We're heading to Upper Pines next week (29th through 3rd), and have always relied on the Lodge food court for evening meals and a few breakfasts or lunches. Now I hear it's closed for remodeling, and since I haven't camped in the valley since Aramark took over, was wondering what choices are left...not only for food, but a couple of other things:
1. I heard there was some sort of buffet at the lodge restaurant to fill in for the being-remodeled food court. If so, what sort of breakfast and dinner choices are there? Similar to the food court when DNC ran it, or ?. Hot dishes and hamburgers, or refrigerated burritos and sandwiches? Are there hot breakfasts at the buffet, or must one go in and be waited on? How about Degnan's? Is it still mostly lunchtime sandwiches, or has it changed? Pizza loft still open? What about Curry? (sorry, haven't converted to the new names yet) Any choices there for hot breakfasts, lunches, or dinners? We never cared much for the Curry food choices before in off-season, and always used the lodge, but has it changed?
I'd prefer not a sit-and-be-waited-on restaurant, not interested in the Mountain Room, but would like to know ahead of time if we have to bring most of our meals or if there is something with food and prices similar to the food court under DNC. Also...
2. Are the showers still handled the same (at Curry)? Off season there was never anyone there to collect fees, and no one seemed to care if campers just went in, using our own towels and showered, but has it changed?
3. Is there any open or reasonable cost wifi available anywhere? Last time I was there they had just locked down the wifi at Curry lounge, and it took some doing to scramble around and find an open wifi. Our Sprint phones were worthless for data in the valley, so couldn't use the hotspot, however I do have to check email once a day for my business. I used to use the Cliff Room wifi when we weren't staying at the Lodge, but they closed that up, and then the same happened to the Curry Lounge later. Paying the Lodge $10 every day for a few minutes of connection seemed ridiculous, but was always able to find something open if I looked around a bit. Hopefully Sprint's data signal there has improved and I can just use a hotspot, but not counting on it.
Any info on any of the above appreciated.
Gary
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