Home 7119
- Just enjoying the view...
- Rainbow
- Dry lake storm brewing
- On-stage
- Tic tac toe
- Sundown over Poverty Flat
- Miller Field, Henry Coe State Park
- Dusk, Wagon Road
- Cattle pond near Wagon Road
- Tree of vultures, Center Flats Road
- Unexploded ordnance
- Slow burial
- We were here
- Not quite random
- Historic fencing
- Space between two houses, Bodie Ghost Town
- Arriving Primm, end of dirt road, entering the new suburban wasteland
Almost at Primm, just a bit more dirt-road pedalling to go. Always sad to see another great Mojave trip end, but the satisfaction of completing the trip is a good feeling. - Time to get acquainted with my tent cabin at Nipton where I'll be spending the night
I've arrived quite early, so I have lots of time to imbibe in good beer and relax before having supper at the café. They sell Fat Tire beer here, just for the 10-ton bike perhaps. - I ride a couple hundred feet on pavement, then pull over into the Nipton parking lot to rent for tent cabin for the night
I've stayed here quite a few times now, and I'm early today. Historic and a bit gritty without being ghetto; suits my style. I like watching the noisy freight trains go past. - Next stop Nipton!
After 10 miles on the Nipton-Moore Road that hugs the train tracks, Nipton is that patch of trees just up ahead. I keep seeing a few of my tire tracks on this road from a week ago. - 10 beautiful-but-bumpy miles of riding along the train tracks from Ivanpah Rd to Nipton
I always like riding this stretch of road, especially in the downhill direction like now, and I pass no other vehicles along here this afternoon on my way to Nipton, which is usually the case. - I zoom down the short paved stretch of Ivanpah Rd between Slaughterhouse Spring and the train tracks
1.5 miles of gentle downhill in a glorious 10 minutes, remarkable in its ease compared to most parts of these usually slow desert trips. I pass the old Ivanpah store before arriving at the train tracks. Then on to another dirt road. - Ken and I chat for a while on the side of Ivanpah Road while his dog discovers roadkill nearby
Probably a coyote, hard to tell what it is for sure! - Time for some fun: downhill riding on Ivanpah Road toward Ivanpah Valley, leaving the inner part of Mojave Preserve
Such a great downhill ride, my reward for the not-so-easy task of riding up this with the 10-ton bike a week ago. A car driving up the road pulls over, and it's Ken, who apparently stumbled across this web site a few days ago. Conversation time! - I'm packed up and ready to leave my Ivanpah Road campsite near Bathtub Spring
I camped here last night near Bathtub Spring in case I would need more water. However, I still have enough water to get me to Nipton later today, so I'll pass on one final walk up to the spring. - It was cold overnight, but I wake up to one last beautiful desert morning in Mojave National Preserve
It's my last morning and I only have 15 miles to get to Nipton, and it's mostly downhill, so there's no rush this morning. A couple of cups of instant Starbuck's coffee, the usual dried fruit and granola, and a cup of vitamin C drink get me started. - After our hearty chat, Ken drives away and I remount the 10-ton bike for the ride down Ivanpah Road on my way to Nipton
I'm glad I didn't do my planned walk over to Bathtub Spring earlier; I wouldn't have met Ken. - Back on the 10-ton bike, riding down the dirt of Ivanpah Road, the pavement starts by that sign just ahead
Counting the seconds until I reach smooooth pavement... And, enjoying staring ahead at the Ivanpah Mountains in the middleground, and the Clark Mountain Range in the background. Gotta explore those places more. - Back on a dirt road (Nipton-Moore Road): straight ahead are the McCullough Mountains; I wish I had time to head up there today
I explored a corner of the southern McCullough Mountains on my 2011 trip out here. Today, I'm headed to Nipton, that blit of buildings at centre-left in the photo. I'm still riding along the railway tracks, which are just outside the photo on the right. - Gotta love the bureaucrat sign here: This road is not maintained by San Bernardino County, etc
I snap a photo almost every time I pass by here. This is near the old Moore siding (no buildings here), so Nipton is just another 5 miles further. - My dirt-road riding comes to an end today as I arrive at the highway that is Nipton Road
I've ridden the sometimes-busy Nipton Road many times during previous trips. Today I've preferred the slower. bumpier Nipton-Moore Road than the smooth pavement of Nipton Road. but sometimes I like the pavement better. - I can see the New York Mountains peaks from the porch of tonight's tent cabin at Nipton
Gee, I've been over in that area during the past few days, propelled by human power... - The other tent cabins on the Nipton property are vacant tonight, so it should be a quiet evening
