Horse Creek Fire Update (7/27/18)

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks News Release

For Immediate Release Fire Information Updates: (559) 565-3704 E-mail: seki_fire_info@nps.gov

Reference Number: 8550-1841 Media Contact: 559-565-3129

Horse Creek Fire Update 07-27-18

SEQUOIA NATIONAL PARK, Calif. July 27, 2018 – Park fire management officials resumed control of the Horse Creek Fire in the John Krebs Wilderness of Sequoia National Park this morning. The fire is currently 34 acres and 90% contained. Fire activity has reduced dramatically, with fire mostly smoldering and creeping with a few interior pockets of active flame.   The fire is staffed on the ground by a single crew engaged in patrol, mop-up, and reinforcing fire containment lines where necessary. Smoke from the area may be visible from the Mineral King Road for several days or weeks as interior pockets of fuel are consumed.   Effective today, overnight wilderness users will be able to begin trips from Mineral King-area trailheads, and walk-up permits are being issued for those trails again according to usual policy. The Atwell-Hockett Trail and the Tar Gap Trail have been reopened for regular use.   “We are very thankful to the South Central Sierra Interagency Incident Management Team for all their hard work,” says Sequoia Duty Officer Kelly Singer. “This fire had the potential to grow quickly and affect a lot of people. Thanks to the team, and to all the other ground and air resources, it’s in a very manageable place now.”   Firefighters will remain on the ground at the fire until a determination is made by fire management staff to withdraw them, at which point the fire will be patrolled by air.   Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks are experiencing variable smoke impacts due to other fires in the state, including the Ferguson Fire in Mariposa County. For daily updates on park air quality, visit go.nps.gov/sekiair.   This will be the last daily update for the Horse Creek Fire unless conditions significantly change.   For more information on the Horse Creek Fire, visit https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5984/.

Park Ranger Programs

Marissa Reis, Lead Interpretive Park Ranger at Mineral King, will be sending me the weekend's Ranger Programs, which I will post here as soon as I receive them. Let's support the Park Service and attend as many as we can! Great time to bring your cabin guests, as well.

Picnic in the Park July 21

Don't forget--this Saturday, July 21st is the 33rd annual Picnic in the Park, sponsored by the Mineral King Preservation Society. 

Meet at the Honeymoon Cabin at 12:00 p.m. 

Bring a picnic lunch, hat, folding chair or blanket, and enjoy hearing stories from our Mineral King pioneers. And be prepared to share some of your own!

Stereoview of Mineral King?

Currently on eBay are 2 auctions for Stereoviews of what the seller claims is of Mineral King.  I know for sure this one is of "Pogue Road" in East Mineral King (aka Beulah):

But she also claims this one is of Mineral King, too.  I can't recall anything that looks like this--not Lookout Point, not the Ranger Stations at Atwell Mill or Mineral King.  Maybe another part of Sequoia National Park?

Mineral King Art Show!

Art: Inspired by Mineral King

Show and Sale

FOUR ARTISTS: Jana Botkin, Linda Hengst, Joan and John Keesey

SILVER CITY RESORT, 21 miles up the Mineral King Road

Saturday, June 30, 2018

10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

East Mineral King Open House

Here is a note from Jim Wells (Peg Seaborn's son) about an open house in Mineral King on Saturday, July 7^th.  The Wells family owned Kaweah Han for many years and Peg did the subdividing of the Silver City lots by the creek. 

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Hello Mineral King & Silver City cabin owners & families:

You’re invited!

To an Open House at the Alltucker Cabin #10 (aka Shepherd, Wells, & Seaborn) in EMK on Saturday, July 7, from 10 to 3.

John R. Alltucker purchased the cabin 100 years ago and the family is celebrating! We would like you to join us.  Bring a story or two, some old photos if you have them, and maybe a campfire song.  We would enjoy hearing stories from the past century, and reconnecting with other cabin folks.

There is a good chance we’ll have some nibbles, some juice, and more than a few stories.  Due to limited parking, we ask that you park elsewhere and walk down to the cabin (unless unable). Signs will be posted.

We look forward to seeing you July 7!

Jane Shepherd

Jim Wells

Mike Alltucker

News About Historic Oak Grove Bridge

Photo courtesy of www.cabinart.net

Kaweah Commonwealth

JUNE 15, 2018

by: John Elliott

Of the 165 bridges that the County of Tulare must maintain, the one with the most historic value and significance is the Oak Grove Bridge on the Mineral King Road. The concrete arch bridge, built in 1923, is located 6.5 miles up-canyon from Highway 198 and furnishes the only access for motor vehicles to the Mineral King area of Sequoia National Park.

The bridge has been determined eligible for the National Register of Historic Places (NR). That determination triggered a NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) study that is now complete.

From several alternatives, the preferred one of rehabilitation of the existing structure has been selected. In that alternative, the decking and substructure will be repaired with in-kind materials.

This bridge has important associations with the Mineral King Road Historic Cultural Landscape District. In 2015, county engineers noticed cracks in the bridge’s decking and sub-structure. A bridge evaluation study was undertaken in 2016 with Cal Trans as the lead agency. 

Photo courtesy of The Kaweah Commonwealth

A work plan was developed to come up with a fix that could preserve the historic integrity of the bridge. According to Jason Vivian, lead engineer for Tulare County, doing an EIR has been avoided and that will help the bridge construction to stay on track for the fall of 2021.

A public meeting to update stakeholders and interested parties is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, July 24, in Three Rivers. Details about the upcoming meeting will be announced as they are finalized.