After a harrowing intense drive, an hour longer than normal, we made it to Mineral King. It was smoky when we arrived, not worth any photos. We gathered with neighbors in the early evening to share snacks, stories, and speculations on what the uncertain weekend might hold for us. One member of our little group […]
Mineral King: Weekend of Uncertainty, Chapter 2
My regular posts are postponed while I tell you of our weekend of uncertainty in Mineral King. I went up the hill with a friend/cabin neighbor on Friday morning. She picked me up at 10:30, and we did not arrive at our cabins until 1 p.m. I used the word “harrowing” to describe the drive, […]
Mineral King: Weekend of Uncertainty
I am now down the hill from a long weekend in Mineral King and since a great number of my blog readers want Mineral King information, I will tell you about it this week. The road is now closed. We were not evacuated, but were escorted out this morning. Everyone wanting to leave had to […]
Working in Mineral King
With all those posts about Mineral King, did you wonder if I am still working? Thank you for your concern. It may look as if I am just loafing in Mineral King, taking bad photos, and wishing it wasn’t smoky. HOWEVER, I spent some valuable time with a very savvy artist friend (Krista Fulbright, who […]
Clear Morning in Smoky Mineral King
The Coffeepot Fire started on August 3, from lightning about 15 miles down the road from Mineral King. Each evening, the down-canyon breezes start clearing smoke out of the valley. The next morning we get clear air until 9 or 10. I went for a walk on one of those mornings. It was a difficult […]
Packing in Mineral King
About 20 years ago or so, the private pack station in Mineral King closed. The Park built a corral and their own tack shed. They usually bring up stock so they can resupply the trail crews in the backcountry, but this year we hadn’t seen any evidence of Park stock. Last year the Park brought […]
Working Weekend in Mineral King
A week or so ago, I told you about areas of neglect in Mineral King. Our cabin is not one of them, because it is our responsibility, not the Park’s*. It takes continual maintenance to keep a 100+ year old rustic structure together, and although we enjoy plenty of leisure time up the hill, there […]
Meandering in Mineral King
Ugh, smoke. A hint of the coming fall. Ugh, smoke. Sierra Gentian just don’t photograph worth a hoot, but they are truly striking, and always appear at a spring between the pack station and Crystal Creek in August. Trail Guy pointed out the marmot sunning on the rock. I asked him how he knew that […]
Fire Thoughts
Almost 3 weeks ago, there was a thunder and lightning storm in Mineral King. A lightning strike started a fire, and it looked as if it would be quick to suppress the thing. Being somewhat cynical, perhaps because we’ve lived through the “easy to suppress” lightning strikes in 2020 and 2021, I had my doubts […]
Noticing in Mineral King (and a little Neglect)
Timber Gap Trail The bottom part of the Timber Gap/Monarch/Sawtooth trail is usually dusty, hot, and always steep, with steps that seem to be made for giraffes. One morning I walked up it a ways, intending to go to the junction. The trailhead is another site of the Park’s neglect. There is nothing indicating what […]