Mineral King | Cabin Art

Short Steep Hike

Last weekend we finally hiked to White Chief together, Trail Guy and I. He has been multiple times this summer but was willing to return.

Mariposa Lilies were abundant, almost the only wildflower making a good showing this summer. We did see a few of my almost favorite penstemon, the one whose real name I don’t know.

White Chief was beautiful, as always.

The trail was steep as always. It was kind of hot out, my feet felt clumsy in real shoes instead of Tevas, and my face got all red, according to Trail Guy. I actually felt sort of light-headed, so we went to the creek and got cooled off.

There were quite a few of these usually overlooked flowers, but since it was almost all that was in bloom, I searched the name out when I got home. It is probably Oval-Leaved Buckwheat.

(Off) Trail Guy also found a flower that we haven’t seen for about 15 years, one that we dubbed “Mop Heads”. I looked it up when we got home, and learned it is Western Anemone.

And no, I didn’t pick it, just stabilized it for the photo and also included my aged hand so you can see the scale. It’s against the law to pick wildflowers in National Parks – did you know that?

Mineral King over the Fourth

We didn’t need fireworks because we had friends with flags.

We took a walk to the Franklin/Farewell Gap junction, a place that usually has the best wildflowers, almost always at the beginning of July. Not so this year. We’ve been spoiled by several great wildflower years, lulled into thinking that was normal.

It was fun anyway, because there is always good scenery and interesting things to see, even if you walk with your head toward the ground so you don’t fall.

I’ve never seen such short Mariposa Lilies, and saw quite a few like this, just popping up right on the trail.

I did look up, don’t worry.

This last picture is my favorite one of the day. We were off trail (of course), following a little loop-ette, devised by Off Trail Guy. After recrossing the stream, The Farmer offered to pull me up on a bank of snow which was the next step. Before accepting his kind offer, I said, “Thank you – first I need to take a picture!”

More about Mineral King on Monday.

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Resting in the Green Tunnel

You last saw the commissioned Mineral King oil painting when it looked this way.

I spent a few more hours on it, and can’t decide if it is finished or not. So, it is resting.

The color is better in real life.

I think the grasses need to be messier in order to be more believable.

Not sure.

Keep resting, Green Tunnel.

Mineral King Preservation Society

In 1986, the Mineral King Preservation Society was formed. The idea was to stop letting the cultural resources of Mineral King just fade away, without documentation or any attempt at preservation. (“Cultural resources” is fancy talk for things that come from humans, like buildings or mines.)

They (we?) have come a long way. Now there is a real curator, a real director, a real assistant – 3 paid employees. This is after many years of volunteers wearing themselves out to keep the thing together. The MKPS now has a grand vision for including the Southern Sierra. In addition, they (we? – I’m not on the board, but it feels like I belong to the organization anyway) have a room at the Three Rivers Historical Museum (with 3 murals in it by me), a website (with a blog where I post when requested), a separate office building at the bottom of the Mineral King Road, and (drum roll) a new logo! (Nope, not gonna show you the old one. We are trying to forget about that.)

The little building in the logo is the Honeymoon Cabin, which has served as a mini-museum for many years right in Mineral King. It is now nicer inside than it has ever been, thanks to those afore-mentioned employees.

THANK YOU, Hard-Working Volunteers, for your many many many (many many many) years of service to preserving the cultural resources of Mineral King.

P.S. You too can become a member of the MKPS – go here and do what it says.

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More Cold in Mineral King

Last Friday, I had too many photos from our cold weekend in Mineral King to put them all in one blog post.

Paintbrush, formerly known as Indian Paintbrush.

Languid Ladies, also known as Sierra Bluebells

A different view of the Honeymoon Cabin. Tiny in the distance – can you spot it?

This is a flowering shrub that I don’t recognize.

This is looking out the kitchen window. Brrr.

We took a short walk. Very brrr. Where is Farewell Gap??

Someone went barefoot on the deck last night.

The sun finally emerged, and it was still cold, but oh so very beautiful.

Most of the flowers in today’s post are identified in Mineral King Wildflowers: Common Names.

100 page paperback, flowers in photos, common names only, lots of chatty commentary, $20 including tax.
Available here
Also available at the Three Rivers Historical Museum, Silver City Store, from me if I put them in my car, or Amazon.

Mineral King

Cold in Mineral King

Sequoia National Park and Mineral King opened last week. It was a very pleasant weekend down the hill, which meant it was very cold in Mineral King. 28 degrees on Sunday morning, and only 42 degrees in the afternoon!

We didn’t hike, only went on a couple of short walks because it was overcast one day, rained the next, and we had numerous projects around the place in addition to spending time with friends and neighbors.

I don’t know this flower. It is very tiny.

This is a different view of the Honeymoon Cabin, which is a museum of the Mineral King Preservation Society.

This sign used to be about 8 feet up in the air. Someone with some common sense moved it to a more visible location.

Languid Ladies are also known as Sierra Bluebells.

I don’t know this tiny flower. Its foliage is different from the other tiny white one above.

Crystal Creek is very shallow and very very wide.

Mineral King Wildflowers: Common Names contains the Forget-Me-Nots but neither of the tiny white flowers.

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Mineral King, Still Early

If you made it through the last 2 days of technical instructions on subscribing to the blog or to my enewsletter, then you might be ready for some photos of Mineral King.

These photos were taken by Trail Guy last weekend. I stayed home in Three Rivers and mopped the kitchen, washed my car, hung out with my cats, helped my neighbor with yardening and WENT TO CHURCH! It was nice in Three Rivers, which means it was cold-ish in Mineral King. Besides, I am 60 so I can do whatever I want.

Fall down laughing. Never mind. Here are some photos for you.

Early Season in Mineral King

Once again, I am of two minds as to whether to show and talk about Mineral King when it is not yet open to the public. So, I’ll just show some photos, and if you want to know anything further, ask me in the comments or email me.

WAIT! Did I hear someone ask me what those wildflowers are? How about a book to help you learn them?

For further reading about Mineral King and its influence on my art, go to the Mineral King Preservation Society blog.

Summer Sales Ahead

That’s an optimistic title, wouldn’t you say?

Back when it was a simple mountain market called “The Silver City Store”. (photo 1985)

The store at the Silver City Resort below Mineral King has a projected opening date of June 5. (I still call the whole place the Silver City Store although it has become an almost swanky resort instead of a little mountain store.)

My oil paintings sell very well there each summer. I have high hopes for this year in spite of the Shut Down.

When the manager said they were ready for my paintings, I spread them all out, and then made decisions. Eventually I hope all will make it up the hill, but we only show about 10 at a time.

These stayed back until some of the earlier pieces have sold.

It is always a guess – how many of which subjects and which sizes?

Every year I think I have it figured out, and often end up cranking out paintings mid summer because something popular has sold out in a certain size. This year’s paintings are heavy in wildflowers.

This summer is full of more unknowns than usual. As always, more will be revealed in the fullness of time.

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Escape

I want my posts to be encouraging, uplifting, enlightening, and a bit of an escape into the healing power of beauty, reminders that there are still plenty of good things to be enjoyed.

(This has nothing to do with anything, but did you notice all the E’s in that sentence?? Encourage. Enlighten. Escape. Enjoy.)

But, I hesitate to post about Mineral King, because it might be like showing off an expensive freezer full of fancy ice cream that you cannot have.

It is my intention for these photos to encourage you that there are good times ahead.