Mojave Preserve and Desert bikepacking trips / 2007, Christmas: Mojave National Preserve Mountain-Bike Camping / Day 7: New Year's Eve ride from Kelso Dunes to Baker via Kelbaker Road to conclude the trip (and 2007), Mojave National Preserve

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Home / Mojave Preserve and Desert bikepacking trips / 2007, Christmas: Mojave National Preserve Mountain-Bike Camping / Day 7: New Year's Eve ride from Kelso Dunes to Baker via Kelbaker Road to conclude the trip (and 2007), Mojave National Preserve 36

I've enjoyed this classic Mojave National Preserve ride several times over the years. This won't be a day of exploration, but the scenery is great and I may have a few good desert chats along the way. The trip isn't over yet! 49.1 bicycle miles.

Kelso Dunes Road rises slightly over four miles from 2500 feet to about 2800 feet at Kelbaker Road, which I will ride all the way to Baker.

The first eight miles of Kelbaker Road are downhill to Kelso Depot at about 2100 feet, followed by a 12-mile climb up to 3800 feet and the final 23-mile descent into Baker at 925 feet.

Frost on my bicycle this morning near Kelso Dunes
All bundled up, I go for a short walk around the campsite in the cold sun to warm up a little
It's time to make some coffee using a toilet-paper filter and get started
While sipping my coffee, I notice that the water bottles which I left outside last night have quite a bit of ice in them
Breaking camp on the final morning of a trip produces mixed emotions
The 10-ton bike has been rebuilt and is ready to leave Kelso Dunes
I ride away from the campsite up Kelso Dunes Road toward the Providence Mountains
At the end of Kelso Dunes Road, I rejoin the pavement of Kelbaker Road
A car passes while I descend Kelbaker Road toward Kelso Depot
The further I descend this hill toward Kelso Depot, the stronger the headwind
The little town of Kelso is now visible down in the valley below, as are the low mountains beyond that I will ride over later
On the last few miles before Kelso Depot, the wind is so strong that I can barely maintain 7 miles per hour
The strong wind pushes my empty sardine can around while I eat lunch outside Kelso Depot
National Parks Service did an excellent job restoring Kelso Depot
The 10-ton bike waits outside the doors to the Kelso Depot visitor centre
Enough chatting; it's time to get on with the day's business of riding up out of Kelso Valley to Baker
After 45 minutes of slow uphill, I see someone ahead in the road. Stranded? No, he's taking photos of the area, and of me
Joerg and Elke and I have a fun desert chat for a good half hour; they visit Death Valley frequently and are on their way home
Photographer [url=http://www.joergboetel.com/]Joerg Boetel[/url] snaps one last photo of me as I ride away up Kelbaker Road
A discarded Bud Light beer can at roadside is a sign that I've re-entered "civilization"
Climbing up the sometimes-rough pavement of Kelbaker Road; those who have ridden it know it
Ah, my 12-mile climb up to the Kelbaker Road summit ends just ahead at the power lines...
I take a quick break at the Kelbaker Road summit to put on my winter jacket and scarf in preparation for the downhill ahead
Baker, California: 23 miles and 2900 feet below the Kelbaker Road summit
Pedalling down past those famous Mojave National Preserve cinder cones
About eight miles down from the summit, I fly around the curve near the Kelbaker Road lava flows
My focus cuts across the slanted world of motion to the hills behind the Indian Springs area, where I camped the first two night
Rounding "the big curve" on Kelbaker Road, I begin the 10-mile home stretch toward Baker
To my surprise, a strong tailwind has kicked in and is pushing me across the valley
The road belongs to me; I've only seen two cars since starting down from the summit
The deep glow of sunset intensifies with the passing of each minute
Today's Mojave National Preserve festival of pink, purple and orange is probably the best I've experienced on this trip
The Kelbaker Hills behind me are busy absorbing every last bit of colour they can get before calling it a day
The pretty ceiling above the shower stall in tonight's room at the Royal Hawaiian invites me to step inside and get clean
I've settled in with a full tummy and celebrate by catching up on my travelogue notes, drinking beer, and watching some TV
At midnight, as I prepare to go to bed, I notice that "Royal Hawaiian" is written on my pillow--happy 2008!