Looking forward to supper at the Nipton Café shortly; I'm hungry again. A Hispanic family now runs the café (Bill, the former operator, passed away last year), so there's some good home-style Mexican food to be had. - The nearly full moon is up already over the New York Mountains, waiting for the sun to go down
... and I'm waiting for the café to open for my evening meal. - After a good meal at the Nipton Café with good company, the real luxury is a shower for the first time after 8 backcountry days
The shower building is an interesting semi-permanent quonset hut with wood planks over the natural sand floor. - I get a good fire going in the stove in my Nipton tent cabin, but it takes me a while; I'm in bed before midnight
Though the thermometer hit 70F today, it's in the 40s tonight, so the added warmth feels luxurious after a week of chilly backcountry nights. I get to bed before midnight and get up at 5h for the 12-mile ride to Primm to catch my Amtrak bus. - I leave the bliss of my Nipton tent cabin before sunrise for the 12-mile ride to Primm, purposefully, as if it were a work day
The sun is just barely starting to appear as I ride past the old corral on Nipton-Desert Rd, a bit before the old pavement runs out. My feet and fingers are already really cold! Since I'm not a morning person, I always forget how cold mornings can be! - After passing Desert siding, no more pavement, and the final 7 miles to Primm will be on this bumpy surface
The ever-so-slight downhill here means the road is slightly faster in this direction, but I still can't ride at more than 10 mph. Too bumpy, and I'm still half-asleep. The rough road should be making me more awake, but isn't. - As the sun begins to rise, the Clark Mountain Range catches a nice pink light
Since I'm not much of a morning person, I don't get to see sunrise all that often. It's a treat, despite my cold toes as I pedal onward toward Primm. And that industrial solar installation over there, bleh... - I'm enjoying the sunrise glow, but anxious for the sun to rise completely and warm up my cold fingers!
The bumps on the road are definitely waking me up, even though I didn't have enough sleep last night. - As the sun rises, the light cast on the Clark Mountain Range slowly morphs from pink to orange
The solar plant being built at the foot of the mountains permanently scars the landscape. Funny how you can plow a natural landscape down and then call it green, just because it's *solar* plant being built (a government land give-away, really). - Pink and orange morning light have disappeared; now it's merely golden light
The industrial solar plant over there is interesting in a techno way, but the area was so much better without it. This kind of techno crap belongs in the city, so we can have real natural landscapes to explore when we leave town to visit public lands. - At Primm, I stop for breakfast at the Mad Greek, and follow up with coffee at the Starbuck's; see y'all next year...
Nice to have a big lazy breakfast and hot coffee again! After this, I ride over to the other side of the freeway to catch my Amtrak bus. After a few hours on the bus, I'm back on the Amtrak train heading up the Central Valley; I'll arrive home around 22h. The amazing thing is that I meet someone on the train who was on the train on my way out here. Furthermore, we met on this train last year at the same time! I keep meeting interesting people on the train that I would never have met had I driven out here in my own car. Like Alex, last year... Yes, I've met a few duds on Amtrak too, but meeting great people is always nice. - It's so quiet up here on Ivanpah Road at sunset; I'm hoping the quiet lasts the whole night
I hear a few crickets, but there's no wind at all right now, and no cars on the road. Only two have passed me here on Ivanpah Road so far. - Therapeutic repetitious motion: riding into the Joshua tree forest on Ivanpah Road
- It's great to be riding up Ivanpah Road's smooth surface after walking the bike a few miles
This road must have just been graded; I don't recall it ever being so smooth when I rode here during previous trips. - I take at break at the junction of the Mojave Road and Ivanpah Road
I meet a couple of guys doing motorcycle dirt-bike touring and camping and we have a really great chat. I think that would be fun to try some day (except for the noise factor). - I stop at the Mojave Road tollgate and deposit a few pennies
- Another short break on the Mojave Road, to refill the water in my bottle
Good excuse to stop for a moment; besides, I'm having a few stomach muscle spasms. - Vietnamese-deer-jerky break on the old Mojave Road
I'm out of the sand for a moment and in the shade of a creosote bush. The sun is rather warm today. - OK, I'm now officially on the sandy part of the road; time to get off the 10-ton bike and push it!
