Last year we hiked up to Gold Knob from Warner Lake and got a glimpse of Miners Basin, it has intrigued Kent ever since. Fast forward a year, we took the plunge and drove the grueling road into Miners Basin. Don't attempt this road by yourself, it's probably best suited for off-road vehicles. In fact, we saw 5 ATV's and no other vehicles, they were quite surprised to see us when they arrived.
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Needless to say, the road was a little bumpy,
there's enough room for one high clearance 4x4 vehicle |
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| We climbed 1,800 ft in 3 miles and it took an hour one-way! |
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We made it to Miners Basin!
There are several trailheads starting here, but most use it to begin their hike up Mt. Waas |
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| John & Mary enjoying a little lunch before an afternoon hike |
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| Heading up into the basin |
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This little stream was rushing with cold water
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| We are taking it easy today |
After hiking for twenty to thirty minutes we each decided to take a different approach to the afternoon. John kept ascending up Miners Basin trail, while Kent, Allison and Mary decided to return to camp. Kent and Allison went fishing and Mary decided a good book was in order.
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| John's adventure lead him to an old mining area |
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On his way back he noticed this abandoned mine shaft that he had walked by earlier
Peering in from outside he snapped a picture by illuminating the shaft with a flashlight |
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| Heading back to our campsite |
Before we left on our short hike we met some folks from Kansas who had driven up to the Basin on their ATV's to have a picnic. As we were leaving, we mentioned that they were welcome to use our chairs if they liked . . . and that one of them had a broken leg. I guess they didn't hear us and when we returned this is the nice note we found attached to our windshield.
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| The green chair did have one funny leg . . . |
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| Guess what? It really was broken! |
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| Pretty pond at Miners Basin |
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| Kent caught several Brook trout |
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In the evenings we played Kings in the Corner and Rummikub,
Kent had fun showing us a few of his so-called card tricks! |
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A few minutes after this picture was taken we lost yet another chair,
Kent fell through the makeshift table/stool he was sitting on . . . making it a twofer! |
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Kent claims he doesn't know how to cook, he must be hungry!
Notice the broken "chair" (now serving as a table) from last nights card game |
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| Beautiful view of Castle Valley on our way down from Miners Basin |
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We are just about back to the La Sal Mountain Loop Road . . .
and a few hours away from taking a much needed shower!
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Traveling back home along I-70 through the San Rafael Swell
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