Miners Basin

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.  

Needless to say, the road was a little bumpy,
 there's enough room for one high clearance 4x4 vehicle

 We climbed 1,800 ft in 3 miles and it took an hour one-way!   

We made it to Miners Basin!
There are several trailheads starting here, but most use it to begin their hike up Mt. Waas

John & Mary enjoying a little lunch before an afternoon hike

Heading up into the basin

This little stream was rushing with cold water

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.

John's adventure lead him to an old mining area

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 

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.

The green chair did have one funny leg . . .

Guess what?  It really was broken!

Pretty pond at Miners Basin

Kent caught several Brook trout

In the evenings we played Kings in the Corner and Rummikub,
Kent had fun showing us a few of his so-called card tricks!

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!

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

Beautiful view of Castle Valley on our way down from Miners Basin

We are just about back to the La Sal Mountain Loop Road . . .
and a few hours away from taking a much needed shower! 

Traveling back home along I-70 through the San Rafael Swell

Mt. Tomasaki

Mt. Tomasaki is the final "T" according to Kent, you say what?  Over the years, Kent has made a list of dream peaks (Mt. Tuk, Taft Peak and Tomasaki) he thinks we should, or need to summit, and Tomasaki is the last "big" one.  We could not have picked a better day for our hike, the temperature was perfect and the aspens were amazing.  The La Sal mountains are beautiful and it was fun share this experience with John and Mary. 

Driving on the Geyser Pass Road towards Burro Pass . . .
Mt. Tomasaki straight ahead!

Best campsite view ever!
(That's Mann's Peak . . . we climbed in 2016)

In the evening the aspens glowed like they were on fire

The La Sal Mountains are especially stunning in the Fall
(Looking south towards Mt. Peale & Mt. Mellenthin)

Yes, we slept in our tent!

Just look at our view . . . wow!

Working our way up the Burro Pass trail . . . that's Mt. Tomasaki

It took almost an hour to reach the Pass, now we'll be on our own  

We were the only hikers on the trail, unless you call a person pushing a bike up the trail a hiker . . .
and there were a few of those!

We continue on . . . 

Kent and John planning out the best route . . . there is no trail going forward
(we needed to find a way around Mann's Peak so we didn't have to summit it as well)

We worked our way along the side of a ridge

We have arrived at the base of Mt. Tomasaki . . . it's intimidating!

Kent starts up towards the top . . . John and I follow

One step at a time . . . very carefully

Mary, was probably the smart one; she watched us from below with her binoculars

Our first view from the top!
Looking north towards Mann's Peak (12,272) and Mt. Waas (12,331) in the distance

Wow, just gorgeous!

Kent, Allison and John on top of Mt. Tomasaki
 We climbed 1,800 ft to an elevation of 12,239 ft

Enjoying the views in all directions

Looking west towards the Burro Pass trail
Haystack Peak (11,641) is in the background

Time to head back down

It's easier said then done

Since there was no trail, we decided to hike down through this gully . . . 
it proved to be very steep and slick

We stopped for a pose by the "WE" sign
"WE" stands for Whole Enchilada, it's a mountain bike trail

Heading back to our campsite in the aspens

What a mountain!  What a great hike!

Here's an aerial view of our route . . .
Red shows our ascent of Mann's Peak in 2016
Teal shows the route we took for Mt. Tomasaki

Lake Peak

There's just something special about the Tushar Mountains, yet very few people have ever heard of them.  Last month we hiked a section of the Skyline National Recreation Trail; when Kent saw Lake Peak I knew I was doomed . . . and now I can say, mission accomplished!

On our way to Lake Peak . . .Kent, Gary & Susan
This was the first time Chipper and Kobe have hiked together

Chipper leads the way

Back in the 1920's sheep overgrazed this area,
trenches were dug in the 1940's to aid in erosion control and water retention

That's Lake Peak (11,310) on the right

Lake Peak is so close we can almost touch it . . . it's about 200 ft. up the to top

  September means Fall is on the horizon,  
that's City Creek Peak (11,181) in the distance . . . a hike for another day!

Great views from the top of Lake Peak, that's Puffer Lake in the distance

Chipper is becoming quite the hiking dog

It's fun to read what people write in the peak registry

Here we are on top! 
 It always feels good to bag a peak, no matter how big or small   

A little over a year ago we hiked up Mt. Holly (11,985) it was Chippers first hike!

Heading back into the forest towards the Trailhead

We saw a few of these arrows carved into the trees to keep us going in the right direction

Chipper really knows how to enjoy a cool drink from Lake Creek 

We stopped at Puffer Lake after the hike.
Lake Peak is the pointed peak in the center

Aspens changing in Merchant Valley on our way back to Beaver