Home 7119
- Cima Store is open today, so I stop for a bag of chips and a bottle of blogger Morongo Bill's esteemed Sioux City Sarsaparilla
Sioux City Sarsaparilla is what root beer is supposed to taste like. Morongo Bill's blog comments on a variety of desert issues; worth a look. As I drink up, I realize it's a bit chilly today to be sucking back a cold beverage! - Cima Road rises up to a bridge that crosses over Interstate 15 and I stop at the gas station store here to fuel up on supplies
A large grader, or something like that, is coming down off the bridge. - Cima Dome / Teutonia Peak hike route as viewed in Google Earth
- Cholla cactus along the old Coyote Springs Road
Many chollas dot this area. I always try to keep a safe distance from these spiky guys, who have the reputation of stabbing innocent passers-by. - Cholla cactus
There are lots of these around here; fortunately I haven't been bitten by one yet. - Cholla cacti and barrel cacti pick up the late-afternoon sun while I walk across this area above Cave Spring
- China Hole Trail winds across a meadow on its way up.
With no drop-off on either side of the trail, I'm able to get back on the bike and ride this section. - China Hole Trail rises quickly out of the canyon.
I'm just a couple of switchbacks up and I already have a great view up The Narrows. - China Hole Trail pops out of the shady area and winds its way across an open meadow on the way down into the canyon.
Poverty Flat, which I rode through on day two, is in the canyon between the two hills on the left. - China Hole Trail passes through a lot of chamise again before entering another manzanita-dominated area
The manzanita grove ahead is marked by all the lighter green leaves pushing above the carpet of chamise chaparral. - China Hole Trail passes briefly through a stand of manzanitas
The trail will pass through a denser, shadier stand of manzanitas shortly, but there will be a bit a more open chamise chaparral on the way to there from here. - China Hole Trail levels out a bit and is easier riding for a while.
This stand of manzanitas looks quite young, with their still-slender, lighter-coloured trunks. - China Hole Trail exits the oak woodland on the crest and begins winding its way downhill across grassland
Single-track along hillsides is more fun for regular mountain biking than on a wobbly 10-ton bike that constantly threatens to slide off the edge of the trail. - China Hole Trail enters into a tunnel of manzanitas.
It looks like not much of the bright sunlight makes it in there. - China Hole Trail ends when it reaches Manzanita Point Road.
No more manzanitas to photograph. But the trip isn't over just yet. Park Headquarters is still another two miles away and 400 feet uphill, up Manzanita Point Road. - China Hole Trail drops down 700 feet into the canyon over two miles of nice single-track
This trail is a favourite of mountain-bikers because it provides scenic remoteness and challenges, without being insanely difficult, just a few miles from Henry Coe headquarters. - China Hole campsite this morning.
I managed to sleep in a bit this beautiful Labour Day morning. The enclosing hills here prevent the sun from getting down into the canyon too early and baking the tent. But the sun is shining on the tent now. It was almost, but not quite, cool overnight. I carry out my usual camping breakfast routine of making instant miso soup, coffee, eating handfuls of dry granola, then dried apricots and tamari almonds. - China Hole at sunset, looking northeast toward The Narrows.
Down here at 1150 feet, we're closed in by steep hills all around. This is mostly underwater during the winter months, but all that's left at this time of year are a couple of pools of water. Interesting fire-like reflection in the water. - Chilopsis linearis flowers in close-up
Not many flowers bloom this late in the spring at the lower elevations, but these are still putting on a show for the hummingbirds. I planted one of these trees in my garden in San José, where it's doing fine in clay soil with very little water. - Chicken Water Spring, to my surprise, drips into this shiny, new steel basin
This area was obviously heavily burned during the 2005 "Hackberry Complex" brush fires, so I'm guessing that this spring tub was installed here after the fire. - Chicken Water Spring Road is quite indistinct here and doesn't look like it has been driven often in recent years
Chicken Water Spring Road winds around the remains of an old corral. If I had come up this road on the 10-ton bike, I probably would have been walking it, which is what I anticipated. Columbia Mountain presides in the background. - Chicken Water Spring is off to my right, but I decide to walk straight ahead for a short loop around this end of the valley
Nice sage in front of me. A possible bicycle route on this trip was to camp near the bottom of the rocky slope ahead, where an old road, still open to vehicles, ends. I'm hiking to that location instead. - Chalkboard?
