Central California Artist Answers Questions About Mineral King

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Lots of people have questions about Mineral King. I will address some today.

What is the road like?

Steep, winding, some dirt sections, potholes, no center line, no fog lines, no guard rails, wide enough for only one car in a few places, big drop-offs, and some ugly burned areas.

How long does it take to get there?

The recommended time to allow is 1-1/2 hours. If someone catches up to you, pull over and let them go by.

Do I need a 4×4?

Nope. But if your car has low clearance, pay attention to the deep hogwallows.

Why do people leave the hoods up on their cars?

Back when Trail Guy was living and working in Mineral King, he left the hood up on his pickup so he could see if any marmots were messing around. A ranger saw that and assumed that if Michael Botkin did this, then it must be a marmot deterrent. And thus the legend was born and continues to this day. Leaving the hood up can drain your battery if it turns on a light, and it gives the marmots easier access.

Why do some people wrap their cars in blue tarps?

Wrapping your car might protect it from marmot damage.

What is a marmot?

A marmot is a large rodent that used to be in the backcountry but now is a plague in Mineral King.

Why do they damage cars?

No one knows why, but it is known that lactating females do the bulk of the damage, chewing on hoses and wires. When they kick their offspring out of the nest, the vandalism almost ceases completely.

How do I get a cabin?

You can buy a cabin if you happen to know someone who is selling or you can do what I did—marry in.

Can I rent a cabin?

There are cabins for rent in Silver City either at the resort, or you might be able to find a VRBO online.

Can I camp?

There are two campgrounds, Atwell Mill and Cold Springs, and both require reservations.

Can I bring a trailer?

Sure, but they are terrible on the road, and forbidden in the campgrounds, so why would you?

Where can I see wildflowers?

Everywhere. Pay attention!

When is the best time?

May is great along the lower road; July is fantastic in Mineral King.

What is the easiest trail?

Mineral King is a valley, so all trails go up. The easiest is to follow along the stream toward Farewell Gap; the next easiest is the Nature Trail from Cold Springs campground to the valley.

What is the most popular trail?

EVERYONE wants to go to Eagle Lake.

Can I bring my dog?

If you want to, but DOGS ARE NOT ALLOWED ON THE TRAILS!

Big Tree, Sequoia, or Redwood?

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There are lots of big trees in the world, Redwood is the name of my high school, and the trees for which Sequoia National Park is named are sequoia gigantea. However, any of those names apply to the paintings in today’s blog post.

It is a little bit difficult to work at the cabin because there is no studio space, and everyone else is on vacation. Besides, when I am there, I’d rather be reading, knitting, splitting wood, or chasing wildflowers. But sometimes a grownup has to do what needs to be done. I know, this is difficult to accept, because didn’t we all think that being a grownup meant we got to do anything we wanted? It is true, but choices have consequences, and the consequence of not painting when inventory is low is that there will be nothing to sell.

That’s a good enough start. Think I’ll put down my paintbrushes and go pick up my ax.

Painting Mineral King, Chapter Nth

If you read this blog through an email subscription on your phone, the photos might not show up. (Some people get them, some do not.) You can see them by going to the blog on the internet. It is called cabinart.net/blog, and the latest post is always on top.

In the summer, I paint Mineral King scenes, over and over and over. Thank you for showing up anyway.

Hi Tucker. I wasn’t talking to you, but you are always welcome anywhere I am.

Aspens grow in Mineral King. I don’t think they would survive down the hill in the heat, but they are native to Tulare County at higher elevations. Can you tell that this little square will be a picture of aspens?

Can you tell now?

Here are two more 6×6″ oil paintings, photographed with a phone rather than a camera, and too wet to scan at this point. I think people are getting cautious with spending again, so smaller paintings might sell more quickly than large ones.

There–now you can see that these are aspens.

All will retail for $65 plus that dastardly California sales tax unless you live in a less golden state. Alas, I am a Central California artist, a regionalist from California’s flyover country, and high tax is part of this place. 

Seeking Wildflowers in Mineral King

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The trail to Franklin Lakes and Farewell Gap has terrific wildflower variety this summer.

