September 27 in Mineral King

I wasn’t there, but Trail Guy brought back good photos of fall color for you. Do you have a favorite? If plein air painting really floated my boat, I’d be there chasing down fall color. Instead, I am probably there packing up for the winter. Next fall, perhaps. . .

Back to Mineral King: Two Gentle Walks

Along the Nature Trail The recreation restrictions were lifted, so Hiking Buddy and I took a stroll down the Nature Trail, where some fall colors were beginning to show (this was last weekend). Up to Crystal Creek We also took a walk across the bridge (oh my, how my walks have shrunk this year), past […]

Back to Mineral King: This and That

The parking lot was empty on Saturday morning, because the restrictions on the road and on recreation weren’t officially lifted until 10 a.m. Most people didn’t learn of the restriction removal until the end of the day on Friday. This doesn’t really make it easy for people to plan for the weekend, but the Park […]

Back to Mineral King: The Road

On Friday, September 20, we headed up the hill. The Park restrictions were still in place, so we made sure we were on the road during the permitted hours, which were quite illogical. Whatever. They are in charge; we are not. We only met 3 vehicles, all part of a construction crew on a cabin. […]

Fix ’em Up, Make ’em Better Than Before

Yesterday I told you that the paintings retrieved from Silver City will be heading to Exeter’s Mural Gallery, which reopens September 19 (TOMORROW!) after a summer-long renovation. (I don’t think they have a website, but their physical address is 121 So. E Street (next door to the former Wildflower Cafe, at the edge of Mixter […]

Mineral King: Clear in the Morning, Smoky Later

With the Coffeepot Fire about 10-15 miles down the road from the Mineral King valley, the smoke blows up each day, anywhere from 9:30 until noon. Sometimes it clears up a bit in the afternoon or early evening, then it blows back down the canyon at night. Trail Guy took these clear morning photos for […]

Mineral King: Weekend of Uncertainty, Chapter 6

After wondering all weekend if we would be evacuated from Mineral King, a Park employee came by our cabins on Monday morning around 8, telling us to be at the Conifer gate (7.5 miles below our cabins) to be escorted out. If we didn’t want to go, that was fine, but then we’d be unable […]

Mineral King: Weekend of Uncertainty, Chapter 5

Our weekend of uncertainty in Mineral King began each day with clear skies, and hope that the clarity would remain for as long as possible. We headed down the road for a walk one morning, not quite as early as hoped, and were also delayed by conversation with fellow cabin folks. Everyone was in that […]

Mineral King: Weekend of Uncertainty, Chapter 4

What does one do in Mineral King when it is too smoky out for any real exertion or appreciation of the scenery? Sometimes one sits inside with a friend and draws. Sometimes one does chores, anticipating an early closing due to uncertainty. That uncertainty chased us all weekend along. We contacted cabin neighbors who were […]