- Centuries of erosion have created this drainage canyon through the south end of Broadwell Mesa in the Kelso Dunes Wilderness
What will this relatively untouched area look like 1000 years from now? Hopefully it won't be covered with solar power plants (and weeds), the kind of thing that current government likes. Natural desert areas like this are these days seen as "wastelands" to be conquered. - Cedar Canyon Road's famous "pavement ends" sign
This sign signifies that I'm leaving pavement for a week and entering a Mojave National Preserve heartland area. I'm at about 4250 feet elevation and the hot Kelso Valley is well behind me now. - Cedar Canyon Road's famous "pavement ends" sign, Mojave National Preserve
Here at about 4200 feet elevation, a cool breeze tempers the waning sun's heat. Just to the left of the sign is the Eagle Rocks, a landmark visible from miles away. I stop to make a cell-phone call, probably my last reception for the next few days. - Cedar Canyon Road turns and heads briefly north toward Pinto Mountain before resuming its westward trek
Hey, I've photographed this before! Here is how it looked here in November 2000. - Cedar Canyon Road rises through a healthy joshua tree forest, with Cima Dome still in the background when I look behind me
Unfortunately, most of the joshua trees on the opposite side of the road (not visible here) were burned during Mojave National Preserve's brush fires of 2005. The old Mojave Road is still visible climbing up the far-away hill. - Cedar Canyon Road junction, another much-needed break, at 3725 feet on Kelso-Cima Road
Another Clif bar and more hot water descends into my gullet. It's still in the 80s here, and I've completed the 14-mile climb up Kelso-Cima Road. I'll start up Cedar Canyon Road toward the Mid Hills in a few minutes, after I stop sweating (yeah, right). - Cedar Canyon Road is scenic, but I'm always so happy when I reach the junction of Black Canyon Road at 5000 feet
I take a break here to cool down and eat another Clif bar before continuing up Black Canyon Road to Mid Hills campground, pretending to photograph things while I linger here. A woman in an RV passes by, looking for directions and we chat for ten minutes. She discovered Mojave National Preserve by chance on her trip and loves it here (she camped at Sunrise Rock near Cima Dome last night). However, the washboarded dirt roads here are difficult for her. - Cedar Canyon Road is now visible: that horizontal line down below
I enjoy starting a hike with a good downhill to get warmed up, and good views, to get inspired. Some people I know greatly prefer saving the downhill for the end of a hike. - Cedar Canyon Road east of the Mid Hills is mostly unpaved, except for this short stretch by a cattle guard
Not much of the old pavement remains... - Cedar Canyon Road dips down into Cedar Wash for a couple of miles
I've seen only a couple of cars on this road, so it's weird to see several all at once. They appear to be part of a group. It's Monday, the end of a long Memorial Day weekend, so there are people leaving Mojave National Preserve who work tomorrow. - Cedar Canyon Road crosses the historic Old Mojave Road
The Old Mojave Road runs parallel to nearby Cedar Canyon Road in much of this area. - Cedar Canyon Road crosses a cattle guard and offers a detour for those not wishing to cross the cattle guard
Cattle guards aren't that awkward to drive over, but judging by the well-worn tracks around this one, some people have a need to avoid them. - Cedar Canyon Road bends again and heads toward Pinto Mountain for a few minutes
I've taken this photo on previous trips out here and can't resist taking it again. I chat briefly with a lone passing motorist who tells me he saw another bicyclist just a short while ago on this road. - Ceanothus along Red Creek Road on Paradise Flat.
This stretch of the road is probably really attractive and fragrant in the spring when the chamise and ceanothus are flowering. However, I enjoy these plants at this dry time of year also. - Cave Spring rock igloos
- Cave Spring igloos
- Cattle-guard on Nipton Road at I-15
I turn around and head back toward Nipton, crossing the freeway again and riding over this cattle-guard along the way. Nipton is down in the valley below on the left (not quite visible in this photo), about nine miles away. - Cattle pond near Wagon Road
- Catching the last hot-red rays of sunset as I walk down Rex Mine Road, with the Providence Mountains behind me
Despite the warm colour, this end-of-day light can have a rather cool feel to it in late November. I think the temperature has already dropped a few degrees since mid-afternoon. - Catching some shade on Bear Spring Road (much of the road is exposed to the sun and not shady at all).
