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burp
Trad climber
Salt Lake City
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Jul 31, 2009 - 02:23pm PT
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Thanks IC. I'll definately stop and check TPR out next time through (late September'ish).
burp
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Dolomite
climber
Anchorage
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Jul 31, 2009 - 02:40pm PT
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The place is an abomination on the landscape, opposed by probably close to 100% of locals during planning, and pushed through zoning by $$$$. It's a shame climbers support the joint.
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mucci
Trad climber
The pitch of Bagalaar above you
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Jul 31, 2009 - 02:51pm PT
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Many a lady have had the fortunate experience of staying at the MOBIL HILTON on the Hill.
Touron season is like high school but your older and more drunk.
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rwedgee
Ice climber
canyon country,CA
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Jul 31, 2009 - 02:51pm PT
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"an abomination" TPR, Mobil, or Lee Vining?
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Nefarius
Big Wall climber
Fresno
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Jul 31, 2009 - 03:22pm PT
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"working on the Manzeer for FatTrad for like two years...."
What's the big deal, Russ. I know it's a BIG project, but a couple of big, racing sails, like these:
And a number of climbing ropes and the Manzeer is done. Fatty can even have anything he wants digitally imaged into the Mylar membrane of the sail.
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mooch
Big Wall climber
The Immaculate Conception
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Jul 31, 2009 - 03:50pm PT
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I always got a laugh at the sign on the 99 south of fresno
EAT
GET GAS
Or off the 395 in Lone Pine:
Laudromat
Burgers and more
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Mighty Hiker
Social climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Jul 31, 2009 - 04:12pm PT
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Probably a good thing that they don't also offer phyllo salmon.
It might be hard to fill a climber with salmon.
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hossjulia
Trad climber
Eastside
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Jul 31, 2009 - 05:21pm PT
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minerals, roflmao
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Gary
climber
Desolation Basin, Calif.
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Jul 31, 2009 - 05:35pm PT
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The jambalaya is not too bad, not as good a mine, but not bad. Goes good with a PBR draft.
The first time I went there, back in '01 or so, the girl at the cash register leaned over and gave me an eyeful. I've had fond memories of the place ever since.
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NotIt
Trad climber
Malaga Cove
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Jul 31, 2009 - 05:56pm PT
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My final analysis:
Good business strategy (or strategies):
*Employ relatively friendly dudes and girls that are good looking enough that you want to come back, but not so good looking as to seem unattainable to the average climber. [An entire thesis could be written about the general theme of attractiveness optimization in hospitality.]
*Comp people a drink every now and then.
*Hammer INCESSANTLY the word "gourmet" in all publicity, ensuring that it is inevitably the word chosen to describe the food when one person is describing it to another. This place has a lock on the viral use of the word "gourmet". Truly unbelievable.
*Create a cult of personality around your chef. We live in the era of TV-chef fame, and if someone has a brand they must be good. The simple idea of having a dude (with his own caricature, no less!) called TIOGA TOMMY is a selling point to people who generally sit home watching Food Network and HGTV, and for whom this trip, passing through or near Lee Vining, is a BIG DEAL (tm).
But the reality (realities):
*The service is whack, and gets more so every year. They are at a disadvantage given that their front of house and back of house collide spectacularly from a pure proximity perspective (alliteration!). At this price point they need a system whereby I get a table tent with a number and I get my food delivered. While their cashpeople are fairly consistent, the dude calling orders is always a flavor of the week/month and is inevitably cracking under the pressure of trying to push a backlog of 20 plates out.
*The prices are unconscionable, except when location is considered. Still no excuse. Their margins have to be very enviable.
*The produce is an shamefully less than fresh, again, at the price point and "gourmet" self-promotion, considering their proximity to farmers in the Owens Valley that can/could provide everything that they use on a near-daily basis.
*The food is QUITE average, relying heavily on salt for flavor.
*Most pertinently, I still eat there a fair bit.
I tried the BBQ joint in Lee Vining (on the West side of 395) for the first time a few weeks back, and as a person who eats meat infrequently and thus insists on quality when I do, I was really pleasantly surprised. The onionn rings are also taystee. The salad bar, though, gets a pass.
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dsqrd
climber
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Jul 31, 2009 - 06:04pm PT
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Had the guys from WND cater my wedding on the Eastside last winter - best idea I ever had (other than proposing to my wife).
Also got to meet Nellie the namesake in the offseason once upon a time - what a sweetheart.
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Jaybro
Social climber
Wolf City, Wyoming
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Jul 31, 2009 - 06:22pm PT
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I didn't realize there was a real Nellie, whoa.
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Mike Bolte
Trad climber
Planet Earth
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nice view
good live music last Sunday - free supertopo subscription to the one who can id the famous climber first
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L
climber
34.040236 lat by -118.450547 lon
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Yuuummmmmmmmm...Mobile Station fish tacos...best I ever had...
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Mighty Hiker
Social climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Rich Cashner? (The drummer.)
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Nefarius
Big Wall climber
Fresno
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K. Rick
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Mike Bolte
Trad climber
Planet Earth
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that's a free ST subscription to Mighty Hiker--feel free to read the posts or post yourself. Rick is looking good and sings a pretty good low harmony in addition to banging on the drums.
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Zander
Trad climber
Berkeley
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Nicelys.
I just prefer to eat with the locals. The food is as expected. I like that it is open at 6:30 in the morning.
When I did the North Ridge of Conness, we stopped at TPR and had a good meal. I was so tired. I remember the food being pretty good and the nice bottle of wine went down pretty well too.
Someday I may try the Mobil station, but, I mean, it's a gas station.....
Zander
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powderdan
Social climber
mammoth lakes
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Aug 10, 2009 - 06:43pm PT
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the mobile mart is far from perfect but it certainly doesnt deserve the fact less slander and flimsy accusations that some have posted here.
the domaille family risked everything, built the place with there bare hands, and continue to work there butts off to maintain what has become the most iconic summer business in mono county. there story exeplfies the american dream. who ever thinks they have the "planning commision by the balls" should ask dennis domaille about the hoops he had to jump through in order to open for business. im sure he would be happy to tell you.
-the domailles recently gave away 600 coupons for free fish tacos during the recent inyo-mono county blood drive which by the way, tripled the previous years donations.
-i have personaly witnessed dozens of tired and hungry tourists fed left over food for free long after the store has closed.
-over a dozen locals enjoy steady seasonal employment there.
-they could easily prohibit camping on the vista point but instead allow it.(please dont blow that)
i can go on and on about the contributions the domailles have made to the local community. instead i will finish with one final thought.
IF ITS GOOD ENOUGH FOR FRED BECKY, THAN ITS GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME!
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Jaybro
Social climber
Wolf City, Wyoming
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Aug 10, 2009 - 06:45pm PT
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-I have been the recipient of the gift of extra food there. the place rocks.
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