Mammoth: March 2026: Day 1: Copper Top BBQ

Mammoth

March 2026: Day 1: Driving

Chobani bar at the Element in Palmdale?

Breakfast pretty basic otherwise.

Coffee and tea.

Welcome.

Lobby is nice.

Hot food was made to order breakfast burritos. Mediocre, but a nice touch.

About to depart, 99% charge, 286 mile range estimated.

93 minutes, 65.4kWh, and $34 later, charged up to 99%.

Not enough range to make it to Mammoth.

From Palmdale (99%) to Coso Junction (56%).

Charging at the free Caltrans charger. Only sustained 41kW but it's free.

Charging at Coso Junction Rest Stop.

46 minutes and 32.8kWh later. Forget what I charged up to, 92% probably?

Much better, instead of 11% too short, now should have 25% remaining.

Big smokers at Copper Top BBQ.

Tri-tip is delicious.

Big Pine Platter with tri-tip, pork ribs, chicken sausage.

Green chile chili is amazing as well. Inside.

Inside.

Outside.

Not much snow...

New condos going up.

Averaged 2.5 miles/kWh the past 139 miles (Coso Junction to Mammoth Lakes)..

Arrived with 25% remaining as predicted.

Welcome gift.

They fixed the wheels on the dishwasher.

Not much meat in the package.

Lucas playing chess.

Very basic breakfast as expected at the Element in Palmdale; the made to order breakfast burritos were a nice touch, but still very basic. Free charging at the Caltrans charger at the Coso Junction rest stop is slow (65kW rated I think, but I've never seen more than 42KW off it) but free is free, and the tri-tip, pork ribs, and green chili at Copper Top BBQ is still superb.

The Westin Monache in Mammoth has started charging for EV charging, which to be honest, is fair; however, like the rest of the hotel, the EV charging rates are a huge price gouge, $0.90/kWh (!!!!!), which is 50% more than it is normally, even elsewhere in town. Ugh.