I know that feeling of very hot sun and it's definitely in the mid-90s today. There are a few shady spots on this road and I'll enjoy each of them. So far, each day on this trip has been a couple of degrees warmer than the previous one. This feels odd after the rather cool summer we've had in San José this year. I wonder if this heat is just happening here in the uplands, or if San José is getting it too. It's generally a bit hotter up here anyway, which keeps park visitors at a minimum during the hot season (which is OK with me!) The hat that I'm wearing is an old Tilley hat that my stepdad gave me many years back. - Castle Peaks Road heads across the land toward a slot between the rolling hills at upper-left
My views of the Castle Peaks are getting closer. - Castle Peaks Road ends after 30 minutes; I start riding the Barnwell-Searchlight railway grade and find this stray balloon
This Mother's Day balloon speaks Spanish (Feliz dia mama). It goes into my saddlebags for later disposal. - Castle Peaks Road beyond the dry reservoir continues to deteriorate
Here I follow a brief detour to the left around a completely eroded segment of the road. The detour is the smoothest part of the road beyond the reservoir. - Canteen Trail keeps heading upward.
Once you get part of the way up the hill, there's not much shade to be had. - Canteen Spring is full but not flowing.
Despite significant algae on the surface, the water at Canteen Spring looks clean and clear. - Can dump at the mine site at the end of the middle fork of Globe Mine Road
Several old can dumps dot this area, so it seems to have been inhabited for a while. - Campground Peaks hiking route elevation profile
1.5 hiking miles, 500 feet elevation gain. - Campground Peaks hiking route (in blue)
1.5 hiking miles, 500 feet elevation gain. - Camp slowly gets packed up, and I lazily leave my Pine Spring campsite around 11h30
Today I've decided to ride into nearby Searchlight, Nevada, skirting around the east side of the Wee Thump Wilderness on a dirt road. This is not part of my original plan, but it won't take me significantly out of my way. Plans are made to be changed! - Camp is set up near Indian Springs!
I'm not quite sure yet what to think of this spot. I generally don't like to camp at locations that are too obviously car-accessible. I'm three miles away from the pavement of Kelbaker Road up a nondescript road, which is good, but the fact that this area has been used for garbage-dumping suggests that it might be more well-known than I'd like. I'm hoping that most family-oriented folks have other things to do on Xmas day than dump their garbage in a remote corner of Mojave National Preserve where I'm camped out. - Camouflaged in the rocks is a small concrete dam to retain water running down from the hills
I take a peek, and it's dry right now. - Camille's Fish n Chips, Barrington Street, Halifax, 1984
Camille's Fish n Chips was renowned for making the best fish n chips in Halifax back in the day, according to so many people's comments—and my taste buds agree. This photo was taken a few years before the owner, Maman Camille, retired and sold the business, and the building was demolished as part of a street-widening urban-renewal project. - Cady Peak, behind my hat, is not all that far away, but I'm not really on the route up to the peak
I'll enjoy the view from here, since I won't make it that far today. - Cady Mountains hike elevation profile
8.3 hiking miles and about 2000 feet of elevation gain. - Cactus-flower close-up, next to Wee Thump Wilderness, Nevada
Cactus flowers sometimes remind me of roses. - Cactus buddies
- Cactus
- Cactus
- Cacti and a few blue phacelia flowers enjoy the shade under this pinyon pine in the McCullough Mountains
Unlike most of this area, this part of the saddle is almost level in places. - By 9h, the contents of my campsite on Cornfield Spring Road has been decisively packed into my bloated saddlebags
I've eaten my usual dry camp breakfast with hot tea and am pretty much ready to leave. One final glance around to make sure that I'm not leaving anything here... - By 9h, it's too hot in the tent, and I have no choice but to get up and start today's hike to Keystone Spring
It's hot inside my tent and I've opened "the lid" to get more air inside without bringing in flies, or having the hot sun shine on me. I sweat a bit while eating breakfast (hard to swallow) and drinking two cups of cold coffee. - Butterfly
- Butterflies like this moist sand along the edge of the drying-up creek bed
I've seen a dozen or two butterflies in this immediate area. There's a lot of bug life around here, and some birds too, including quite a few mourning doves. - Butcher Knife Canyon hike as viewed in Google Earth
- But first, I'll stop to finish off this last delicious piece of orange-flavored chocolate
I hesitate to bring chocolate on warm-weather hiking trips because it melts and makes a mess. But the moderate temperatures so far on this trip make me happy that I brought chocolate this time! - Bushwhacking my way through more reeds