Mariposa lilies are like polka-dots over the landscape, among the sage. Very prolific this year!
This is a juniper tree. It isn’t a wildflower. I just wanted to show you the bark.

This is the weird view of Farewell Gap with all the overlapping ravines.

Flax were plentiful along the trail, and the red ones are Indian paintbrush. The white ones? Meh. But I love seeing red, white, and blue together, so I took this shot looking down into the canyon.

There was a tremendous variety along the trail to the junction.

The pennyroyal were very thick and fragrant, as always.

I guess you had to be there to get a feel for all the variety along the trail. 

Sometimes Pride of the mountain grows on rocky ledges that don’t appear to have enough dirt for anything to grow.

Same for this penstemon, the variety which I have forgotten (did I ever know it?)

This trail junction was our destination, and it is usually solid with a zillion different flowers. This year it wasn’t special, but the trail getting to the junction was simply amazing with the variety.

This is looking back down at those overlapping ravines in the canyon.

Angelica was very impressive. It looks like cow parsnip, but its leaves are lacy rather than solid. Maybe that’s why it has a prettier name than cow parsnip.

Franklin falls is quite impressive in spite of the low water year. That is arrowleaf groundsel in the foreground.

Let’s end our tour with a rainbow.

I have about 4 copies of Mineral King Wildflowers: Common Names remaining. Want one?

Mineral King Oil Paintings For Sale

If you subscribe to the blog and read the email on your phone, the photos might not show up. (Some people get them, some do not; it isn’t a problem I know how to solve.) You can see them by going to the blog on the internet. It is called cabinart.net/blog, and the latest post is always on top.

“Mineral King Oil Paintings For Sale” sounds pushy. That isn’t my intention. The idea is to let you know these are completed and available. Their next stop is the Silver City Store, four miles below the Mineral King valley. However, if you’d like to intercept one before it heads up the hill, that can be arranged.

Sawtooth I, 8×8″, oil on wrapped canvas, $125 (plus California sales tax)
Mineral King Aspens, 8×8″, oil on wrapped canvas, $125 (plus California sales tax)
Honeymoon Cabin III, 8×10″, oil on wrapped canvas, $125 (plus California sales tax)
Sawtooth Ridge, 6×18″, oil on wrapped canvas, $165 (plus California sales tax)
Mineral King Alpenglow, 6×12″, oil on wrapped canvas, $125 (plus California sales tax)

P.S. They all look better in person.

Wildflowers as Tiny Colored Dots

If you read this blog through an email subscription on your phone, the photos might not show up. (Some people get them, some do not.) You can see them by going to the blog on the internet. It is called cabinart.net/blog, and the latest post is always on top.

Wildflowers drive my hiking choices, and ever since publishing Mineral King Wildflowers (almost sold out), I look for opportunities to put them in my oil paintings. Because I paint small, they end up as tiny dots. 

Doesn’t matter, because those tiny colored dots are magical enhancements of scenes that would otherwise be primarily green, gray and brown.

Remember this oil painting? It sold very quickly due to those tiny colored dots.

So, of course I painted it again. Here is the sequence.

Once it is dry enough to scan, I will show you a non-shiny version with colors that are closer to the real painting.

Chop-chop and Doing What I Want

If you subscribe to the blog and read the email on your phone, the photos might not show up. (Some people get them, some do not; it isn’t a problem I know how to solve.) You can see them by going to the blog on the internet. It is called cabinart.net/blog, and the latest post is always on top.

Here is another new Mineral King oil painting of an old subject, the Honeymoon Cabin, which is a museum for the Mineral King Preservation Society. It was in a state of rough first layer for a few weeks, and then suddenly July happened, which is when sales pick up at the Silver City Store.

Chop-chop, Central California artist!

8×10″, $125 (+sales tax), probably underpriced, quick, get it before I raise my prices.

I looked again at this painting of Sawtooth, which has been hanging for awhile as I mulled it over before putting it on the scanner. 

While flipping through my photos, I ran across one with my favorite yellow wildflower, Bigelow Sneezeweed (terrible name for a delightful bloom). I said to myself, “Self”, I said, “Why not?”

