and a hike to Rainbow Falls. There is also a tour bus that runs from the East Sierras to Yosemite Valley during the summer. For $24 we did the round trip from June Lakes to Yosemite. With all there is to see and do, I felt that five weeks was cutting us short.
explore. We particularly enjoyed a day trip to the ghost town of Bodie. This is probably the best preserved mining ghost town in the West. Another day trip we did the Devil’s Postpile and a hike to Rainbow Falls. There is also a tour bus that runs from the East Sierras to Yosemite Valley during the summer. For $24 we did the round trip from June Lakes to Yosemite. With all there is to see and do, I felt that five weeks was cutting us short. The one thing missing on this trip was a brown trout. This would have completed my “Sierra Slam” on trout. This gives a perfect excuse for a return trip. We are already planning a return trip this September for the fishing and fall colors. And where will we stay…why Mammoth Lakes, of course.
