ahh man, I wish I knew this stuff before. I flew into San Fran before noon and arrived at Mammoth at Midnight because all the mountain passes were closed! It was harsh...
yea fly into reno on a monday tuesday or thursday, there is a shuttle right from the airport to McDonalds right in Mammoth. www.inyotransit.com there is a schedule
Some of you people must drive like 120 or know some super double secret short cut. I would say it takes no less than 3 hours from reno to mammoth, driving slightly over the speed limit.