Three animals? I'm talking 1 or 2 bear canisters, and I'd settle for Tyndall, Crabtree or anyplace
Right. It's not just your stuff, it's the packer's stuff for a 3 day trip as well. It's not impossible they can fit it all on one animal -- and for 2 days or overnight, they probably could.
Most people look at a resupply as "how can it be so much for just 2 bear canisters". But pack stations charge per animal per day (including the packer's horse)and per day for the packer. And you still need a minimum of one mule, one horse and one packer no matter what you do. The packer's got his stove, food, pots, clothes etc. for an overnight trip plus they usually carry grain or even feed depending on grazing regulations. Plus your stuff. It adds up.
Obviously the cheapest way to do it is to figure out where a pack station can get in and out in a day. So that's usually no more than 20, maybe 25, miles round trip: Upper Rock Creek; Kearsarge Lakes/Charlotte Lake; Anvil Camp (maybe -- they've still got to truck the animals over to the trailhead from Onion Valley if you go with Pine Creek/Onion Valley Pack Station). Check with the Berners and see what they charge for Anvil Camp.
Or, like Steve says, see if you can find one of the mountaineering guide services who'll hump the stuff in. But, yes, if you give them money, they have to have a commercial use permit or be a friend.
Good luck.
g.
