Trail Guy’s Latest Mineral King Hiking Photos
Trail Guy is retired so he hikes every week in Mineral King. I am not retired so I work. He photographs Mineral King so I post it on this blog.
Lucky Trail Guy.
Lucky You.
Lucky me, because I get to do what I love and (sometimes) even get paid for it.
If you let your cursor hover over each photo, it might give you the brief description.
After almost 29 years of marriage, we are starting to resemble one another (No, I am not growing a beard). He says all the time now, “Nice light!”
This is at the head of White Chief Canyon. Yep. We drink untreated water.
This is looking down on Franklin Lake from the trail up the Pass.
Did you know that Mt. Whitney is visible from Franklin Pass? I had forgotten. Now, I can’t remember if it shows in this photo or not.
These rock formations say “Franklin Pass” to me. Can you hear them talking? Must be the altitude. Actually I have not been on Franklin Pass since about 1983 or 1984. Too far for a day hike. Not for Trail Guy!
From left to right – a tarn (that is fancy mountain talk for pond), upper Franklin Lake, and the barest little edge of lower Franklin Lake. Lower is the one I did a mural of about 4 years ago. FOUR?? Must be having fun, because time is flying.
See? Trail Guy is getting all weird about shapes, light, texture, just like his artist wife.
A Mineral King Day Hike
Trail Guy led a group hike up to the Empire Mines last year. It was fun, informative, and a good time was had by all. So, he was asked to lead it again this year. I only took a few photos this time, because all my photos are looking repetitive. You can see more of them here.
Trail Guy hot-footed it down to the Sawtooth parking lot to see who was joining us.
There was a youth group from a church in Woodlake, all gung-ho and raring to go.
We were blessed by the presence of Interpretive Ranger Josh, who is very dramatic and very entertaining.
Three of our friends from the Sawtooth Six came along. I only photographed one of them, because he was with me and the other two were way out in front.
It was a nice day to be out on the trail.
Nice day to make some new friends too.
We went up to the bunk house, up to one of the mines, back down to the bull wheel, on to the road, into Timber Gap, and back down the trail. This is at the top of Timber Gap.
This is looking over Timber Gap into the Middle Fork drainage of the Kaweah River.
The end.
P.S. Last year’s hike is in 2 posts. I said more then. I have more to say when I’m not bowed up by worry over a book at a printer that does not return phone calls.
Mineral King Photos As An Escape
I hit a bit of a bump in the road with the book The Cabins of Wilsonia and I don’t want to talk about it. So let’s put our hands over our ears, shout LALALALA in a loud monotone and run away to Mineral King. These are not in any particular order – I’m just speed slamming Mineral King photos, sort of like I do M&Ms or chocolate chips in times of desperation.
Hey! I painted that! Back in the olden days when I had time to paint because I didn’t have a book at a printer with a bump in the road LALALALALALALA!
Maybe tomorrow I will be able to talk about it. If so, it will be on my other blog, www.thecabinsofwilsonia.com Meanwhile, LALALALALALA.
Hiking In Mineral King (Trail Guy, Not the California Artist)
Trail Guy, AKA The Retiree, does a tremendous amount of hiking in Mineral King while I’m in Three Rivers trapped on the phone with AT&T because my email doesn’t work. But I’m not bitter. I enjoy his photos, and then you get to enjoy them. These will mostly be without comments. All you need to know is that they were all taken along Mineral King trails (and in between, because Trail Guy don’t need no stinkin’ trails!)
This is our dear friend Steven who walks 12 miles a day and gets paid for it. These trails were no problem for this guy!
This is a Pika, pronounced “PEE-ka”.
Friends in Mineral King
There is something very unique and special about cabin communities. The friendships go on for life and through generations. Instead of yammering on and on, have a look at a very special Mineral King friendship.
I’m not close friends with these guys, but they might be close friends with one another. At least they aren’t eating my geraniums in Three Rivers.
I knit, my friend helps me weave in the ends, and she models for me: a perfect blend of skill between Mineral King friends.
Babies in Mineral King
What, me work? Nah. The Retiree is in Mineral King, my book The Cabins of Wilsonia is at the printer, drawing lessons are suspended for July and August, and it is too stinking hot to be down the hill.
So, let’s look at some photos.
July is the month of babies and little critters in Mineral King.
