Today's Activities: Today we went off to the area around Gladstone via the Corkscrew Road. We visited one of the unsung locations in the area, Velocity Basin. The end of the trail just below the lake would make a great spot to camp. Later we kicked around Minnehaha Basin with its great views of the Corkscrew Road on the opposite side of the valley. We took the side road to the remains of the Mogul Mine. Our advice to anyone wanting to view the mine is take a look from the Corkscrew or lower portion of the Hurricane Pass road. What's left at the mine isn't worth the ride over the rocky road into the mine workings. We set out up Hurricane Pass with a storm coming in over the opposite side. As we approached the summit past the turnoff for Ross Basin we met a late model Ford F-150 with a couple and their son with an ATV on board that had gone off the edge of the road on a turn. The right front side was down in a drainage ditch at a nasty angle. This truck was ready to roll. Mark had a tow strap in his truck, and volunteered to help them. As we hooked up the vehicles the skies opened up with rain and hail. It was touch and go as Mark started; the front end of the F-150 dropped down and just about started to go over before it slid right and wound up more nose down, but more level. After another try, the truck was back up on the trail. The driver of the F-150 asked Mark what he owed him. Mark told him he didn't want anything; he could repay him by helping someone in trouble in the future. We don't have any digital images to share with you, but we do have a few stills that we'll put up in a few weeks. Miles and Jerry bought Mark a steak dinner at the Outlaw tonight. After all, no good deed should go unrewarded.

Trip Length: 2 hours from Gladstone.

Difficulty Rating: 1 to 2

Trail Condition: This trail is well maintained as it provides access to several summer cabins. There are a few muddy sections but nothing to be concerned with.

Sites along the trail: The remains of the Lead Carbonate Mill can be seen just above the modern mine buildings in Gladstone. Moving up the gulch, the ruins of the Big Colorado Mine and Mill can be seen across the creek as you drive over the tailings of the Natalie-Occidental Mine. After climbing a short hill, the road ends in the upper basin below Storm Peak. A small lake is a short walk away further up the basin. This area would make a great spot to camp.

View of the Red Mountains from the Corkscrew Gulch Trail (55k)

We stopped here along the Corkscrew Gulch trail to admire the views (75k)

Columbine anlong the Corkscrew gulch trail (75k)

View of Gladstone with Velocity basin in the distance (75k)

View looking to the head of Velocity Basin (75k)

View looking down from Velocity Basin towards Gladstone (75k)

View looking down from Velocity Basin towards Gladstone (75k)