If this 6×18″ oil painting with its radical addition of yellow flowers doesn’t sell, I can always paint them out. I am 62 years old, self-employed, experienced in all subjects Mineral King, and I get to do what I want to my paintings.

Any questions?

What Does an Artist Do in Mineral King?

If you read this blog through an email subscription and cannot see the photos, click/tap here cabinart.net/blog, and you will be able to see them on internet. WARNING: this is a long post!!

A more complete question is probably this: What does this artist do in a place without internet, email, cell service or electricity?

An incomplete list:

  1. Split wood
  2. Knit
  3. Read the Declaration of Independence (Have you read it lately?)
  4. Swat biting flies
  5. Check on the wild iris WHICH IS IN BLOOM!
  6. Meander through the parking lot and find a bungee cord
  7. Proofread a book that has been in progress for almost five years
  8. Swat mosquitos
  9. Hang out with friends
  10. Sit on the bridge
  11. Hike – and take more photos, tell other hikers about better trails, look for tiger lilies, all while swatting mosquitos
  12. Swat more mosquitos

Incomplete pile of photos from the list (minus the mosquito swatting):

This is a section of trail that I’ve been trying to paint for a couple of years without any success.

Labrador Tea, reliably found near the first switchback above Eagle Meadow.Tiger lilies are Trail Guy’s favorite wildflower and this group was the destination of our hike.


Sometimes Eagle Meadow is thick with Jeffrey Shooting Stars and Knotweed. This year is not one of those times.We did see the shooting stars a little lower down along the creek. This is so hard to paint but I will not give up. (Here is how the painting looked last December)Who photographs the trail bed? Your Central California artist, that’s who.This is the first time I have really noticed Glacier Pass, a place I never expect to see in person.There was a wide variety of wildflowers as usual right around the beginning of July, but not in great quantities.Larkspur are hard for me to photograph, so when the light is right, I keep trying.This might be bitter cherry. It is a tree. I don’t know trees very well.

Hoopes sneezeweed always looks a little bit worn out, even when it is brand new.

That wild iris, only found in one place in Mineral King, blooms at the beginning of July each year.I drew this cabin once, in pencil with the flag in colored pencil, and called it “Dawn’s Early Light”. I love this view from the bridge, especially in the evening light.
Penstemon are a close second to my favorite flower of Explorer’s gentian.

Making Two Paintings Better

If you subscribe to the blog and read the email on your phone, the photos might not show up. (Some people get them, some do not; it isn’t a problem I know how to solve.) You can see them by going to the blog on the internet. It is called cabinart.net/blog, and the latest post is always on top.The other day I just sat in front of these two Mineral King oil paintings with Tucker shedding, purring, and slobbering on my lap. While holding my favorite cat (sorry Pippin and Jackson, but I have known your uncle a year longer than I have known you), I studied the paintings carefully, wondering how I could make them better.

The answer usually lies in better contrast, and shaggier edges. Not that shaggy edges are always the answer, but in this case a few edges were a bit smoother than real life.

Never mind. Just look now and see if they look better to you (bearing in mind that they are now too wet to scan and that they always look better in person).

Each of these paintings is 8×8″, and I spent way more time on them than justified by the $100 (+tax) sales price each.

It is probably time to raise my prices. That is hard to do, because people are just trying to keep food on the table and gas in the car, and art is not a necessity. (It is for me, but I think you understand my point.)

Seeking Calm at the Easels

If you subscribe to the blog and read the email on your phone, the photos might not show up. (Some people get them, some do not; it isn’t a problem I know how to solve.) You can see them by going to the blog on the internet. It is called cabinart.net/blog, and the latest post is always on top.

Sometimes life is hard. Oftentimes life is hard. Even if my own life is wonderful (and it is), life around is less than wonderful. Friends are suffering, the world seems to be on fire. I could list the worrisome items, but you probably have a similar list.

So, I will simply continue to seek calm at the easels.

I hope that seeing the progression of this Mineral King oil painting brings a bit of calm to your world.