Every year without fail, there are marmots born underneath our cabin. This is a little bit yucky, but I don’t know what to do about it. So, we just take photos. This year is a little different. There is a blind marmot, whom I have named RayCharles. You can tell it is him (her?) by the nose in the air.
Mountain Quail are not the state bird, which is California Quail. These Mountain Quail are usually very very shy. It is tricky, but if you look closely at this photo, you may be able to spot a baby.
Spotted fawns abound. Abounce, too. Bambis, Bambis, everywhere. Hey little guy, watch out for bears!
Austin isn’t really a baby at age 3, but he looks like one to me.
Braden isn’t really a baby either, but he and Austin are the youngest generation of cabin folks in Mineral King.
Hey RayCharles – watch out for bears!
Mineral King Again
Hey, California Artist, don’t you work?
Beats me. It seems as if I spend all my time working on the computer, writing 2 blogs, answering email, redesigning murals, designing book covers, designing pre-order postcards. Oh yes, and I spend way too much time on the phone with AT&T, Paypal, and Apple. You really would rather not hear about that.
You are right, California Artist. Why don’t you tell us something interesting?
How about if I show you some nice Mineral King photos?
Now that’s what I’m talking about!
Whorled Penstemmon in White Chief. “Whorled”, not “whirled” or “world”. Got it? Good!
Pride of the Mountains is another version of penstemmon.
Green? Purple? Gurple!
A Walk in Mineral King
Last week we took a wildflower walk in Mineral King. This week we continue up the trail.
It was just a walk – no pack, no water, no food. It was hot out in the sun chasing down those wildflowers, so I was looking forward to stopping by the Ranger Station for a drink of water.
First, Trail Guy found a dead bird. Normally this would be no big deal, but this was a special bird, one that he had seen a few weeks ago. He told me about it because of the color, and he looked it up in a bird book because he has a good bird book and is curious that way. It is one of the things I really appreciate in him.
This is a dead lazuli bunting. I had never seen one or heard of it before. What a color! Sorry, Little Bunting. And Trail Guy, I’m sorry you have a boo-boo on your thumb.
HEY! Here is a live lazuli bunting! That is so fun – never seen one before, and then BOOM! A dead one and a live one all close together!
Trail Guy suggested a short cut, heading back across the stream on a log. I told him I was wanting a drink of water, and he said he thought that could be arranged.
It was a little unusual, a little over our heads, a little splashy, but Trail Guy is resourceful and knew what he knew. I said, “How many other women would put up with this?” He said, “That’s why I married you instead of those other women.” So, we got our splashy drinks and then ventured across the log.
I’m not much good at rock hopping due to a depth perception problem but I can do log crossings.
And this scene? I think it is exactly the place that I painted for my friend a few weeks ago! I actually recognized the exact aspen trees. (Hi, L!)
A Wildflower Walk in Mineral King
Happy Independence Day Eve!
Normally I post about Mineral King on Fridays, but this week I will be silent on Friday because you will be busy and so will I. So, you get to read about Mineral King on Thursday. Hope you are feeling flexible.
Trail Guy and I took a break from our labors around the cabin (Is knitting a labor??) for a walk. No packs, no water, no snacks – just a walk. He wanted to visit his favorite flower, which has popped into bloom a little early this year since spring came early to the mountains.
This is not his favorite flower – this is Crimson Columbine.
This is not his favorite flower either. I don’t remember seeing it before. I don’t know what it is.
This is not Trail Guy’s favorite flower either. The color is washed out here, but it is Wild Blue Flax. I took this photo because this was taken in June, and normally this flower doesn’t appear until August.
This Mariposa Lily might be Trail Guy’s second favorite flower. It is one of the few white flowers that I’ve bothered to learn, because usually I think white flowers are boring.
This is one of my favorite views, but it rarely photographs well and has never looked good enough to paint.
This is an almost invisible little bitty purplish blue flower that our friend Sue got all excited about. She called it an “Alpine something-or-other”. I’ve never seen it before and don’t think Sue had either.
LEOPARD LILY AKA TIGER LILY is Trail Guy’s favorite wild flower.
They smell very very fragrant. Trail Guy thinks if it could be bottled, the bottler would be a zillionaire.
Indian Paintbrush grows at most elevations. This is one of the best ones I’ve ever seen.
I love penstemmon, particularly this purply-blue version. I don’t know its real name.
This blog post got long. I’ll tell you about the rest of our walk next Friday.