Of course I am discussing Mineral King here, but “Sierra” sounds better with “smoky”.
In a walk along the road, I saw something that can only be described as trust. Some hikers completely trusted the public when they left their belongings unsecured by their car. It is heartwarming to see this in our current era of highly uncivilized behavior.
I was tempted to park my patoot here and simply knit all weekend. You know, smoke and all.
What got me moving was actually two things: 1. Summer is winding down and I haven’t hiked much. 2. A long time acquaintance asked me to hike with her someplace she had never been. We discussed the Franklin/Farewell trail and also White Chief, and I described each trail and destinations as thoroughly and fairly as possible, leaving the decision up to her.
But first, we had to stop by the Honeymoon Cabin so I could show you the newly refurbished sign. I don’t know why it is also called the “Point Cabin” – can’t see the point there (but can see the smoke.)
Since we were at the base of the White Chief trail, the decision was easy. Besides, Trail Guy was also heading that way (at a much faster pace), and he took a photo of us together where the trail breaks into the lower canyon. My friend (because over the course of 2.5 miles of walking together we had become friends for sure) was blown away by the beauty of White Chief and stunned that in all her years of coming to Mineral King, she hadn’t been there. 
It was a pleasure and privilege to share this place with her, and as an added bonus, my favorite flowers Explorer’s Gentian were in bloom. (Do you have your copy of Mineral King Wildflowers: Common Names yet?)
The light on the way back down the trail was weird and orange. Nothing quite like a natural smoke filter to distort the colors. 
It was well worth hiking in the smoky hazy dirty air to make a new friend, see the Explorer’s Gentian, be in White Chief, and revisit the joys of hiking.
2 Comments
No one would ever believe it was as smokey as it was from looking at the photos! Photography can sometimes be so forgiving.
The Point Cabin was actually called the cabin on the point as it came to the point of where the trail began and the stream came over to meet it. Over time, our lazy language converted it to the Point Cabin. It was later that the Honeymoon Cabin became it’s second name as it was so isolated from the rest of the resort cabins. Who first used that name, and when, would be fun to know.
Louise, that is so interesting – “the point where the trail began and the stream came over to meet it”. Thank you!
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