We've stayed three times at this resort in the past three Septembers. If your are going to stay in the Lake Mary area of Mammoth, which is few miles out of the town and 1000 ft higher, there are four choices among resorts that rent cabins on a lake: Tamarack Lodge on Twin Lakes, Crystal Crag Lodge on Lake Mary, Woods Lodge on Lake George, and Wildyrie on Lake Mamie. We've stayed at all but Tamarack, and they are all decent, depending on what most appeals to you. We like Wildyrie most because it is quiet and serene. It sits on the shore of the smallest lake in the area, Lake Mamie, where no motorized watercraft are allowed. . . only row boats and float tubes. Adding to the tranquility, the lodge has fewer than a dozen cabins, and they are not too close to one another. Pets are not accommodated.||||We've also enjoyed the friendly staff, whom we've gotten to know better at the end of summer potluck. Patti, Stephanie, and Valerie are wonderful . . . and for a real treat, buy one of Valerie's homemade pies. The cabins are better than most you'll find in the Eastern Sierra. They are clean, well-maintained, with good lighting and heating, and all the amenities one would need in the kitchens -- range, oven, microwave, coffee pot, toaster, etc. Each cabin has a deck, most with lake views, and a small charcoal BBQ (Weber Smokey Joe) for outdoor grilling -- though you supply your own charcoal. Do be advised that during the day the resident chipmunks and blue jays, having become used to human contact, are not shy about joining you on the deck when food is available, and will coming begging in force if encouraged. Of course, no food should ever be left out in the Sierras due to the other larger resident, a black bear, who occasionally makes his morning rounds around Lake Mamie's shoreline. So leaving a cooler unattended is not only ill-advised, but actually violates local laws. ||||Hiking and fishing are two of the more popular activities in this area, though I've always found the fishing better when combined with a short hike into the accessible backcountry, especially when fly fishing. There are six trailheads to choose from, and most of the hikes to wilderness lakes are under 1.5 miles (2.5 km) with moderate elevation gains of less than 650 ft (200 meters). But fish can also be caught with regularity right in front of the cabins on Lake Mamie, which is generally shallow with a weedy bottom. Besides small stocked Rainbow trout, it has a good self-sustaining population of feisty Brook trout, which prefer flies and lures to bait. The trout can be seen working the surface mornings and evenings when the lake is glassy and at its most picturesque. Regardless of one's interest in fishing, most are thrilled with a sighting of the resident ospreys, from which the lodge gets its name, soaring above the pines and abruptly diving for the trout in spectacular fashion. Rarely do they miss.||||Considering the location, wildlife, and cabin quality, this lodge has a lot going for it. The only two negatives are the housekeeping requirements and payment policy. Booking requires a 50% deposit, which is common practice among cabin operators, but the balance is due six weeks before occupancy, not upon arrival, and only cash or check is accepted -- no credit cards. A 70% refund of the deposit will granted with six weeks cancelation notice. Cancel within six weeks, and you're going to need to negotiate, I guess. This differs from the usual Sierra cabin policy of full refund of deposit with one month cancelation notice. Also, the most commonly encountered policy in the Sierra requires guests to ensure all trash is emptied and dishware clean upon departure. Wildyrie (and Woods Lodge -- same owner), requires that and tells guests to vacuum and mop . . . all before the check out time of 10:00 AM. Some may find these policies a bit ungracious, though I can't comment personally on how strictly they are enforced. I've always at least left my cabin at Wildyrie with the mop wet . . .and with plenty of good memories. So we do...
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