I'm starting to get used to walking through this tall stuff and am getting less prissy about it. Nonetheless, snakes, including rattlesnakes, sometimes like these moist areas, so it's important that I keep looking down as I make my way. - Burro trails
- Burned joshua trees are scattered across this plain, but fragments of the old juniper forest survived the 2005 brush fires
On the other side of upper Ivanpah Valley are the Ivanpah Mountains, which I haven't explored, and the Clark Mountain Range pokes up in the background. - Burned joshua tree near Butcher Knife Canyon, Mojave National Preserve
This dead joshua tree has more reach than most. The burned trees in this area suggest that the Mojave National Preserve "Hackberry Complex" lightning fires of 2005 reached this area. - Burned desert willow (chilopsis linearis) in Bull Canyon wash, Mojave National Preserve
Quite clearly, there was once a brush fire here in Bull Canyon. - Burned conifers, Stanislaus National Forest, 2020
- Burned brush, Henry Coe State Park
- Bumpy, bumpy, slowly uphill pedaling on the upper part of Black Canyon Road
I'm getting tired, going down with the sun. The peace and quiet is most enjoyable; I haven't seen a motor vehicle since meeting the French tourists before getting on the dirt road to Woods Wash. - Bummer, no Chinese breakfast on the menu (who would order such "weird stuff"?), so I order scrambled eggs and bacon
The otherwise unremarkable breakfast gets a kick when the waiter asks me if I like it "really hot" (I asked for hot sauce, expecting Tobasco). His "really hot" sauce is Chinese chili paste: nice, tasty, and fortunately not as hot as the chili oil I make at home! Thanks! - Bull Canyon winds around another interesting bend
Lots of exposed rock layering here. - Bull Canyon widens a little after passing through the narrows
I keep walking up the canyon, wondering what might be around the next corner. A large covey of quail is frightened by my passing and their noises are quite alarming due to the echo effect in the canyon. - Bull Canyon hike route from campsite on Kelso Dunes power-line road
11.5 hiking miles, 2140 feet elevation gain. - Bulb
- Buildings at Rock Tank, Aiken Mine Road, Mojave National Preserve
The doorway in the concrete wall leads into the dugout. - Bugs abound at Keystone Spring, as happy to have water as I am
My main concern is the many yellow jackets that are buzzing around the water. I'm highly allergic to those things. A yellow-jacket sting sent me to the emergency room last summer, but there are no emergency rooms in this part of the Mojave Desert. - Buddha Rock, Mojave National Preserve
- Buckwheats are still flowering along this stretch of Ivanpah Road
I remember seeing quite a few buckwheats while hiking in this area along the old railway grade a week ago. - Buckwheat, Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest
- Buckwheat flowers pop out between dark rocks that absorb the hot sun in Saddle Horse Canyon
These plants seem to love getting fried in the sun! Rocks like these often become hot to the touch during the hotter season. - Bubbles in the rocks
... erosion and more. The rocks break apart, and then fall. - Brrr! It's really cold up here at Mid Hills campground tonight
I had been worrying that this trip might be too hot to enjoy! I wear my outer shell over my sweater to stay warm, but it's not really enough. A bandana substitutes for a warm hat that I didn't bring. The high winds aren't quite as menacing and constant as last night. I write notes in my journal and sip a bit of brandy during the evening. I fall asleep in my sleeping bag with all my clothes on, during a silent moment between howling wind gusts, hoping that I'll stay asleep. - Broadwell Natural Arch South
- Broadwell Natural Arch North
- Brilliant Indian Paintbrush never fails to get one's attention!
This is one plant I should try growing in my garden at home. - Bright-red Indian paintbrush near the bottom of Juniper Spring wash
A purple desert sage and a garden of barrel cacti fill the backdrop. - Bright, sunny morning, cool breeze, perfect for the hike that I've planned up the adjacent Sleeping Beauty hills
I'm a bit tired from yesterday's ride from Barstow to here, but feeling pretty good, and happy to be here. - Bright sunshine at the bottom of the Lava Tube ladder
So, what is this? The Lava Tube is just a big air pocket that formed when lava was flowing and cooling here. - Bright sunshine and a bit of smoke in the air as I look down toward "The Racetrack" in Death Valley National Park
- Bright sun warms up this cold November morning at Hole-in-the-Wall Campground, Mojave National Preserve
Again, I didn't sleep well last night due to the cold. I make a nice hot breakfast of Mountain High vegetable curry, which I decide is not their best backpacking meal, but it does hit the spot. - Bright red hummingbird flowers growing in the gravelly drainage west of Pinto Mountain
From what I've read, this looks like Ipomopsis arizonica. - Breezes keep the tent somewhat cool after the hot sun wakes me at 7h30, then I ride over to Hole-in-the-Wall Visitor Centre