I'm stronger now after being out here for a week, so pushing the bike here is much easier than it would have been on the first or second day of the trip. - I make a stop at one of several junctions on the old Mojave Road, another decision point
I rode past this intersection in the dark two nights ago on the way back to Piute Gorge from Hackberry Spring. It's nice to see it in daylight now. - I pack up and begin riding westward on the old Mojave Road from Piute Gorge
This is the easy part of the Mojave Road, with nice firm ground. The road won't be quite so ridable further on, so I'm enjoying this time here. - I'm up bright and early this morning to pack up camp and catch some sunrise glow on the Piute Gorge hills
It's a bit chilly this morning (in the 40s), but looks like it will be another nice day. I slept reasonably well last night and I'm ready for some instant coffee and granola breakfast. - I hate packing up, but it's always fun to see all my stuff packed into the relatively small size of my saddlebags
I wish I were able to carry some wood and have an evening campfire in this fire ring. - On some parts of the Mojave Road, I have nice views across Lanfair Valley to familiar areas like Table Mountain
That little pointy guy at distant left is one of the Twin Buttes, near which I camped during my May trip a few months ago. The road is a getting a bit more sandy now in some places. - I ride past one of the many cairns that mark the Mojave Road
I'm back on a solid road surface again, at least for a few minutes. - I ride around a corner and discover more solid road surface on the old Mojave Road ahead
Good! I know this won't last for the whole 10-mile stretch! - I like these little rollers on the Mojave Road
...even though they're a bit sandy in the low spots, occasionally forcing me to stop. - A long straight segment of the road waits for me ahead
I stand here for a moment trying to guess where the really sandy part begins... I know it's not too far ahead. - Oh, I like this: I get out of the sand for a short stretch
It only lasts a few hundred feet, however. - I arrive at another 4-way intersection, thinking it's the Mojave Road, but it isn't
Which road should I take here? - I decide to try this rarely used road, but it quickly degenerates, so I turn back and decide to follow the main road again
I'm still off the Mojave Road, but I'll be back on it again soon. - I turn around for a moment to look at my tire and foot tracks in the sand
This is slow-going here. - I stopped at this old corral when I rode past here a few nights ago
Another short break from pushing the bike! I'm using almost every excuse I can find to take short breaks. - Here I pass the only motor vehicle I'll see between Piute Gorge and Ivanpah Road
It's a robust Toyota Tacoma, and they drive by as if it's just pavement. The occupants wave to me and I wave back. - I pass another intersection and I'm on the Mojave Road again (there's a bit of firm ground for me to ride on here)
...for a hundred feet or so. - I pass a few early Desert mallow flowers along the Mojave Road
I'm not expecting to see any of these at this time of year, and there are only a few. - A few segments of the Mojave Road, like this one, have essentially turned into a drainage channel
- I arrive at the junction of Lanfair Buttes Road, ride it a little, then turn back as soon as I reach more sand
I check my maps and find I still have almost 1.5 miles ahead before I reach the more ridable Ivanpah Road. - I know I'm getting close to Ivanpah Road when I can zoom in for a close-up of a nearby radio facility
..at least that's what it's called on my maps. - This stretch of the Mojave Road provides an off-camber driving experience
High-clearance required! - It's always fun to pass by the old OX Ranch site on Ivanpah Road
- I ride over to the old windmill and corral at the OX Ranch site and spend a moment looking around
There's a large bird perched atop the windmill: a hawk, I think. - It's that great time of day in the desert when the sun starts to go down
