Mineral King, (But it’s not Friday!)

Sharon, I scooted over so the small red fir doesn’t block the gap, but then the boulder is centered. (Paintings fix these flaws.)

In order to do my August calendar picture post and the Learned-in-July-List in a timely manner, this week’s Mineral King report is landing on the wrong day. Flex with me, Readers!

It was a time of many people in our neighborhood, with much socializing and renewal of friendships. I felt as if I fit in, never mind that my buddies were 8 and 10.

I did no real hiking, only walks. It is weird to me that I resist going on something as pleasant as a walk with friends. . . cue the whinging. . . it’s too hot, I want to knit, this is a good book. . . When I push myself to get off my duff (what’s a “duff”? Dunno, it came from my dad’s vocabulary), it is always worth the effort.

These guys were tired. Horses and mules don’t often lie down. I wonder if the one on the right is named Spot

The destination was Soda Springs, about 1-1/2 mile from the bridge, an unmarked trail known to locals but occasionally frequented by other folks. It is a spot where we often take visitors when we want them to actually enjoy the walk instead of dragging them straight up one of the other trails or hauling them behind us for long distances to lakes.

The flowers continue to amaze and delight this year with their profusion, abundance, and variety.

Soda Springs is a peculiar little spot of water bubbling out of the ground. People swear that it is carbonated; I think it tastes like the drinking fountains at Hartland Camp when I went to summer camp there. Ick. Metallic.

The flowers!! Looking upstream:

Looking downstream:

Let’s end with an evening shot of Farewell Gap with the Crowley Family Cabin.

Dadgum giant boulder hogging the center foreground. . .

The Mules of Mineral King

Book

This is the title of a very good book about Mineral King, written by a cabin guy who began working at the pack station at age 12.

Last Saturday Kevin Alltucker spoke at the annual Mineral King Preservation Society’s Picnic in the Park. Great storyteller, excellent speaker, knew how to reach the crowd and handle a microphone. He took lots of questions, and he quit before we were tired of hearing him. (The bulk of the crowd was behind and around me.)

I think you ought to buy a copy of the book. Really!

It is published by Riverfeet Press: The Mules of Mineral King

It is available on the big A: The Mules of Mineral King

Too bad you weren’t there in person; it was $15 that day, instead of $18. No problemo—I’m confident that you can afford the extra $3.

Wildflower

Meanwhile, I continued to wrestle with my iPhone14 and got these photos of a flower that was at the end of the Blue/Purple chapter in Mineral King Wildflowers (sold out, so sorry, but not terribly sorry because there might be another book coming next summer…)

P.S. It is item #9 in my list of things learned July 2025.

Your Central Calif. Artist Went to the Wildflower Cafe

Whatever does that title mean?

Glad you asked! The junction of the Farewell Gap and Franklin Lake trails is the best wildflower area in all of Mineral King, and its peak is always right around July 4. Well, okay, probably July 1, but July 4 is a significant day, and who actually knows the specific peak from year to year? It is 4 miles to the junction, and we often time the hike to eat lunch there; hence, “Wildflower Cafe”.

I finally remembered a dime, AND I had someone hold it for me so that I had both hands free to wrestle with the phone.

Instead of chitchatting, I will just bombard you with photos.

Photos never do this hike justice. It certainly was a different sort of visit to the junction than last year’s exciting excursion.

More White Chief in Mineral King

Today we will continue and complete our White Chief hike in photos. I always thought it was a short hike, but maybe someone moved White Chief, just like Franklin Falls got moved. My phone, masquerading as a camera, also told me that I went 7.5 miles and climbed the equivalent of 43 floors. Yes, indeed, it is a steep one.

That dark spot is a mining tunnel. There are natural caves up there too.

The clouds were building up back toward Mineral King, and although it was still sunny in White Chief, the wind was downright chilly. So, I headed back.

Tomorrow I’ll tell you a couple of pieces of cabin life.

A Hike to White Chief (in Mineral King)

Trail Guy and our friend K went to White Chief, and came back raving about the flowers. Two days later I went to White Chief and came back raving about the flowers. Our photos are intermingled on my laptop, so I’ll just post some many in today’s post and many more in tomorrow’s, keeping the chitchat minimal.

Super clear day, heading up the right (west) side of the valley.
The ferns along the trail are tall despite only being the end of June.
Spring Creek is running strong—thankful for that footbridge!

Entering White Chief, like a painting that sold earlier this summer, except the stream is dry now.

Pride of the Mountains was stunning!

The color clash was amusing to me. . . color combinations acceptable in nature would be weird in someone’s wardrobe.
Whorled penstemmon was profuse.

Come back tomorrow for more. The whole thing was stunning, and neither the camera nor the iPhone 14 do it justice.