Annual Meetings Cancelled for 2020

It was with great regret that we had to cancel this year’s annual meeting.  The risk to portions of our population meant that we could not in good conscience encourage gathering so many of us together.

We usually have more cabin owners and families on the mountain on the first weekend of August than at any other time – and many of you will want to meet with your friends and neighbors.  The usual meeting place behind the Barton cabin will be available, should you wish to use it, and many of you will be speaking with others, either there, on the road or in the yards.  Please be sensitive to the feelings of those who wish to avoid close contact – and for heaven’s sake don’t mingle if you have symptoms or have been exposed to someone who has the virus.

We could not hold a potluck, for the same reason that restaurants can’t open buffets or  smorgasbords.  That may be a greater loss than the meeting, as so many of us always look forward to some of the marvelous dishes our members have brought.

Also cancelled: the West Mineral King Water & Improvement Association annual meeting.

The Hengsts have kindly indicated that anyone who would like to picnic in their yard at the Dink-Inn cabin will be welcome.  Bring your own food and utensils, and, if possible, tables and chairs.

We can all enjoy the weekend, even without the usual formalities and proximity. 

WMK Water System, Campgrounds

I received the word last night that the West Mineral King Water System has been certified by the state of California as potable (safe to drink).

The Atwell Mill and Cold Springs campgrounds still are not open.  When they are, I'll spread the word!  In the meantime, day use of the Mineral King area is encouraged, and overnight backpack trips are allowed with permits obtained in advance from this web site:

https://www.nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/wilderness_permits.htm 

Details about our annual meeting (August 1) will be decided shortly.

Stay safe, everyone!

Photo Trip to Eagle Lake

Steven Bakos, one of our winter photographers, went up last weekend for a quick day hike up to Eagle Lake. Please enjoy his photo gallery, here (including several pictures of the normally-illusive but very cute pika!):

https://yourownhike.com/pics/sequoia2020jun/

Mineral King Open for Day Use

Hello, all!   According to SEKI Superintendent Woody Smeck, by the time you read this, the following will be open as of today. June 4:

* All 800 miles of trails for day use.

* All wilderness trails for day and overnight use (overnight permits must be reserved in advance from https://www.nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/wilderness_permits.htm. No walk-up permits available).

* All roads--including both Mineral King Road gates--to the end.

* All parking, picnic areas, public restrooms (disinfected daily; soap and hand sanitizer also provided).

Fee collection is suspended until a cashless system is put in place and tested.  Entry passes for SEKI are available here: https://www.recreation.gov/sitepass/72471 and America the Beautiful annual passes are available here: https://store.usgs.gov/pass/index.html.

Next phase (subject to evaluation of staff and public safety, risk assessment, state policy, etc.) will include limited frontcountry camping to meet safety requirements.  No date for this phase has been determined.

The goal and priority is the safety of visitors and employees, and to avoid an outbreak resulting in a backwards shut down.

Thank you all for your patience!

Jana Botkin Adds Murals to Museum Facade

In the June, 2020 issue of Los Tulares, a publication of the Tulare County Historical Society, Amy King wrote a nice article about Jana Botkin painting the murals on the Tulare County Museum building.

Re-posted by permission of Amy King and the TCHS.

MKPS Picnic in the Park

We are excited to announce that this year's 33rd annual Picnic in the Park will be held on Saturday July 18, at noon across from the Mineral King Ranger Station. Pack a picnic, grab some chairs or a blanket and join us for a beautiful afternoon in Mineral King. 

John Elliot will give a presentation to the group about the early years of the Mineral King Preservation Society and talk about the first Picnic in the Park in 1987. 

Please see attached flyer and contact me if you have any questions. 

I hope you are able to attend!

Thank you, 

Lisa Monteiro, Director 

Mineral King Preservation Society

PO Box 86

Three Rivers, CA 93271

(559) 561-1000

Important Notice Regarding SEKI Campgrounds

Some disappointing news posted yesterday, May 31, 2020 on the SEKI Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/SequoiaKingsNPS). This includes the two Mineral King campgrounds, Atwell Mill and Cold Springs which will remain closed at least through the Independence Day weekend.

Sharon.

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Current Status: All campgrounds continue to be closed, and frontcountry camping will not be available when we open on June 4, 2020. Yesterday all campground reservations for 2020 were cancelled. This was a difficult choice to make, but necessary in order to allow for operational adjustments for camping this summer season as we work through the COVID-19 pandemic. This will include a reduction of open sites in campgrounds to allow for proper distancing. We weighed multiple alternatives, and there truly wasn't a good option, and we recognize the inconvenience and disappointment this has caused.

Reopening of campgrounds: We do not have an estimated date for reopening campgrounds, but based on our phasing plan, we don't anticipate that campgrounds will open until after the 4th of July weekend. This does not mean they will open immediately after that weekend. We don't know at this time, and it will depend on many safety factors. We wanted, however, to give you advance notice to allow you to make alternate plans for the the holiday and time leading up to it. We will make an announcement as soon as we know when reservations will be available again. Unfortunately, people with cancelled reservations will need to make new reservations when campgrounds reopen.

Changes for 2020: This summer all camping in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks will require new reservations to be made in advance. There will not be any first come, first serve sites open in the parks. Reservations for frontcountry camping will all be made through www.recreation.gov.

Wilderness backpacking: Overnight wilderness access will be available in this initial phase for anyone with a confirmed permit reservation made at least two weeks before entering the parks. Existing confirmed wilderness permit reservations for trips beginning June 5 or later are still valid. For information on how to apply for a reservation visit: https://www.nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/wilderness_permits.htm

Please continue to check our website for details and more information: www.nps.gov/SEKI.