The upper part of Lanfair Valley here on Ivanpah Road is nicely exposed to the sunset. - I take a break here to watch the Joshua tree forest on Ivanpah Road turn orange
- Looking behind me (south) on Ivanpah Road, the lighting is a bit pinker
- The sunset colors change subtly, minute by minute, at this time of day
The orange light is slightly deeper than it was a few minutes ago. - The orange light has just stopped lighting up the Joshua trees, but still casts a glow on the Castle Mountains over there
I remember being over in that area at sunset a few days ago, when I ended up at The Lost Campsite. - Two minutes later, the orange glow on the Castle Mountains is fading into pink as the belt of Venus forms
- A lavender glow continues to illuminate the Castle Peaks for a few more minutes
- On the Ivanpah Road, the belt of Venus has become the defining light
Sunset consummated. - Five minutes later, the belt of Venus still persists, stolid, colorfast
I can see the area where I started this morning, the Piute Range: those flat hills over there beneath the belt of Venus. - I take one last look toward Hackberry Mountain into the fading sunset, put on my sweater, and ride away
The temperature has dropped a couple of degrees and it will be dark shortly. I haven't decided where I'll camp tonight, but I want it to be within range of Bathtub Spring, in case I need to get water there tomorrow morning. - In less than an hour, I complete the gentle climb to the top of Ivanpah Road (4900 ft elev.); I stop to change my GPS batteries
I should camp up here near Trio Mine; this would be a nice place to wake up tomorrow. Suddenly, I realize I can see my breath and it's much colder up here. I get back on the bike, and ride down Ivanpah Rd to a lower elevation, hopefully not quite so cold. - Almost 4 miles down Ivanpah Road, I pull into a wash and set up camp 1/10 mile in, concealed from the road; it's still cold here
I'm within walking distance of Bathtub Spring if I need more water tomorrow morning. It's noticeably chilly here too (in the 30s F), so I curl up in my sleeping bag early after making one last Backpacker's Pantry meal. I sleep well, happy day for me. - Elevation profile: Piute Gorge to Bathtub Spring by bicycle via Mojave Road and Ivanpah Road
26.3 bicycle miles and about 1500 feet of elevation gain. - Route: Piute Gorge to Bathtub Spring by bicycle via Mojave Road and Ivanpah Road
26.3 bicycle miles and about 1500 feet of elevation gain. - I climb up the hill a little, hoping to get around some of the brush along Piute Creek
This doesn't work out so well because the canyon walls are so steep, so I decide that I need to climb back down. - A little bit of bushwhacking as I explore Piute Creek, looking for a nice spot to sit down and filter water
- Another morning at Piute Gorge; strong winds this morning, and I try to sleep in a little
I take the morning slowly, eating Mountain House Beef Stew for breakfast and lazing around to recover from yesterday's bike ride to Hackberry Spring. I didn't sleep well due to the high winds overnight, and didn't fall asleep until about 2h30. Two cups of coffee, plus a cup of vitamin-C drink help. Then some spicy Vietnamese beef jerky. A dark-chocolate bar with almonds is a nice dessert treat, but I think I've overeaten. I use some of the plastic-tasting water in my Camelbak to wash up a bit, which feels really good. I haven't had a shower in almost a week! - Elevation profile of Old Government Road day hike to Piute Spring from Piute Gorge campsite
5 hiking miles and about 1000 feet of elevation gain. - Route of Old Government Road day hike to Piute Spring from Piute Gorge campsite
5 hiking miles and about 1000 feet of elevation gain. - A bird feather is stuck in this cholla cactus
Permanently? - I arrive home at the tent just as it's getting dark; my first job is to add chlorine tablets to my water, to make if drinkable
