Home / Mojave Preserve and Desert bikepacking trips / Spring 2011: Mojave National Preserve and area bicycle camping / Day 11: Bicycle ride from Mid Hills campground to Pinto Valley, Mojave National Preserve 45
After yesterday's relaxing and social day with Sarah and Heather, I'm refreshed and excited to start the final chapter of this trip. I've visited Pinto Valley before, but haven't camped there yet. 16.2 bicycle miles with about 850 feet of elevation gain, another easy day.
- My final morning at Mid Hills campground, I hear a noise outside my tent, and guess who it is?
Mr. or Ms. Cottontail! The morning shade from the juniper tree is so nice, and has allowed me to sleep in until 8h30! - The cottontail rabbit hears me and looks over my way before darting away
I see quite a few cottontails out here, but they're usually gone before I have a chance to grab my camera. - After four great nights here at Mid Hills campground, I pack up; a strong gust of wind blows my tent over once it's half empty
Last night was not as chilly as the previous nights, so I slept really well. After my usual camp breakfast of dried fruit (apricots and pineapple), granola, coffee and vitamin-C drink, I'm ready to get going. - I've procrastinated all morning, but I'm finally packed and ready to leave Mid Hills campground
I always hate leaving this place, but I'm looking forward to the next stop on my trip: Pinto Valley. Sarah and Heather have already left; they're on their way to Joshua Tree Park next. - I always enjoy the expansive views across Round Valley while riding down Wild Horse Canyon Road
The fact that I'm coasting downhill makes it fun, as well as beautiful. However, I'm carrying a full load of water (18 litres), which makes the bike rather heavy. - At the end of Wild Horse Canyon Road, I turn left on Black Canyon Road for a couple of miles
It has been all downhill so far, so this hasn't taken long at all! - An old wooden fence along Black Canyon Road that burned in the 2005 brush fires has been replaced by a wire fence
That's Pinto Mountain in the background. Today's destination, Pinto Valley, is behind that, not all that far away. - I pause along Black Canyon Road to take a look across the valley to Table Top Mountain
In the foreground are low-growing daisy-like fleabane flowers, with an expanse of orange Desert mallows behind them. - I zoom in for a better look at the expanse of orange Desert mallows in this part of Round Valley
How many orange flowers here? Millions? in some lighting situations, a field of Desert mallows can look rather brown, but right now it looks quite quite orange. - Now it's time to ride down "The Shortcut Road" between upper Black Canyon Road and Cedar Canyon Road
I always enjoy this rough mountain-bike road, which starts out not so roughly. I rode this on the way to Mid Hills campground. - The "Shortcut Road" is only 3/4 mile long; soon enough, I'm approaching Cedar Canyon Road, that horizontal line ahead
Pinto Mountain straight ahead was a nice hike last year, but today I'll turn right on Cedar Canyon Road, backtracking my route from a few days ago. - Oooo, land for sale on Cedar Canyon Road
I check the small change in my pockets and continue riding past. - Cedar Canyon Road east of the Mid Hills is mostly unpaved, except for this short stretch by a cattle guard
Not much of the old pavement remains... - Since I'm in no rush today, I decide to take a short detour over to Government Holes, that big tree up the dirt road here
It's just a 1/4 mile in off Cedar Canyon Road, yet I've never stopped there during the many times I've ridden by. - This sign near Government Holes used to say something about private property
... until the 2005 brush fires passed through Round Valley. So many Desert mallow flowers. - Well, this is it: Government Holes, Mojave National Preserve
A water tank, a corral, an old cottonwood tree and a history story about a shoot-out here 100 years or so ago. The funny thing is that there's a modern plastic water reservoir hiding inside that metal cistern. - I park the 10-ton bike and walk over to the Government Holes corral, next to which a cistern full of green water glows
The cows in the background keep an eye on me in case I decide to take some of their water. This water could be filtered and made safe for drinking, but fortunately I'm carrying a full load of good water from Mid Hills campground. - The corral at Government Holes, Mojave National Preserve
The hills in the background are adjacent to the Mid Hills campground, where I spent the last four nights. - Some of the old fencing at the Government Holes corral is made of unhewn wood posts with metal horizontal members
The cows continue to keep an eye on me. I guess they want their cistern back. - OK fat bovines, I'll leave you alone and let you get back to your green water
I walk back up the road a short distance to the Government Holes cottonwood tree, where I left the 10-ton bike. - A substantial bird's nest up in the Government Holes cottonwood tree also watches me