I'm a bit tired this morning because I had a hard time getting to sleep last night: it stayed warm until late. It's hot again today, so I think I'll skip a considered ride to Foshay Pass and do a short hike in nearby Borrego Canyon instead. - Breaking camp on the final morning of a trip produces mixed emotions
I feel like I'm just getting into this trip, and don't want it to end so soon. On the other hand, I'm glad that I won't find myself sleeping uncomfortably outside in the cold tonight. - Breaking camp and packing up
So much for being up early, it's already past 11h and I'm still not on the road yet. Procrastination rules! But I have to get to Kelso Depot soon because almost all my water bottles are empty. - Breakfast this morning is a hot meal, not my usual routine of granola, dried fruit and nuts
Mountain House Beef Stew, one of my favourite add-boiling-water-to-bag meals. I fear it might be a heavy start to the day, but it turns out that I really need a bigger meal than usual. - Breakfast in Searchlight means McDonald's again (ugh); I admire the old Colton Mine headframe on the way back to my motel room
I kept waking up with weird dreams all night long, but always fell back asleep instantly. I have a "big breakfast" (scrambled eggs, hotcakes, biscuit, sausage and hash-brown patty) plus an extra Egg McMuffin. McDonald's iced coffee is surprisingly decent, but it takes special effort for them to make it black for me (not put milk in it). - Breakfast at Emigrant Campground
My picnic table after a simple breakfast of coffee, granola, almonds, dried apricots and instant miso soup with seaweed; and more coffee. I had even more coffee earlier with Phil and Renée at the camp site across from me. They showed me where crows pecked a big hole through the plastic container of water that they had left outside on their picnic table overnight. Phil also had some extra replacement bolts to offer me for my bike rack, in case my temporary bolt fails. It's only 9h00, but it's a hot day already. As usual, my sleep was abruptly terminated this morning by the hot sun making it extremely hot inside my tent. The first thing to do after opening one's eyes is to open the tent as quickly as possible to get some air inside! I'm feeling a bit tired, both muscularly and sleep-wise, but that won't stop me. I consider a hike across the fan and up Lemoigne Canyon a few miles in the background, but I instinctively want to go higher up into cooler air today. I haven't figured out yet whether hiking or riding would be best for my sore knee. - Break time! A Clif bar, and more water, which is already rather warm
I'm in disbelief that I screwed up this short hike! If the sun weren't so hot and I weren't sweating so much, I would just continue to Cornfield Spring. I would also continue if I knew that the spring has a bit of water for me, but I don't know that. - Break time on the lower-middle section of Willow Ridge Trail!
Nice place for a break. - Brant Road hugs the train track as it curves to follow the route toward Cima, Mojave National Preserve
Brant Road really hugs the tracks along this stretch. Fortunately, one of the tracks is gravel-free and makes for decent single-track bicycling. - Brant Road dips down again to cross a wash, with the adjacent train tracks crossing the wash on an old concrete bridge
This trestle is dated 1926, like some others along Brant Road. - Bovines along Wild Horse Canyon Road
I wonder if these are the same cows that I saw earlier today while riding Gold Valley Road, not far from here. - Boulders strewn about in Piute Canyon
- Boulders frame this view over to Hackberry Mountain from the south flank of Table Mountain
- Boulder with heavy-duty wire tied around it
The wire leads down into the adjacent mine shaft in the next photo. Hmmm... - Boulder glow
- Borrego Canyon splits into a north and south fork; I choose to follow the south fork
Since I'm not familiar with this area, I randomly choose to follow the south fork of Borrego Canyon. The south fork looks like it might make an easier ascent up to adjacent Wild Horse Mesa, should I decide to hike that far. - Borrego Canyon is quite rocky, making for slow hiking, as I thought might be the case
It's usually impossible to walk in a straight line here! - Borrego Canyon is quite pristine, except for the cow grazing and this fresh roll of barbed wire
Looks like someone constructing a range fence in the area hasn't finished the job yet... Since nobody ever comes back here, nobody is likely to steal the goods! - Borrego Canyon hiking: climb over the rocks
During the midday heat, the rocks are warm, almost hot, to the touch. - Borrego Canyon hike route, Mojave National Preserve, elevation profile
4.6 hiking miles shown, 16.7 bicycle miles not shown. - Borrego Canyon hike route, Mojave National Preserve
Bicycle route in red, hiking route in blue. 4.6 hiking miles and 16.7 bicycle miles. - Bones in wash near Silver Lead Spring, Mojave National Preserve
A burro was here? I haven't encountered any burros on any of my Mojave National Preserve trips yet, but I know they're around. - Bone scatter
- Bolder Spring hike route viewed in Google Earth
- Board Spring Road veers off County Line Road into the brush in the middle of the photo on a slight downhill along the edge of the mountain.
