Home / Mojave Preserve and Desert bikepacking trips / 2007, Christmas: Mojave National Preserve Mountain-Bike Camping / Day 1: Baker to Indian Springs, Mojave National Preserve 37
Indian Springs is an area of usually dry springs at the end of a short dirt road off Kelbaker Road that I've never gotten around to visiting because it's so close to Baker.
I'm always on my way to destinations further out from Baker, or on my way back to Baker itself, when I pass this area.
18.5 bicycle miles today, climbing slightly from 930 feet elevation at Baker to about 2800 feet at Indian Springs.
- The 10-ton bike is packed up and ready to go to Mojave National Preserve on Xmas day
I really needed to sleep in this morning, so I did. After all, this is my Xmas vacation. - Damage to the corner of one of the motel units
I'm forever amused by the quirks of the Royal Hawaiian Motel. Last night, there was so much wind that it sounded like a rainstorm outside my door. It's not quite so windy this morning, but there's still enough wind to keep the fronds on the palm tree here fluffing about. - Leaving the Royal Hawaiian Motel in Baker to start my Mojave National Preserve trip
Decorative deer have been placed under the motel sign to capture some Xmas spirit. The motel rooms in the one-storey structure visible here are not in use because trees have grown into the plumbing system and significant repairs will be needed to make them usable again. - Baker's "world's tallest thermometer" says that it's 50 degrees F this morning
Before leaving town, I visit Coco's restaurant for a big, tasty, lumberjack breakfast. I'm surprised that so many restaurants are open here on Xmas day, and Coco's is packed. I'm obviously not the only tourist "stuck" in Baker en route to somewhere else. I also stop at the "Country Store" to buy four 1.5-litre bottles of water and a small bottle of brandy. While still at the motel earlier, I put several litres of water in my big 10-litre water bag and filled my two-litre Camelbak. I think I'm ready to head out now. Judging by the wind blowing this tree's foliage, it looks like I'll have the wind behind me; great! - Leaving Baker on Kelbaker Road and crossing the Interstate 15 freeway to enter Mojave National Preserve
Mojave National Preserve isn't as dramatic, well-known, nor popular, as Death Valley National Park 75 miles north of here. I suspect that most motorists buzzing past on the freeway don't know, nor care, that they're passing one of the country's largest parks. Even the sign at the big thermometer states that Baker is the gateway to Death Valley, without mentioning Mojave National Preserve just on the other side of the freeway. - Freeway traffic behind me now, I enter Mojave National Preserve
The freeway is still not far away, but it's suddenly already much quieter here. I'm starting to get that jittery feeling of freedom that I always get when I start heading out into the vastness here. - The first ten miles of Kelbaker Road into Mojave National Preserve out of Baker looks flat, but it actually climbs 1000 feet
I have a nice tailwind here, so, like a motorist, I'm barely aware that I'm slowly heading uphill. - After ten miles, Kelbaker Road bends sharply away from civilization
It's always at this curve on Kelbaker Road where I start to feel irrevocably part of Mojave National Preserve on a bicycle-camping trip, living out of my saddlebags. - After 13 miles, I reach the little dirt road to Indian Springs and turn off here
The road will dead-end at Indian Springs, some 3.5 miles away. There are no signs at most intersections (except the major ones) in Mojave National Preserve; you simply need to know where your chosen road is. I like this design approach because it keeps the discovery level high for those of us who value that. On my first trip out here, I didn't even notice this road when I passed it. - Indian Springs Road: the road surface is a bit rough and rocky
However, there's plenty of traction for a mountain bike, so far, even one loaded up heavily like mine. - A drainage rut across Indian Springs Road
People before me have placed large rocks in the gulley to ease the ride across this dip. - After about three miles, Indian Springs Road turns toward the hills up a sandy wash
It's tougher to keep pedalling here and I have to dismount and push the bike ahead occasionally. - About a quarter mile before the end of Indian Springs Road, I notice a fire ring and a possible campsite
I find that I'm now walking the bike more than riding it due to the sand. I'm almost at the end of the road anyway, so this looks like a good spot to call home tonight. - An ugly pile of debris sits on the hillside just above my chosen campsite near Indian Springs
