On the Mineral King Road there are 4 water troughs. Some years I think I will memorize the elevations and mileage markers. More realistically, I can remember their names and order of appearance.
This one is called Trauger’s, after Mr. and Mary Trauger (what was her hubby’s name? She was the one everyone talks about!) who had a home above. It’s my guess they built there because of the spring. Duh.
The National Park Service has spray painted all sorts of information on these historic items. Sanctioned graffiti, perhaps? Back in the olden days, they were places you could fill your radiator after it boiled over on the steep, nay, very steep Mineral King Road.
Mary Trauger planted sweet peas. They bloom near this water trough each spring.
HEY!! What are you doing up there? That is Trail Guy, formerly known as Road Guy. It bugs him when the troughs aren’t flowing, so sometimes we stop on the way up the hill so he can clear junk out of the stream and get the water flowing through the pipe into the water troughs.
He may be known as Trail Guy, but deep down inside Road Guy still exists.
4 Comments
Harry & Mary …
That’s right! Thanks, Diane. I wondered about “Harry” then thought it was too twee because it rhymed with Mary. Then I went off on a Larry, Terry, Barry thing, and decided to fuhgeddaboutit.
Sanctioned graffiti, Oh NPS. Water, flowing water, even now? I really enjoy your MK posts, so pretty.
Yeppers, Katie! To experience Springtime again this year, drive UP! Green, flowing water, wildflowers. . . ahhhhh.
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