Home / Mojave Preserve and Desert bikepacking trips / 2009, Fall: Mojave National Preserve / Day 1: Baker to east side of Devil's Playground, northwest of Old Dad Mountain, by bicycle, Mojave National Preserve 34
I was hoping to visit the Old Dad Mountain area while visiting Mojave National Preserve a few months ago, but hot weather was already setting in at the lower elevations.
20.8 bicycle miles with an average speed of just 6.1 miles per hour and elevation gain of 1560 feet. I left Baker with a full load of water to last two days (about 16 litres) and drank three of those while en route today, but probably could have drank more.
Temperatures recorded in nearby Baker, CA today were a high of 67F and a low of 38F.
The 10-ton bike waits at the Amtrak bus stop at the San José train station
Inside my room at Baker's Wills Fargo Motel last night, the 10-ton bike still waits patiently for today
Morning in Baker, CA after filling up on needed calories from the breakfast buffet at the Big Boy restaurant
Across the road from the Big Boy restaurant sits the sprawling Mad Greek, where I had supper last night
All packed up, I finally leave Baker and ride over the I-15 freeway and enter Mojave National Preserve in the brilliant sunshine
The Mojave National Preserve entrance sign just outside Baker is my first stop
About a mile into Mojave National Preserve, I pass a sandy unpaved road (Old Kelso Road) that goes where I'm going today
I pause to stare toward today's destination: the Old Dad Mountain area on the east side of Devil's Playground
A sign on Kelbaker Road alerts me to watch for tortoises
It's a long, mostly straight, 10 miles from Baker to the hills ahead of me, where Kelbaker Road turns sharply to the right
I take a short break and sit in the middle of Kelbaker Road for a few minutes to assert my sovereignty over the road
I'm getting close to "10-mile bend" on Kelbaker Road, where the road turns sharply right after the little dip ahead
I take a break at Kelbaker Road's "10-mile bend," entering the hills of Mojave National Preserve, sweating lightly
From "10-mile bend" on Kelbaker Road, I can see the dust from four-wheel-drive vehicles travelling the old Mojave Road
About 1.75 miles past "10-mile bend," I turn right at the blink-and-you-miss-it dirt road to 17-Mile Point
I haven't been down this road before; I'm ready to ride down to 17-Mile Point (the near hill at left)
I notice a berm of sorts along part of the 17-Mile Point Road, so I climb up it to shoot a photo of the area
Further inspection shows that the berm is indeed not natural
Near 17-Mile Point (the big hill at left) are a few stretches of old pavement that haven't yet returned to nature
At 17-Mile Point, my road meets up with the old Mojave Road
Looking back at the hill called 17-Mile Point as I pass by
A group of dirt (motor)bikers catch up to me on a sandy stretch of the old Mojave Road and they stop for a chat
After 5 miles of dirt road and Mojave Road, I take an energy-bar break at the junction of the Old Kelso Road
Off in the distance, down toward Soda Lake, I can see dust plumes from the dirt bikers that passed me a while ago
Old Kelso Road along the east side of Devil's Playground gets mixed reviews for bikepacking
Sundown approaches early at this time of year; in 30 minutes it will be almost dark
A Wilderness marker blocks errant tire tracks on the approach to Old Dad Mountain on Old Kelso Road
I ride a little further south on Old Kelso Road in the red light of sunset and stop before reaching the next dry wash
The brilliant pink Mojave Desert sunset is reflecting in the clouds to the east of me
This Devil's Playground campsite is perfect near Old Kelso Road, with pointy Cowhole Mountain in the background
Devil's Playground sunset completed, the tent is set up for the next two days
It's a chilly evening already, and I'm boiling water for tonight's add-water-to-bag meal
Bicycle route from Baker to Devil's Playground campsite northwest of Old Dad Mountain
Elevation profile of bicycle route from Baker to Devil's Playground campsite