Been all over that area, one of my favorites, right on my annual migration
route.  Been up all the side roads on this quite ambitious bicycle race
http://www.everestchallenge.com/  and I am planning on doing it again this
year with the hope of actually finishing, this time.  Two years ago, when I
DNFed the snow level was way down..at around 7000' and it was brutal cold
(late September, freak snowstorm)

  There are plenty of great campsites around there.  Recommending a
favorite...impossible.  You may have crowd issues on a high summer
weekend..it's pretty handy to LA but when I've been there fall and spring,
it's never busy.  You could spend months along the east slope of the Sierras
and not get bored.  Around Mammoth and June there are plenty of backroads
for primitive camping and up every canyon you'll find a few excellent forest
service campgrounds..But be aware the roads are steep..Have some good brakes
for the descents.
  Have fun, a great place..
  Don Hanson

On Wed, Jul 22, 2009 at 9:52 PM, Robert Fisher <refisher@mchsi.com> wrote:

> ... with three kids and a dog.
>
>
>
> We're considering doing this in the '87 GL (auto). It's a roughly 3-hr
> drive
> and a 5-6000 foot climb. If anyone that has experience with that drive  (on
> 395) in a Vanagon and/or camping in that area would like to pass on tips,
> tricks, warnings and must-sees (not about the kids and the dog, we have
> that
> covered), I'd appreciate it.
>
>
>
> Cya,
>
> Robert
>