Anyone home up there? - I ride down an old alignment of the Mojave Road that will arrive at the Bert Smith Rock House after about 1.5 miles
Open views all the way across to the New York Mountains. I'll be riding further out that way soon... - This little piece of dirt road is a good mountain-bike ride, if you like sagebrush flats
... and I do. The road rolls a bit and is slightly downhill, losing about 150 feet elevation. - I wasn't planning on revisiting the Bert Smith Rock House today (I was here last week)
... but since I'm passing by... - Gotta love the view toward the New York Mountains from the front windows of the Bert Smith Rock House
Yes, the front door to the house is still unlocked today, though I've been told it isn't supposed to be. - There's something so luxurious to me about the solid wood interior of the Bert Smith Rock House
No ugly wallpaper, no crappy carpets sucking up dirt... - A warning note above the fireplace in the Bert Smith Rock House
... from a former resident of the house. The problem with interesting isolated buildings like this is that they can attract all kinds of people, not always the good kind. - I go for a walk around the Bert Smith Rock House property, which I didn't do on my visit here last week
Just down the hill from the house is an old can dump. No garbage collection out here! - Before I leave the Bert Smith Rock House and ride over to Pinto Valley, I refill my Camelbak
It's a warm day, but not really hot. I've consumed close to two litres of water already since leaving Mid Hills campground. - I leave the Bert Smith Rock House and coast down the hill into Watson Wash
Down in Watson Wash, I'll pick up New York Mountains Road, that squiggle down there. - Here I am at the beginning of New York Mountains Road
There's Drum Peak in the New York Mountains poking up in the distance. - The first part of New York Mountains Road slowly climbs out of Watson Wash
It's not steep, but with some slippery sand accumulation on the road, plus the weight of my gear and water, I decide to walk a short segment here. - New York Mountains Road passes the eastern tip of Pinto Mountain on a very gentle uphill
I also pass a few private residences along here. - A snake crosses New York Mountains Road, Mojave National Preserve
I avoid him, and hope that he doesn't get run over by a car. - I reach a fork on New York Mountains Road and veer to the left on the lesser path toward Howe Spring
In 2009, I did a mountain-bike ride out to Howe Spring, so I'm already somewhat familiar with this route. Nice area, looking forward to spending a few days out here! - This purple sage stands out along Howe Spring Road since this part of Pinto Valley is mostly dry grassland
I can see the pinnacles of the Howe Spring area ahead. Soon I'll be home for the night! - Howe Spring Road is rather rough in places, but nothing that a high-clearance can't take care of
Being slightly uphill, it's a slow mountain-bike ride, but scenic, enjoyable and not difficult. - Ah, another crossroads! The right fork leads to Howe Spring, the left to Bathtub Spring
I take the left fork. It's apparent from the tire tracks here that some motor vehicles do come out this way, though I haven't seen any yet. - I pass a big boulder alongside the road to Bathtub Spring
This area of the northern Mid Hills, where they merge into the New York Mountains, is full of boulders and small pinnacles. - I arrive at the end of the road toward Bathtub Spring
A row of posts here identify the beginning of the official Wilderness area, beyond which no mechanized vehicles, including bicycles, are permitted. I've been told that there's a nice campsite just off to my right. - Ah, there's even a fire pit here, which doesn't look like it has been used in a while
I'm not carrying any wood with me to make a campfire, but someone left a big pile of twigs here that I could burn. A campfire here might spread into the grass though... - I go for a walk in the adjacent rock piles to get familiar with the area around my new campsite
I'll stay here a few nights. I've brought water with me, but I've been told by a generous source that nearby Bathtub Spring has water this year (this isn't the same Bathtub Spring that I passed while hiking a few days ago). - Time for my evening meal; I'm hungry! Mountain House Sweet and Sour Pork with Rice, predictably tasty
Occasional strong winds interrupt an otherwise tranquil evening. A few flies flit against my tent. Other than a distant glow of light from Las Vegas, the sky is black, the stars are out, and I can see the Milky Way. I get to sleep around 0h45 and wake up many times throughout the night, perhaps from the wind, but have no problem falling back asleep each time. It's nice to be starting another chapter of this trip. - Elevation profile of bicycle route from Mid Hills Campground to Pinto Valley, Mojave National Preserve
16.2 bicycle miles with about 850 feet of elevation gain, an easy day! - Bicycle route from Mid Hills Campground to Pinto Valley, Mojave National Preserve
16.2 bicycle miles with about 850 feet of elevation gain, an easy day!