Utilities: Water
There is no water company in Mineral King. Trail Guy and the Farmer keep water flowing to our neighborhood, with occasional help from other neighbors. I will skip the details, but let these photos tell you how scary it is this year.
We listen to hear it humming in our pipes, and when it gets quiet, we take a hike. “We”? Trail Guy takes a hike, and I stay at the cabin with a walkie-talkie to follow instructions about opening and closing various valves.
Hot water
Propane water heaters are the most normal part of cabin life’s necessities. Some people have tried to use the on-demand style, and after one winter, those things are toast.
Sometimes the regular ones are also toast. 
Trail Guy helps many neighbors with their water heaters when he can, and sometimes I go along, because sometimes other people’s bathrooms are kind of interesting. 
I have no idea.
6 Comments
Thanks for correcting–it just sorta looked like the edge of a porch. Apparently, there will be no shortage of water for y’all on the East Side!
Hi Jenna.
The rock is on the diverter handle that changes the water flow from tub to shower. These valves are notoriously bad at changing the flow so the rock helps keep the flow up into the shower position.
Thank you, Bill! That was just the weirdest sight.
Bill, on second thought, I think the rock is holding the drain either open or closed, because that tub doesn’t have a shower.
Which cabin is the 2nd from the top? That looks like the river is just about to overtake the porch?
Isn’t an “on demand” water heater like the tankless type? How can that be an option with no electricity?
My grandfather used to be the expert at getting refrigerators lit each spring. Kathy said ours took a long time, and was a 2-man job!
My guess is the rock is holding the drain closed. But why? Wanna write another book? You could have plenty of material if you just go around to each cabin and look for “jury rig” type set-ups!
Sharon, the second photo from the top is not a cabin; it is our water system.
“On demand” is tankless, and I have no idea how it operates without electricity (or with electricity either!)
Lighting those refrigerators is a Project.
Bill from the Crowley cabin said it has something to do with changing the flow to keep it in the shower position, but I think it is actually keeping the drain closed (or maybe open). No books about such topics will be forthcoming.
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