Board Spring Road veers off County Line Road into the brush in the middle of the photo on a slight downhill along the edge of the mountain. - Bluish turquoise glass
I'm noticing a number of broken glass pieces of this colour around this site. - Bluejay Mine Road, Mojave National Preserve
A short but excellent mountain-bike ride in Mojave National Preserve. - Bluejay Mine Road snakes around below Wild Horse Mesa
From here, Wild Horse Mesa looks rather inaccessible, but it isn't, with a bit of effort which is well worth the sweat incurred. - Bluejay Mine Road rises out of the wash, sort of, but is really bumpy, and a bit uphill, so I'm now walking more than riding
This area burned badly during the 2005 "Hackberry Complex" brush fires, but slow signs of recovery are apparent. Some of the bright green shrubs in the area are young juniper trees. - Bluejay Mine Road improves as it rolls downward, a most excellent mountain-biking road
It's only about 1.5 miles long, but with no traffic, it's perfect. - Bluejay Mine Road gets a bit better after rising out of the sandy wash
It's slightly uphill, but has good traction here, so it's good mountain-bike riding again, at least for a few feet. - Bluejay Mine Road enters a wash and I look at the tracks I've carved behind me
It's a bit sandy here. Other tracks here indicate that motor vehicles have come this far a few times and turned around, probably fearing that the road would worsen. - Bluejay Mine Road ends here, so I stash my bike in the brush, lock it up, and begin today's hike
Before I begin climbing the big hill, I'll make a quick stop at the entrance to the old Bluejay Mine over there. - Bluejay Mine Road appears to my right about six miles from Mid Hills campsite 22, at about 4740 feet elevation
This rough road is only about 1.5 miles long. I never even noticed this road while riding down Wild Horse Canyon Road during my previous Mojave National Preserve trips. I was too busy enjoying the rides. - Blue Ridge, Henry Coe State Park
- Blue Ridge, Henry Coe State Park
- Blue Jay Mine Road is slightly downhill during most of its 1.7 miles back to Wild Horse Canyon Road
Fun mountain biking! Slight downhill with just enough sand, ruts and rocks to require attention while riding, but not so much that it makes travel difficult. - Blue flowers in the Bolder Spring wash
I think these are a phacelia species. I'm seeing quite a few of them around sometimes, but they're not as common as the more greyish phacelias that I'm also seeing around here. Maybe they're both the same plant. - Blue dicks
- Blue delphiniums (Delphinium parishii) flowering near some yellowish hopsage (Grayia spinosa)
Desert colour juxtapositions are often so subtle, and yet striking after you've been living in the desert for a day or more. - Blooming daturas decorate the train tracks along Kelso-Cima Road
Daturas like the roadsides of the Kelso area, but I find them in higher-elevation locations as well. - Bladderpod (Isomeris arborea) flowering and fruiting on the hillside behind my tent near Indian Springs
I like this plant enough that I would try growing one in my yard back in San José if I thought it would tolerate the wet winters back there. - Black rocks that look like giant charcoal briquets
... on the right side of Highway 127 approaching Shoshone from the north. - Black Diamond Spring hike from Barnett Mine, Mojave National Preserve
7.5 round-trip hiking miles with about 1200 feet of hiking elevation gain (plus 22.3 round-trip bicycle miles from Mid Hills Campground) - Black Canyon Road's grade here ranges from three to seven per cent, with a bit of loose sand on a hard washboard surface
This is one of the toughest parts of today's ride, as it always is when I ride to Mid Hills campground. - Black Canyon Road winds through the Colton Hills as it approaches Essex Road
I'm back in low-elevation creosote bush scrub now. This road is fairly well-travelled, but these hills are probably not often visited, and might make a good stop for a day hike (though I don't have time today). - Black Canyon Road rises up from Cedar Canyon Road toward the Mid Hills, Mojave National Preserve
It's not all that steep, but on a heavily loaded bike near the end of a long, warm day, it can feel like a sharp uphill. The heavy 2.35" Serfas Swoop mountain tires that I put on the bike for this trip are really helping. - Black Canyon Road is often straight, but it meanders when passing through Black Canyon
The typical Mojave south wind here pushes me from behind, making the climb back up to Mid Hills campground fairly easy. - Black Canyon Road flattens out as it crosses Round Valley, Mojave National Preserve
