A Summer Place in Winter

Today I am in route to Florida, unable to post, so here is something that happened on Saturday. Mineral King is a summer place, but occasionally we visit in winter. (I probably won’t be able to post tomorrow either, so we’ll just have to bravely soldier on for a bit.)

The flowers were fantabulous along the lower portion of the road, but we didn’t stop for photos except at the bridge. It takes a long time to pull the Trackster up the road with the Botmobile, and it takes a long time to putt-putt up the road in the Trackster, so we did not lollygag.

The Trackster ride is rough, loud and smelly. But, it beats a snowmobile, particularly when you have to go up and over downed trees or across dry pavement. (You know the ride is rough when it makes the Botmobile feel luxurious by contrast.)

Our friends were already up the hill, and it was great fun to surprise them. Trail Guy and I did a bit of token cross-country skiing. Mostly we were just in awe of the vast winterness of the place.

Cute little snow buggy called a Trackster, made by Cushman. The goal is to drive as far up as possible and unload in a place that can accommodate a turn-around.
I didn’t photograph any of the trees we had to crawl over. It was nerve-wracking, and several times I just bailed out of the Trackster and climbed over on foot.
First view of Sawtooth
First view of our friends
They dug steps down to their cabin door.
The classic view
This is our cabin from the front.
Timber Gap in the background
You can see how deep the snow is on the bridge.
I love this view at the top of Endurance Grade. This was looking backward as we headed back down.
On the way down, we stopped for the most brilliant redbud we have ever seen. It is just below the most dangerous curve on the road, AKA Steven’s corner, because our friend Steven drove over the edge there as a teenager. His worst injury was poison oak!

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5 Comments

  1. Thanks for sharing the wonders of this winter in the high country and spring beauty in the foothills. I love red bud in bloom!

    Hope your trip to Florida-Georgia is safe and meets your expectations! And may the weather cooperate with all your plein air ambitions. Looking forward to seeing and reading all about your trip!

  2. I would love a painting/picture/drawing of the bridge with the red bud on the left side of the picture like the one you took!!!!! When did you have to ditch the Botmobile and just go on the tracker? Around Redwood? Sooooo fun! Have a great trip back east! Love
    Melissa

  3. Fantastic winter; fantastic photos! I hope you paint at least the first photo and the last two. They are exceptional.

  4. The operative word being, “they dug steps DOWN to their cabin door!”

    Great photos–may I re-post a couple to our Mineral King Facebook page? Proper credit and Cabinart plug included, of course.

    Have a safe and fun trip!

    • Thank you for noticing “down”, Sharon! Yes, you may post, and I will send them to you via email. Thank you also for the travel wishes!

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