I hate to see our wild lands used as a dumping ground, but amidst the pile of junk are numerous pieces of wood, and even some old newspaper. I see the perfect makings for a campfire later tonight. One of the disadvantages of bicycle camping is the inability to carry extra luxuries such as firewood, so I'm in some ways happy to have found this junk pile. I wish I could burn that metal stuff in the pile too and get rid of it; darn it. - I begin dismantling my rig and setting up camp
Before setting up my tent, I throw down from the hillside the scrap wood that I think I'll burn later. I notice that the small tree here provides a welcome windbreak, so I'll set up camp as close to it as possible. - 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. - With an hour of daylight left, I walk up to the end of Indian Springs Road to explore a little
Indian Springs Road ends at those little posts that are Wilderness-boundary markers beyond which travel by mechanized means such as motor vehicles or bicycles is prohibited. - Wow, there's a trickle of water here at Indian Springs
I thought this would be a dry spring, so I'm pleasantly surprised. - There's just enough water at Indian Springs that I'll be able to use my water filter to get extra drinking water here tomorrow
The great thing about this is that I won't have to pack up and go somewhere else tomorrow to get more water (like Marl Springs or Kelso Depot). - I continue walking up the Indian Springs wash in the glow of the setting sun
I wonder what's to be seen up here. - There are a lot of barrel cacti on the surrounding hillsides, which isn't apparent at a distance
Pretty to look at, but don't touch! - Indian Springs wash enters a small narrows
This is becoming more scenic than I was expecting. - A little further beyond Indian Springs, I notice a side wash that looks interesting
I take a short walk up this side wash to see what it looks like in there. - This rock formation immediately catches my attention
I'm on the edge of the lava flows here, and this rock looks like it's part of that geological complex. - This side wash near Indian Springs gets narrower
I'd really like to keep on walking, but it's time to turn back before it gets too dark. - I notice a little cave up on the hillside on the way out of the side wash
If I weren't running out of time so quickly, I'd climb up the hill and examine this more closely. - Rock layers in Indian Springs wash
It's one rock texture after another up here in this wash. - Hillside cactus garden at Indian Springs, Mojave National Preserve
A postcard-perfect image from the edge of the lava flows, catching just the right amount of sunset illumination. Could anything be more perfect for Xmas day? - Looking back down the Indian Springs wash toward my campsite
Just behind Indian Springs is a hill that harbours "the Shaman's Cave," according to Bill Mann's Mojave Desert guide. I've climbed up the hill, but I don't see the cave, which doesn't bother me because I'm enjoying the scenery so much. - Barrel cacti catching the last light of day on the hill above Indian Springs
I guess the day is coming to an end... - The sun sets on me at Indian Springs
I start walking back down the wash to my campsite in near darkness. There's a nice sunset over there somewhere. I really like this area and had no idea how scenic it would be. Tomorrow I'll come back up here and do a longer day hike to explore further, and refill my water reserves at the spring. - After supper, at 21h50, it's time to start my Indian Springs Xmas campfire
It's getting a bit late, but I'm cold, and the campfire heat will feel good--if my junk wood isn't too damp to burn, that is. Supper was a Backpacker's Pantry Sweet and Sour Chicken add-boiling-water-to-bag meal. Tasty, but a bit too sweet for my taste (too much dried pineapple). - Woohoo, the fire is starting to burn!
Some of the old newspaper left here was a bit moist and looked like it might not burn enough to get the fire going. - Trying to warm up in front of the fire
Since this is the first night of my trip, I'm not yet acclimated to being out in the cold for an entire evening. An awesome full moon is rising above the hills to light up my surroundings and further entertain me, but it doesn't like being photographed by a pocket digital camera. - I add another piece of junk plywood to the fire
I have several more large pieces of plywood remaining, but I'll just add this one and see how it burns. It's close to bedtime and I don't need the fire to get too big and last all night long. - The fire is burning nicely, but it's getting late, so I'm thinking about letting it die down and retreating to my tent
My unexpected Xmas campfire has been a success, and I'm hoping that my first night sleeping in the cold won't be too arduous. - The heat feels great, but it's time to let the fire burn out and prepare for sleeping
How cold will my sleeping bag be? I'm guessing the temperature is in in the mid-thirties (F) right now. Sweet dreams!