About half of today’s Mineral King photos are by Trail Guy, AKA Michael Botkin AKA The Husband of The Artist (who has been too busy painting a mural in Exeter to take time off to go to Mineral King as often as they’d prefer.)

A stellar jay and 2 mountain quail

Stay back there and Do Not Come Near The Cabin.

Farewell Gap, the Crowley Cabin, and the headwaters of the East Fork of the Kaweah River.

In White Chief Canyon or Bowl, depending on who is doing the describing.

Climbing out of White Chief, looking out over the top of Timber Gap

The trail leading into White Chief – Vandever is the peak on the left, with Bearskin visible (that patch of snow).

Deer. Whoopee. They eat my geraniums at home.

WHAT IS THIS??? New to us, a 2003 Toyota Tacoma with matching “truck cap” (used to be called “camper shells”). But where is the Botmobile?

Right behind the Sequoia mural, resting from a drive down the Mineral King Road. 314,000 miles, Trail Guy bought this 1986 rig brand new, a year before we got married. (Good thing, because if we were married, I would have told him to buy a used one.) He doesn’t dive into things too quickly. He doesn’t dispose of things too hastily either. Makes me feel quite secure, actually.