Supper is Backpacker's Pantry Chicken Vindaloo: spicy and delicious, if perhaps a bit lightweight. The strong winds stopped during the day, and the temperature drops down into the 30s. Nice evening, I listen to a pair of owls chatting to each other. - I drop down a final 150 feet with views across the entire Lanfair Valley to the New York Mountains
I'll be over there again tomorrow. At centre-right is that circular corral I passed earlier today. - I pick this spot in the shallow stream, just deep enough to filter water; lots of cottonwood leaves floating around
Piute Spring itself is really close, but the brush is quite thick, so I decide this spot should do just fine. A nice, peaceful place to sit down and filter water. - Ooops, my water filter has clogged, so I resort to dipping my 10-litre water bag in the stream
I'll put chlorine tablets in my water when I get back to camp. My water filter was almost new, so I didn't think of bringing a spare. I'm surprised my filter has expired so soon; my water sources have been fairly clean, except here at Piute Creek. - My water bag is 3/4 full now, so it's time to leave the quiet babbling brook and walk back up the hill to my campsite
The stream is so shallow that I couldn't fill up the water bag 100%. Also, I'll have some sand grit at the bottom of the bag, which I won't want to drink. - It's about 30 minutes before sunset, perfect time to be climbing a big hill in the Mojave Desert
... for the views. - I end up off-trail for a short distance on my way up the hill
A number of barrel cacti grow up here on the hillside. - I'm on the Old Government Road again here (the old alignment of what we today call the Mojave Road)
The road is becoming quite grown-in, but is still visible. - Another view of the Old Government Road roadbed
Wagons were hauled up this hill over 100 years ago. - I turn around on my way up the Old Government Road to take in the sunset
- Almost at the top!
- The sunset and belt-of-Venus view at the top of the Old Government Road is as good as it's going to get
Sunset is right now. This is looking east, at areas mostly outside Mojave National Preserve: I haven't visited any of those areas yet. - There's a moon in the sky!
... and it's called "the moon." - I walk back down to the canyon floor: big rocks, willow trees and cottonwoods along Piute Creek
Where should I stop to filter water? - Layers of roots, dropped foliage and sand drainage in this dry part of the Piute Creek bed
- I walk through a few cottonwood trees to get back to the stream that emanates from nearby Piute Spring
- I cross through some of the riparian brush at Piute Creek
There might be some remains of an old road around here, so I take a few minutes to look for it. - I don't find any of the old road, but I do find parts of a trail here in Piute Canyon
- I follow the trail a short distance up a hill, but this is headed away from the stream that I want to follow
I decide to turn back and try hiking up the creek bed a little. I wonder to where this trail leads... - It's fun to explore randomly, but I'm also here to fetch more drinking water
Here's Piute Creek again, my water source today. Rare desert streams like this are almost magical amidst the dry landscape. - While getting ready for today's hike down to Piute Spring, I have my first and only sighting of humans for the day
A pair of Jeeps ride up the road and stop briefly at the next overlook above Piute Gorge. They're close enough that I see them get out of their vehicles for a few minutes to take in the views, but I don't know if they can see me over at the next overlook. - This part of the Piute Gorge Trail is marked by rocks, but there are few footprints here to keep the trail alive
OK, I'll add a few footprints of my own. - As I gain a little elevation, I can see the rounded corral that I rode past yesterday
... and I can see all the way across Lanfair Valley to the New York Mountains, where I was a few days ago. - On my way up the hill, I pass by this engraved rock
Strange, this doesn't seem like a location where I would normally find one of these... - And here's another one...