I'll turn left at the boulder pile ahead and ride up the final two miles of upper Wild Horse Canyon Road back to Mid Hills campground. - Black Canyon Road climbs up above the wash while passing through the canyon
This keeps the road from getting too water-damaged, but the road surface is heavily washboarded nonetheless. My bones rattle. - Black Canyon Road climbs slowly the next eight miles toward Mid Hills Campground
I even pass a couple of cars along this stretch of road. - Bla, I can't ride through this deep kitty litter, it's getting dark, and I'm not down at Devil's Playground yet
Sometimes a downhill is not a downhill. I can make out another connection to the "high road" ahead. Climbing up a steep hill or three might be more fun than dragging the bike through kitty litter. - Birds use these two cavelets high up in the rock wall, and one of them is occupied by a nest
Only flying critters can make it up into these places. You don't want to be standing underneath when that white stuff splatters down the rock wall from their perches. - Bird residence
- Bird droppings on rocks above the natural tank suggest that ledges up there might be used as nests
I suppose I could climb up there and take a closer look, but right now I'm wondering if I can climb up the small dry waterfall here and hike further up the wash. - Bird
- Bill's dog keeps me company while he prepares our meals
Two other tables at the café arrived before me, so it takes a while to get my meal, since everything is cooked to order by Bill. Excellent meal, and it's worth eating here even if you are just passing through and not staying at Nipton. Satiated after the big meal and the evening's beer fest, I fall asleep in my tent around 22h45. - Bike standing on the edge of County Line Road at the trailhead of the Hartman Trail (closed to bikes)
Bike standing on the edge of County Line Road at the trailhead of the Hartman Trail (closed to bikes), which descends down into the Orestimba Valley. Would make a great hike. - Bighorn-sheep-head rock?
- Bighorn sheep pieces
- Bighorn Basin Mine hike as viewed in Google Earth (5.25 miles)
- Bigger sandy drainages cross Jackass Canyon Road on the way down
I'm looking back at one of the little sand traps that I just drove through. Just enough of these punctuate the road that I'm not able to build up much speed. Each sand crossing provides an entertaining technical exercise. Too fast and it's easy to fishtail, lose control of the rig, and then crash, but too slow means that the tires tend to slow down and get mired in the sand, causing the rider to come to an involuntary stop. - Bigelow's monkeyflowers and pine cones
- Big rigs park at the Ludlow gas station with the Sleeping Beauty mountains as a sunset backdrop
Gee, I was up on one of those ridges a few days ago... Tomorrow I'll head to the Cady Mountains, behind Sleeping Beauty for one last hike before I head back to San José. I watch pointless crime shows on TV, send texts from my motel room, and sleep well. - Big pine cones litter the trail near Bear Spring.
Big pine cones litter the trail near Bear Spring. - Big manzanita along the trail.
I had a lot of problems at this point and had to drag the 10-ton bike across the trail and back, creating my own switchbacks which aren't part of the trail. I'm hot and tired, and the temperature must be around 90 degrees. I'm going through lots and lots of water. - Big grasses in the dry creek bed at China Hole, looking southwest down the canyon.
These grasses remind me of muhlenbergia, except that these have tall flower stalks rising up out of the middle. - Big boulders in Piute Canyon
Most of the time, I'm easily able to walk around these, so far. - Big ant hill at the mouth of my chosen canyon in the Cady Mountains with a nice view of Broadwell Dry Lake
Hyten Spring, where I hiked a few days ago, is behind the Bristol Mountains peaks at the left. - Bicycle route: Mail Spring to Mid Hills Campground via New York Mountains Road
27.4 bicycle miles and about 1800 feet elevation gain. - Bicycle route: Mail Spring to Mid Hills Campground via New York Mountains Road
27.4 bicycle miles and about 1800 feet elevation gain. - Bicycle route: Button Mountain to Baker via Aiken Mine and Lava Tube, Mojave National Preserve (Day 16)
33.9 bicycle miles, from 4150 feet down to 935 feet. - Bicycle route to Castle Peaks, Mojave National Preserve from Searchlight, Nevada
26 bicycle miles and about 2000 feet of elevation gain. - Bicycle route profile: Button Mountain to Baker via Aiken Mine and Lava Tube, Mojave National Preserve (Day 16)
33.9 bicycle miles, from 4150 feet down to 935 feet. - Bicycle route from Twin Buttes campsite to Nipton via Cima: Day 15
