Home / Mojave Preserve and Desert bikepacking trips / 2009, Spring: Mojave National Preserve / Day 10: Nipton to Black Palisades and back hike, Mojave National Preserve 42
The thermometer hits 90 degrees today. Nipton is just a few feet from the northern boundary of Mojave National Preserve, but most of today's short hike is actually within the Preserve's borders.
"Black Palisades," as I call it, is a dark outcrop about three miles up the fan from Nipton toward the Mid Hills. I noticed it while riding down the nearby power-line road during last year's Mojave National Preserve trip. Presumably volcanic in origin, it stands out in relation to the nearby hills due to its dark colour.
6.5 hiking miles from Nipton to Black Palisades and back during 3.75 hours, with 700 feet of elevation gain (and loss). I carry six litres of water with me and drink two.
Last night's light rain never became heavy; now I enjoy the shade of the eucalyptus trees during the warm morning at Nipton
After breakfast, I take a shower and explore the rustic garden in front of the bed-and-breakfast
In the middle of the Nipton garden is an area built of coloured rocks
I stop in at the Nipton store to pay for another night of camping before walking past the tent cabins to start today's hike
One last thing: I stop at the outdoor sink at Nipton to refill my water bottles before heading out
Today I'm hiking over to "Black Palisades" (it has no official name): that dark rocky mound in the distance
Just southeast of Nipton lies this bunker-like concrete foundation
A concrete stairwell and heavy steel door lead into the basement
Further beyond, I stumble across what appears to be part of an old automobile dashboard
A substantial can dump on the outskirts of Nipton
Here's an old rusty lid from a tobacco tin, perhaps Copenhagen snuff
At the junction of two old roads, I take the one that heads off to my left, toward the Mid Hills
The old road out of Nipton is marginal at best and is a bit washed out in places, but it makes a great trail
I leave the primitive road and start walking cross-country toward Black Palisades
I reach the power lines about a half mile before Black Palisades
I cross the power-line road and stare at its thread leading up the hill into the distance, toward Cima
Here it is, Black Palisades, about a quarter mile in front of me
I stumble across a faint trace of an old road that passes by the west edge of Black Palisades
I walk up toward the closest turret of Black Palisades
I discover a dry tinaja (Spanish for "water jar") at Black Palisades with fairly fresh scat adjacent
A nearby alcove in the rocks at Black Palisades harbours nesting materials rather than a tinaja
OK, I'll climb a little higher up Black Palisades, just a little further
More volcanic-looking rock on Black Palisades, Mojave National Preserve
Looking down toward Nipton, I see a dust devil making its way across the fan
I rest here on the west side of Black Palisades for a few minutes
Nice view from here at Black Palisades toward Cima
Nearby, I discover some bones in a nest huddled in the rocks
There's a lot more to explore here, but I'm lazy today and walk back down the slope of Black Palisades
I walk up the low mound just south of Black Palisades
The mound is just high enough to provide nice views of Black Palisades and the surroundings
I walk down the mound to an adjacent wash and start heading back toward the power lines on the Nipton return hike
Crossing the power-line road on the way back to Nipton
I stop to touch the rocky ground beneath me on the way back to Nipton
The outer shell of a coyote gourd near Nipton
I think this is a pencil cholla cactus, near Nipton, Mojave National Preserve
This area on the fan just south of Nipton is clearly subject to occasional flooding during heavy rains
I'm almost back at Nipton when my direct route is foiled by this weak barbed-wire fence, but it's easy to get past
Back in the shade of the tent, I settle in for beer from the Nipton store and a makeshift cooler of ice plus plastic bag
Later in the evening, I rinse off in Nipton's dirt-floor semi-outdoor showers and wash some clothes in the two-washer laundromat
The Nipton hot tub was repaired today, so I try it out later in the evening
Nipton to Black Palisades hike route (Day 10)
Nipton to Black Palisades hike elevation profile (Day 10)