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 the pack station, and up to the much diminished Crystal Creek.




Heading Home
Driving home, we were stopped around the Conifer Gate because there were lots of tree-fallers at work. The 3-man crew on road closure duty was from Tennessee, and it was delightful to talk to them.
The next crew on the lower end of the tree-falling segment was from Montana, also delightful.
We made sure to tell all of these guys to be sure to drive to the end of the road, and also to have lunch at the Silver City Store.

So, after a three week interruption, we return to the normally peaceful and beautiful fall season in Mineral King.
But not me. I’m heading to Monterey for a week-long plein air painting retreat. I will be reporting on this radical new adventuresome opportunity next week. These are photos I took in 2009 when a friend and I went snooping around Asilomar, a fabulous conference grounds with buildings designed by Julia Morgan.



