Weldon Memorial Service

IN LOVING MEMORY OF Bert Raymond Weldon May 21, 1956 — January 8, 2019 CELEBRATION OF LIFE AND RECEPTION Friday, March 15, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. Crosscity Christian Church 2777 E. Nees Avenue Fresno, California 93720

Photo Gallery on MK Web Site

Would appreciate some help/suggestions on how to create a photo gallery on our Mineral King web site (www.mineralking.net) with the options of adding captions. Our photo gallery currently is here:

https://photos.google.com/…/AF1QipNEyPb1txHLmL3uH_UDBJZOgg7…

but it's just the photos. If you click on a photo it will open and you can see a caption at the bottom, but some need to be edited and since I didn't set this up, I don't know how to change it. What I want to do on our main photo page here:

https://sites.google.com/site/mineralkingcabins/photos

is create a gallery where each photo would have a caption underneath. It seems simple enough, but knowing Google . . . is this even possible?

Visitor Centers in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Open on Weekends

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks News Release

SEQUOIA AND KINGS CANYON NATIONAL PARKS, California January 19, 2019 – Park officials announced today that visitor centers in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks will be open for weekend operations beginning Saturday, January 19. Sequoia Parks Conservancy (SPC), the official park partner of the parks made a donation on Friday that covers National Park Service (NPS) Interpretive Rangers and facility maintenance at all locations. Park visitor centers have been closed for the past 28 days during this lapse in appropriations. Pear Lake Winter Hut, also managed by SPC, will also resume normal operations. “We believe in the power of information as a way to guide and transform a visitor’s experience of these parks,” said Savannah Boiano, Executive Director of the Sequoia Parks Conservancy. “This donation is one way for the Sequoia Parks Conservancy to support Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks and the National Park Service.” Park visitor centers will be open for the holiday weekend Saturday through Monday, and Friday through Sunday on weekends for the foreseeable future. SPC employees and NPS rangers will be staffing the visitor centers and providing trip-planning and safety information. For a calendar of in-park programs offered by SPC, visit www.sequoiaparks.org/freeprograms. For park information, visit www.nps.gov/SEKI. Visitor Center Hours Holiday Weekend 1/19-1/21 Foothills Visitor Center: 9 am to 3 pm Giant Forest Museum: 10 am to 4pm 1/19-1/20, 10 am to 3 pm 1/21 Kings Canyon Visitor Center: 10 am to 3 pm Weekends Moving Forward (During Government Shutdown) Foothills Visitor Center: 9 am to 3 pm Giant Forest Museume 10 am to 3 pm Kings Canyon Visitor Center 10 am to 3 pm All other areas that are typically open this time of year, including campgrounds, restrooms, trails, and roads, are open using Federal Land and Recreation Enhancement funds. These areas will remain open unless winter conditions or other factors require otherwise. These areas include: Giant Forest and General Sherman Tree Grant Grove and General Grant Tree Foothills and Hospital Rock Potwisha and Azalea Campgrounds Big Stump and Wolverton snow play areas Please call 559-565-3341 for current weather, closures, and road conditions before visiting the parks as winter conditions may require tire chains or closures at any time.

Sad News

Bert Weldon (EMK#16) of Tollhouse, California,  died unexpectedly on January 8, 2019. He is survived by his wife of 23 years Marilyn (Peterson), daughter Samantha Oliver, grandson Austin Bert Weldon Oliver, mother Eunice Weldon, siblings CJ, Robbie, Rosie and Abe, horses, a mule, cows, sheep, chickens, dogs and cats.

He will be remembered for his willingness to help anyone in need, his kindness and generosity, and his solid work ethic. All who encountered Bert remember him with admiration and he will be greatly missed by his family, many dear friends, and community.

A memorial service will be planned for a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Bert’s name to:
Mineral King Preservation Society
P.O. Box 286
Exeter, CA 93221

Sequoia Kings Canyon Shut Down

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks News Release

For Immediate Release                                Contact: Sintia Kawasaki-Yee, Public Affairs Officer Media Contact: (559) 679-2866 E-mail: sintia_kawasaki-yee@nps.gov

Unsafe Visitor Conditions Lead to Full Closure of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks

SEQUOIA AND KINGS CANYON NATIONAL PARKS, California, January 2, 2019 – Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks will be fully closed effective 6 p.m. on Tuesday, January 2. The parks are being forced to take this action for health and safety concerns. This supersedes previous closures. Sequoia National Park will be closed at the Ash Mountain Entrance Station in Three Rivers, California. This closure extends through the Foothills, Giant Forest, Lodgepole, through to Lost Grove. The closure includes all concession and park partner operations. Bathroom facilities in all locations are unsanitary and unhealthy, resulting in facility closures and human waste and toilet paper accumulation. Overflowing trash receptacles have resulted in animals eating and spreading trash around. Lack of adequate parking has resulted in significant pedestrian use of the Generals Highway, creating risk of pedestrian-vehicle conflicts. Kings Canyon National Park will close at the Big Stump Entrance Station on Highway 180. This closure includes all areas and services within Grant Grove such as the General Grant Tree, Big Stump Picnic Area, Grant Grove Village, Azalea Campground and all concession and park partner operations. Similar conditions of overflowing trash and human waste, as well as illegal fire rings and campfires have made this area unsafe to visitors and wildlife. Highway 180 will remain accessible for through traffic only. It is likely these closures will remain in effect for the duration of the government shutdown. For information about lodging reservations please visit www.visitsequoia.com. For current road conditions and weather information, please call 559-565-3341.

Road Gate Combinations Changed

The padlocks at both the Lookout Point and Camp Conifer gates have been changed successfully to the new combination.  Last winter's number will no longer work.  If you need access to your cabin, please call a Silver City or Mineral King District Association board member.  The new combination will not be forwarded by email.  Please keep this number confidential.

Gates and Snow

NOTICE:

Michael Botkin is heading up the Mineral King Road today (Monday, December 10). He will change the lock combos on both gates unless there is some sort of a problem with an unknown vehicle behind one of the gates or something else. I will send out a confirmation notice when the change has been made.

From Silver City Sue:“Greg P just came down from being up there at SC this weekend. He indicated that there was about a foot of snow and melting fast. If anyone wants to go up to MK, you should take a chain saw as a good sized tree is across the road. He did not say exactly where that was. Nice time in the mts!!!!!!!!”