Did someone place this here? I look around, but don't see any others like it, so I continue on with my hike over the hill toward Piute Spring via the Old Government Road route. - The Piute Gorge Trail joins the Old Government Road and I approach the crest
I look around and realize that there's a lot to explore around here in addition to following the old dirt road that was used for decades. Maybe I should have started today's hike a little earlier. - Nice views across the next valley toward the Dead Mountains Wilderness area, outside Mojave National Preserve
- From here, I'll start winding my way downhill toward the Piute Spring area
I can see some of the Old Government Road ahead of me that will serve as my downhill trail. - Today, not much remains of the Old Government Road except for some rock build-up
Just enough of a track to follow... - Sometimes, the old trail is washed out
...but I know I'm headed toward the wash down below, so it doesn't matter if I get off-track a little. - I arrive at the wash headed toward Piute Creek and follow it downward
I've been having stomach cramps all the way down the hill, probably because I was hungry and ate too much this morning before starting today's hike. My mistake! - At the bottom of the wash, I walk around looking for P G s that are indicated on one of my maps
I don't see any signs of said P G s, so I wonder if maybe they were stolen long ago. Or maybe I've walked right past them without noticing! - I start filtering water at Hackberry Spring at dusk, and finish just before dark
Perfect timing, and nice clean water! - I park the bike and go looking for the spring: I know it's here somewhere!
I have a couple of hiking routes mapped out for this area; too bad I won't have time to follow any of them during this trip. - I reach a relatively smooth patch of the road and can ride again, looks like I may make it to the spring before dark after all
- Now the fun begins, a bit of rough rolling-road mountain biking overlooking Lanfair Valley
The road is just high enough above the valley for views. Quite a few Mojave yuccas in this area (make sure you don't ride into them). - I turn on the road to the old Rattlesnake Mine site
For a road that's not used all that much, this one is quite ridable, so far at least. It's a bit under a mile to the mine site, with a slight uphill grade. - I ride west on the pipeline road toward the old Rattlesnake Mine area
It's much easier than expected, after all the rough roads I rode the past two days. Also, I'm not riding with all my camping gear, so I feel ultra-light. - A bright and sunny morning overlooking Piute Gorge
Morning sunshine overheats my tent and I wake up at 8h30. Didn't sleep well. It hit 70F yesterday, but dropped into the mid 30s overnight. Wind has picked up, so I put large rocks in the corners of my tent to keep it from blowing away. - I arrive at the end of the road, happy to make it before dusk
An excellent belt-of-venus hovers over the Lanfair Valley below. - Elevation profile of bicycle route, Piute Gorge to Hackberry Spring via Rattlesnake Mine
36.5 bicycle miles and about 1500 feet of elevation gain. - Round-trip bicycle route, Piute Gorge to Hackberry Spring via Rattlesnake Mine
36.5 bicycle miles and about 1500 feet of elevation gain. - Just a few hundred feet further...
... the road ends. - I've just finished filtering my water and it's getting dark; time to ride back to camp at Piute Gorge, in those distant hills
I have 15-20 miles of bicycle riding ahead of me yet! A few miles down the road, in the dark, I encounter a lot of loud coyote yipping. I keep looking around to see if I can see them under the bright moonlight (they're so close), but I don't. - I ride 2 miles on Ivanpah Road before turning off on the Mojave Road to head back to Piute Gorge; I arrive home a bit past 21h
It's a long ride, sometimes beautiful in its solitude under the clear night skies, sometimes frustrating when I make a wrong turn on a fruitless side road, hoping for less sand on stretches where I have no choice but to walk the bike. Jet-exhaust streams in the sky lit up by moonlight during the quiet ride home are memorable. I get a bit chilly (35F forecast tonight after a high of 70F during the afternoon), can't locate one road, but the last 5 miles are bliss. I've only eaten two Clif bars and a few handfuls of tamari almonds during the afternoon, so I'm feeling hungry, a bit dehydrated, and running on adrenalin rather than real energy.<br><br> Two or three miles before arriving back at camp, I notice two things in the darkness. I increasingly have a headwind, and this wind feels distinctively warmer. I don't feel hungry when I arrive back at camp (I'm too tired), but at 23h45, I decide that I must eat. It takes almost 45 minutes to boil water for my instant meal due to the strong wind tonight. I eat natural High Honey-Lime Chicken with Wild Rice, which is rather bland and subtle (will not buy again, though it suits my mood right now). Despite high winds, I can hear a lot of crickets as I try to fall asleep after my meal. - I want this campsite!
