THE BIG TRIP. Yosemite, Mono lake, Mammoth, Ancient Bristlecone forest, Death valley

It's 2014 and this year, my bucket list is priority one. Sick of places I wanna see being scheduled to "Someday".
SO
I'm going to see all the incredible things that this state has to offer.
Add to this list and lets fill up the trip with everything worth seeing!

Thursday:
Picking up my buddy in Yosemite, stopping and sightseeing anything we can.
Breakfast**
Lunch**
Dinner**
Head east, camp *Somewhere* near Mono Lake

Friday:
Mono Lake sightseeing,
Breakfast**
Head South on 395 to Mammoth lakes and Lake Crowley
Lunch**
Dinner**
End up camping *Somewhere* near Bishop

Saturday:
Breakfast**
Head into the ancient bristlecone forest- See some trees that are 4,000 years old!
Lunch**
Head South into Death Valley, find those huge boulders that aliens push around the dry lake bed
Dinner**
Camp in Death Valley *Somewhere*

Sunday: GO HOME
Breakfast**
Sightsee early early AM,
Head back up through Bishop
Lunch**
Haul ass back up to Yosemite, drop my buddy back off and head home!

Total trip will be around 700 miles for me (only because I have to drop him back off)
Will be around 600 Miles if you're coming from Chino, CA

All *** are details to be worked out.
Route subject to reversal if it's cheaper for my buddy to fly into Ontario airport, Especially if the pass across the Sierras is still closed for snow. (Still might try and cross it if it is)

Please give any input !! Lots of details to be determined such as camp sites, food, good trails to see, etc

DATES:
planning for March, 13th through 16th, OR 20th to 23rd only because I hear the ancient bristlecones are in bloom that time & worth seeing.

LETS GO EXPLORING

 

Sounds like a great trip.

 

If you're into old mines, there's an intact old mine called Chemung Mine along a road that also takes you through to an old township called Masonic Town and to the remains of Pittsburg Liberty mine, it's a dirt road, nothing technical but beautiful scenery. It's out of Bridgeport near the reservoir, on the way to Bodie Ghost Town. It's called Masonic Trail and takes you into the mountains, lots of dispersed camping out there.

Buying California Trails (high sierra version) has lots of good OHV trails, and it gives you history and details as to things to see, where to camp, how to get around. Found it on Amazon. I love this book. So much to see in the Sierras and the White Mountains. Enjoy your trip! I'm sure the ancient Bristlecone forest will not disappoint especially during your planned timeframe.

 

Awesome!
Thank you this is the kinda advice I needed to get. I know there's too much incredible stuff for even this trip but I gotta make the best of it.

 

I'm going to be heading out to Death Valley Myself in a couple of weeks. Might work my way from Baker all the way up to Scotty's Castle.. I'll let you know if there are any other cool places to check out while heading through there.

 

The only concern I have looking at your itinerary is that Tioga Pass (Hwy 120) will be closed from Yosemite to Mono Lake that time of year. Even during last year (very low snow), it didn't open until May 11. The link below has historical open/ closed dates for the pass.

http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/tiogaopen.htm