December 2024

We had our first 1 or 2 inches of snow at Camp Nelson on November 15 th . A great rain storm over 4 days (11/23 to 11/26) brought us rain and snow at higher elevations. The JMNC weather station recorded 7.3 inches of rain in November.
At the end of Nelson Drive past Belknap Campground is a parking area where the Camp Nelson Trail begins. There is a very impressive sequoia tree standing on the north side of the road up on the hillside. Of course, the tree has always been there but was mostly hidden from view until the SQF Complex Wild Fire burned the area. In September 2020 the fire was coming down the ridge from the south toward the Tule River and the fire was also going downhill from the Cedar Slope area approaching Nelson Drive from the north. The main focus of firefighters was to keep the fire from reaching the cabins and campground at the McIntyre Tract along the river. Another job was to protect the Old Growth Sequoias. This notable tree was surrounded by tall cedars, firs and pines as well as thick stands of oaks. Firefighter chainsaw crews fell many of these trees from around the Sequoia and the fire burned underbrush all the way to Nelson Drive. The fire break that was created
stopped the fire and saved the cabins as well as this notable Sequoia Tree. The nice thing about this tree is that you have a beautiful unobstructed view of the entire tree, bottom to top and the nice blue sky background. We are grateful that this 2000 year old tree was saved by firefighting efforts and
will continue to stand beautifully watching over the area.
The Meadow Trail begins at the gate by Nelson Drive and Smith Drive. Go inside the gate and follow the signs around the meadow for a half mile stroll. There is a bench at the high side of the trail for your comfort.
The JMNC Live Streaming Webcams with views of the meadow and conservancy yard can be accessed on the Conservancy website.
We invite you to check the current weather conditions in real time by using the Weather Underground app on your smart phone or go to www.wunderground.com on your computer. Our station’s designation is “KCACAMPN10”.
The Camp Nelson RV Park is open, weather permitting, and usually until too much snow is on the ground. If you have friends or relatives that enjoy RVing/camping, invite them to make their reservations for the upcoming months. Call 559.542.2471 for information.
Visit our website to volunteer, make a donation, read the monthly Conservancy Article, buy a memorial brick, or purchase a copy of “The Tule River Middle Fork and its People” written by Malcolm
Sillars. Read about this wonderful mountain home for many people. Here is an excerpt from Chapter Eight of the book for your enjoyment:
Chapter Eight; Nellie Marshall, Les Bailey and Cedar Slope.
“Don Roscoe, D. K. Richards, and their friends from Culver City came to entertain for only a place to stay and a small fee, for Bar-B-Que weekends. Jan and Gordy Kay (the singing Kays) played and sang there and ran the Inn for Carl and Lynn for one season. Ed Laswell, the balladeer of the
mountain (had the look and sound of Burl Ives) actually got his start when Louie Lewis convinced him to come to Cedar Slope from his summer home at McIntyre Tract and perform. Ed was a math teacher who began to write and sing his own songs. He had a real gift for lyrics. Carl also had a
“Stump Fiddle” and a “Washtub Bass” that anyone was welcome to play. Only a few of the entertainers are mentioned here. The important thing that made Cedar Slope different was that anyone who had an instrument was always welcome to sit in. Any number of different people, including local residents, could be found providing Country Western entertainment at the Cedar Slope
Inn. Sunday afternoons became a particularly popular time which people from all over dubbed Sunday SOS, “Slope on Sunday.” Page 120.

As members of the conservancy, our common interests include the Meadow, Conservancy Yard, buildings and the RV Park. It takes the dedication of volunteers who serve willingly to insure
that we preserve and maintain these areas for the enjoyment and use of the community and visitors.
Thank you to everyone that continuously serves. If you are interested in helping, contact any JMNC Board Member.
Such purposes for why our corporation was organized are to acquire, preserve and maintain for public enjoyment those natural and historic features of the Upper Tule Region of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. We work closely with Communities of the Giant Sequoias, Volunteer Fire Department, Camp Nelson Ambulance Association, Camp Nelson Women’s Club, Camp Nelson Chapel and the local businesses to promote the communities. Please support your Conservancy and Museum. Donations from community members are one of our sources of funds. The John M. Nelson Conservancy is a California Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation and your donations are tax
deductible. We want to express our sincere thanks to all those who have donated to the Conservancy and thank you for your continued support. You may send your contribution to 801 Highway 190, Box 110, Springville, CA 93265 or log-on to the JMNC website. Thank you.
For more current information and events, you can follow us on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/jmnconservancy
We invite you to attend our monthly Board meetings on the second Saturday of each month at 8:00AM in the Conservancy building; 388 Smith Drive, Camp Nelson. The next meeting will be January 11 th , 2025. The December 2024 meeting will not occur.
Check-out the web page at;
www.johnmnelsonconservancy.org
Mailing Address is; 801 Hwy 190, Box 110, Springville, CA 93265
Respectfully Submitted, (December 2024)
Dan McFadzean, Director; JMNC
Email; mcfadzeand@yahoo.com phone.661.978.4679