Maybe next time. - I'm almost at the spring, but it's much easier to walk up this rocky stretch than to try riding up it
I *could* ride up it, but I'm always interested in conserving energy, since I have a 15-mile ride back to camp ahead of me. - I come around a corner, and the sun is behind the mountains now
Less than two miles to go... - Rocky hills along the road into the Hackberry Mountains
I'm really enjoying my first visit in this landscape, which feels quite different from the areas around it that I already know. - Fine gravel!
Ugh, loss of traction. off the bike for a few feet again! - This private property in the Bobcat Hills area is marked by plastic pumpkins
The road is in better shape in this area and thus easier riding. - My road ends, and I scoot across Ivanpah Rd to start riding the road into the Hackberry Mountains
Decision done. I'll keep riding into the mountains and hopefully reach Hackberry Spring by dark. I was intending to visit that area during previous trips, and never got around to it. - The first part of the road into the Hackberry Mountains is a bit sandy and bit rough
Typical Mojave backroad! - I pass an old corral in the Hackberry Mountain foothills
- Predictably, I have to walk the bike across this sandy wash crossing on the way into the Hackberry Mountains
- It looks like signage has been recently re-erected to remind people to not drive their 4WD vehicles in the Wilderness area
- This stretch of the road is pretty soft, and I have to walk the bike a bit
If there's much more of this, I will not arrive at Hackberry Spring before dark. - This short, steep and eroded piece of road makes me wonder if it will get worse
These dead-end roads tend to deteriorate the further one goes. - The road almost becomes invisible in a few spots on the way up the hill
- One thing I enjoy about this road is the changing landscape
Here I ride across a grassy area. - A scattering of Joshua trees dot this transitional Mojave landscape
- Sunset will be a couple of hours from now; I'm trying to decide whether to go all the way to Hackberry Mountain, ahead at left
Decisions... I don't have to decide right away. I still have over three miles to go until this road ends at Ivanpah Road. I'll decide then. - This unusual metal grate over a mine hole is apparently intended to keep the mine shaft open to bats
- The views from the Rattlesnake Mine rooster-comb extend all the way across the Lanfair Valley to the New York Mountains
Hey, I was over there a few days ago! The bicycle sits quietly at the junction of the roads below me. Can you see it? - From the Rattlesnake Mine site, I still have views across the valley to my Piute Gorge campsite, that slot in the distant hills
- I take a look at some crumpled structure remains near Rattlesnake Mine before continuing my bike ride
- Everyone loves a good historic desert can dump, don't they?
- Beyond Rattlesnake Mine, the old road gently climbs another 200 feet or so
Soft surface in places occasionally requires that I walk the bike. - From the Rattlesnake Mine site, I have a clear view across the valley to my Piute Gorge campsite, that slot in the distant hills
I'm guessing it's reclamation land from the mine that hasn't completely grown back yet. It can take many decades for a desert landscape to slowly recover from human uses. - A little further up Rattlesnake Mine Road, I decide to go for a short walk up to the top of the rooster-comb ahead
- A few yellow flowers (Encelia farinosa perhaps) bloom at the old Rattlesnake Mine site
It appears that these flowers are only found in an area of disturbed soil (on the edge of where old mine installations were removed?) - This part of the old Rattlesnake Mine site has great views over to both the Castle Peaks and the Castle Mountains
Castle Peaks are the sharp spikes at left (I've camped over there before) and Castle Mountains near Hart are the larger hills at right. I rode across some of that area during the last two days. - I take a look down into the canyon at an old discarded truck before heading out on today's bicycle ride
Apparently there used to be a road down there! I have the usual breakfast of granola, nuts, dried apricots, vitamin C drink, and coffee (3 cups this morning: I may need it). - Shortly after I start today's bike ride, I ride past an old circular corral
I wasn't going to stop for a photo break so soon! - Inside the corral is a fire ring