50.9 often-downhill bicycle miles. High point of the day on Black Canyon Road: 5346 feet elevation; low point (near Nipton): 2624 feet elevation. - Bicycle route from Primm, Nevada to Pine Spring area, McCullough Mountains, Nevada
29.3 bicycle miles plus about 3500 feet of elevation gain. - Bicycle route from Pine Spring, McCullough Mountains to Searchlight
19.2 miles and about 1500 feet of elevation loss. - Bicycle route from Pachalka Spring to Button Mountain, via Aiken Mine Road, Mojave National Preserve (Day 15)
22 bicycle miles, from 4875 feet at Pachalka Spring down to 3400 feet, up to 4235 feet, then down to 4150 feet. Average speed only 5.3 miles per hour! - Bicycle route from Nipton to Brant Hills
19 bicycle miles and over 1000 feet of elevation gain. - Bicycle route from my Cornfield Spring Road campsite to Mid Hills campground, via Kelso-Cima Road (Day 3)
27.9 bicycle miles from my Cornfield Spring Road campsite to Mid Hills campground, rising from 2125 feet at Kelso Depot to 5600 feet. - Bicycle route from Mid Hills Campground to Twin Buttes area
Easy day: 16.4 bicycle miles plus about 800 feet of elevation gain (and a fun 1700 feet of elevation drop). - Bicycle route from Mid Hills Campground to Pinto Valley, Mojave National Preserve
16.2 bicycle miles with about 850 feet of elevation gain, an easy day! - Bicycle route from Mid Hills campground to Nipton via Cima and Morning Star Mine Road (Day 9)
42 bicycle miles. - Bicycle route from Mid Hills campground to Nipton via Cima and Morning Star Mine Road
41.7 bicycle miles, mostly downhill, from 5600 feet elevation to 3030 feet. - Bicycle route from Mid Hills campground to Howe Spring (Day 6)
- Bicycle route from Ludlow to Bristol Mountains campsite
10.6 miles and 600 feet of elevation gain, some of it walked. - Bicycle route from Kelso Dunes area to Baker via Kelbaker Road
48.9 bicycle miles, 2195 feet of elevation gain, 3730 feet of elevation loss. - Bicycle route from Devil's Playground to Cornfield Spring Road via Jackass Canyon and Kelso Depot
31 bicycle miles (several miles walked) and 2739 feet elevation gain. - Bicycle route from Cima Dome (Sunrise Rock) to Pachalka Spring, Mojave National Preserve (Day 12)
19.2 bicycle miles with 1370 feet of elevation gain. - Bicycle route from Castle Peaks campsite to Mid Hills campground via Cedar Canyon Road
42.5 dirt-road bicycle miles plus about 2300 feet of elevation gain. - Bicycle route from Bristol Mountains to Broadwell Dry Lake campsite via Ludlow
18.8 bicycle miles with about 500 feet of elevation gain. - Bicycle route from Brant Hills to Baker via old Mojave Road, Mojave National Preserve
51.9 bicycle miles with 1600 feet of elevation gain and 4600 feet of elevation loss (exaggerated by the GPS software). - Bicycle route from Baker to Devil's Playground campsite northwest of Old Dad Mountain
20.8 bicycle miles with an average speed of just 6.1 miles per hour and elevation gain of 1560 feet. - Bicycle route elevation profile from Mid Hills campground to Blue Jay Mine via Wild Horse Canyon Road, Mojave National Preserve
15.7 bicycle miles with 1800 feet elevation gain. - Bicycle route elevation from Cady Mountains to Barstow via Route 66
46.2 bicycle miles and about 1000 feet of elevation gain. - Bicycle route (red) and hiking route (blue), Cave Spring, Mojave National Preserve
4.7 hiking miles, plus 17.6 bicycle miles. - Bicycle route (in red) from Mid Hills campground to Blue Jay Mine via Wild Horse Canyon Road, Mojave National Preserve
15.7 bicycle miles with 1800 feet elevation gain. - Beyond Willson Camp, some of the rise on Wagon Road is very gentle and easy to ride as it rolls along the ridges
This five-mile upper portion of Wagon Road between two places that I know, Willson Camp and Coit Road, is new to me and has wonderful views to the east. It only rises a few hundred feet. - Beyond Willow Spring, my goal is to hike over the hills and be back at my campsite at the end of Castle Peaks Road before dark
I check my GPS and decide to follow a small drainage out of Willow Wash that briefly heads toward the cliffs here before climbing a hill to the left (eastward). - Beyond the purple sage, it looks like the area around Death Valley Mine might be getting a shower right now
I often ride the unimproved Death Valley Mine Road over to Cima when I'm out here, but today I'll ride more of semi-busy Kelso-Cima Road for a change. - Beyond the old lava, Kelbaker Road continues to rise slowly
Looking back at the long, gentle hill that I've climbed, and am still climbing. - Beyond the Nipton campground, I see storm clouds over the Castle Peaks, those pointy distant mountains
Tomorrow I'll ride up to that area and camp for a couple of days.