Mineral King News

NOTE:

Work at Mineral King on July 22

On Wednesday, July 22, there will be a team trying to locate and plan for the removal of the fuel tank which fed the gas pump in front of the Mineral King Store.  They will be using non-invasive equipment and hand probes, and a portion of the parking lot may be coned off while the work is being done.  The work is being done mid-week, to minimize the impact on the trailhead and other adjacent uses.

Removal of the tank will occur at a subsequent date, and we will let you know when that is to occur.

_____________________

Annual Meeting and Potluck

Good news! This year we will again be able to have our annual meeting in the Park, on Saturday, August 7.  The meeting will be behind the Barton cabin (WMK-13) at 10:30 a.m., followed by a potluck in front of the Hengst "Dink-Inn" cabin (WMK-3).  Please bring your own utensils and seating to the potluck, with a dish which you would like to share with others.    

If you have not received a COVID-19 vaccine, we would appreciate it if you would wear a mask during the meeting.  If you have been vaccinated, masks are optional -- and we know that there will be some who will be more comfortable wearing a mask anyway, so wearing one won't identify your status one way or another.

We are excited to be getting together again, and look forward to seeing you there.

Annual MKDA Meeting Scheduled for August 7

 Our annual Mineral King District Association meeting will be held (in person, yay!) on Saturday, August 7, 10:30 a.m. at the Barton (WMK-13) cabin.  Remember, you must be a current MKDA member to be eligible to vote.

A potluck lunch will follow; location TBD.

Hope to see you all there!

Cabin Dumpster Tips

Dumpster details from Mike & Jana Botkin:

A cabin owner reported to us that she is unable to open the dumpster. She didn’t understand why she could open it earlier and now cannot; nor did she know that this is Dumpster #2 of the season.

Michael and I drove down to investigate. Here are our findings:

1. Photo A shows that the tubes where the pin goes do not line up.

2. Photo B shows Michael leaning on the handle to force the tubes into alignment.

3. Photo C shows the pin fitting in easily when the tubes are held in alignment.

Meanwhile, Michael had to climb in and rearrange to make space so we can get through another week. It looks as if this will be a Four-Dumpster-Summer.

JB

P.S. He really likes pistachios too.

High Fire Restrictions in Effect

 

National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Fire Information Office Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks News Release For Immediate Release Contact: Mike Theune, Fire Information Officer Phone Number: 559-565-3703 E-mail: mike_theune@nps.gov   Reference Number: 8550-2117 Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks Ban All Campfires July 1, 2021 SEQUOIA AND KINGS CANYON NATIONAL PARKS, Calif. June 28, 2021 – Due to extreme fire danger, record setting temperatures, drought, and commitment of firefighting resources both regionally and nationally, the parks are increasing fire restrictions to Stage 3 – their highest level.   Effective at 12:00 p.m. on July 1, 2021, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks are enacting a parks-wide campfire and smoking ban. This includes all campgrounds, picnic and day-use areas, and wilderness locations inside the parks. There are no exceptions to this change.   “This ban on all campfires in our front-country and wilderness areas is designed to reduce our risk from unwanted human-caused fires during the hottest and driest part of the year,” said Chief John Ziegler, parks’ fire management officer. He added, “We must all do more than before to be extra safe and cautious this year.”   The increased fire restrictions can be summed up to be: Wood and charcoal fires (including wood-burning stoves) are illegal at all elevations and locations. Employee housing and private property throughout the parks are included. Gas, propane, alcohol (with and without a shutoff valve), and tablet/cube stoves are permitted in all areas. No smoking at any elevation except within an enclosed vehicle, a building in which smoking is allowed, or a designated smoking area. These restrictions will remain in effect until conditions in the area have progressed to a point where minimal public hazard remains, as determined by the Parks’ Superintendent.   Also, firefighters and park rangers want to remind the public that fireworks of any kind are strictly illegal in all national parks year-round. Please do not even bring them into the parks during this critical time.  For information on the other fire restriction stage levels, please visit https://go.nps.gov/sekifirerestrictions   - NPS - About Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks' Fire Management Program For over fifty years, our mission has been to use the full range of options and strategies available to manage fire in the parks. This includes protecting park resources, employees, and the public from unwanted fire; building and maintaining fire resilient ecosystems; reducing the threat to local communities from wildfires emanating from the parks or adjacent lands; and recruiting, training, and retaining a professional fire management workforce. - ### - Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks  47050 Generals Highway Three Rivers, CA 93271 FAX: 559 565-3730 | Phone: 559-565-3341 | www.nps.gov/seki

Picnic in the Park

Presented by the Mineral King Preservation Society, the annual Picnic in the Park will be held on Saturday, July 17 at 12:00 Noon across from the Mineral King Ranger Station.

A memorial service for Jim Ingram will be held following the picnic.

Cabin Dumpster Information

From Jana Botkin, whose husband kindly and faithfully takes care of our dumpster!  

As a reminder, we pay Big Bucks every time the dumpster is swapped, so please take care of what you place therein.  No lounge chairs, no BBQ smokers, no pickup bed liners . . . you get the idea.  Please don't use the NPS trash receptacles, and take as much as you can down the hill with you.  

Thank you!
Sharon

----------quote-------------

This is what Michael does for the community. Today we decided that it is time to replace the full dumpster with an empty, because July 4 is soon. Chances are someone will email you, concerned that the locks are now off the dumpster. The combo lock is on the small brown dumpster which can be used if there is no room in this one before it gets swapped.

If anyone wonders, he loves beef jerky, smoked almonds and cabernet. 8-)

He did not approved this email. . . I am just the proud wife of a public servant.

jb

Memorial Service at Mineral King for Jim Ingram