Nice place for an overnight camp! - Just before I start riding up the pipeline road here, I run into Bryan and his sons in their pickup, and we have a great chat
The first people I've seen in almost three days! Bryan explains that the drive up from Hwy 95 is pretty rough. I haven't been that way yet. I tell them about the hike down to Piute Spring and they did it. I hope they liked all the crazy rocks down there! - I have to walk the bike across several sandy wash crossings on the pipeline road
... but the ride is going well so far. - Hiking down Piute Canyon is like entering another world
The unexpected highlight of my day. - I push my way through the willows and locate Piute Creek, then filter some drinking water just before dark
It's always exciting to discover a new spring, especially when it turns out to be a good one, since my life depends on it. The small babbling brook here is so significant in this dry landscape. - Riding by Piute Gorge, looking for a campsite
Maybe the next campsite will be better. The GPS listing of campsites in Mojave National Preserve posted on the Preserve web site has proven to be quite useful, though I didn't think it would be. Thanks! - A walk around Piute Pond
The water is a bit green, but there's enough here that I could filter it for drinking. But the water down at Piute Spring, which I'll visit in a while, should be better. - Riding toward the Piute Range
I've just left that sandy area behind me and can get back on the 10-ton bike and ride again! - Morning at The Lost Campsite
I step outside the tent to enjoy the sunshine and intense quiet out here. For an unplanned campsite, this one sure is nice, way off the beaten track. I'm both excited and a bit nervous about today's venture into a new part of the Preserve. - Elevation profile of Piute Canyon/Piute Spring hike
3.6 hiking miles, about 600 feet of elevation gain. - Hiking route: Piute Canyon to Piute Spring
3.6 hiking miles, about 600 feet of elevation gain. - About two gallons of water filtered from Piute Spring, I hike back up the canyon to my campsite
With the new water load on my back and 500 feet of elevation gain ahead, the climb back up the canyon at dusk is a bit slower than it was coming down. But equally scenic and perhaps even more special as sunlight disappears for the day. - Elevation profile of bicycle ride to Piute Gorge
An easy 11.6 bicycle miles with about 600 feet of elevation drop, but rough road makes it not as fast as one would expect for such a short distance. - Big boulders in Piute Canyon
Most of the time, I'm easily able to walk around these, so far. - Piute Canyon: down we go...
- A half-moon looks down at me while hiking Piute Canyon
Looking forward to a bit of moonlight tonight! - It must be dramatic when water gushes down this well-worn drainage in Piute Canyon
- This huge ball of rocks seems to have tumbled down the hillside in Piute Canyon
- I should be close to Piute Spring now
- I come around another rocky bend and arrive at trees, mostly willows: Piute Spring is here somewhere
Now I just have to locate the spring, which hopefully won't be difficult. - I pass a few coyote melons on the way back up Piute Canyon and arrive at my campsite just before total darkness
Great way to end the day! When I get back, the first thing I need to do is set up my tent, in the dark. The late-afternoon wind is gone and now it's super-quiet out here. An interesting sight is a jet-exhaust stream in the sky illuminated by moonlight. Super tonight is Mountain House Chicken Teriyaki with Rice; I'm starved and eat it quickly. A couple of owls up on an adjacent hill protect me with their hoo-hooing before I get to sleep around midnight. - Here's a little rock shelter in Piute Canyon
It won't provide much shelter in the event of a flash flood here, however. - Colourful layers of earth are exposed in Piute Canyon
- Some of the layers are tilted
- Layers exposed by erosion
- This rock-wall segment in Piute Canyon has a crumpled appearance
- Rust and grey-blue in Piute Canyon
- Boulders strewn about in Piute Canyon
- Layers of sandy sediment are exposed here and there in Piute Canyon
- A couple of steep steps down here in Piute Canyon
Hmmm... I hope I don't run into any really difficult drop-offs on my way down to the spring. - I pass through a slot in Piute Canyon
- Piute Canyon opens up a little