Home / Mojave Preserve and Desert bikepacking trips / Fall 2012: Mojave National Preserve bicycle-camping and hiking, Lanfair Valley loop / Day 6: Old Government Road day hike to Piute Spring from Piute Gorge campsite 38
I'm tired this morning, so today's hike down to the Piute Spring is short, but scenic. It's bright and sunny, and the temperature almost hits 70F, despite being in the low 40s last night. 5 hiking miles and about 1000 feet of elevation gain.
Another morning at Piute Gorge; strong winds this morning, and I try to sleep in a little
While getting ready for today's hike down to Piute Spring, I have my first and only sighting of humans for the day
This part of the Piute Gorge Trail is marked by rocks, but there are few footprints here to keep the trail alive
As I gain a little elevation, I can see the rounded corral that I rode past yesterday
On my way up the hill, I pass by this engraved rock
And here's another one...
The Piute Gorge Trail joins the Old Government Road and I approach the crest
Nice views across the next valley toward the Dead Mountains Wilderness area, outside Mojave National Preserve
From here, I'll start winding my way downhill toward the Piute Spring area
Today, not much remains of the Old Government Road except for some rock build-up
Sometimes, the old trail is washed out
I arrive at the wash headed toward Piute Creek and follow it downward
At the bottom of the wash, I walk around looking for P G s that are indicated on one of my maps
It's fun to explore randomly, but I'm also here to fetch more drinking water
I cross through some of the riparian brush at Piute Creek
I don't find any of the old road, but I do find parts of a trail here in Piute Canyon
I follow the trail a short distance up a hill, but this is headed away from the stream that I want to follow
There's a moon in the sky!
I walk back down to the canyon floor: big rocks, willow trees and cottonwoods along Piute Creek
Layers of roots, dropped foliage and sand drainage in this dry part of the Piute Creek bed
A little bit of bushwhacking as I explore Piute Creek, looking for a nice spot to sit down and filter water
I climb up the hill a little, hoping to get around some of the brush along Piute Creek
I walk through a few cottonwood trees to get back to the stream that emanates from nearby Piute Spring
I pick this spot in the shallow stream, just deep enough to filter water; lots of cottonwood leaves floating around
Ooops, my water filter has clogged, so I resort to dipping my 10-litre water bag in the stream
My water bag is 3/4 full now, so it's time to leave the quiet babbling brook and walk back up the hill to my campsite
It's about 30 minutes before sunset, perfect time to be climbing a big hill in the Mojave Desert
I end up off-trail for a short distance on my way up the hill
I'm on the Old Government Road again here (the old alignment of what we today call the Mojave Road)
Another view of the Old Government Road roadbed
I turn around on my way up the Old Government Road to take in the sunset
Almost at the top!
The sunset and belt-of-Venus view at the top of the Old Government Road is as good as it's going to get
I drop down a final 150 feet with views across the entire Lanfair Valley to the New York Mountains
A bird feather is stuck in this cholla cactus
I arrive home at the tent just as it's getting dark; my first job is to add chlorine tablets to my water, to make if drinkable
Elevation profile of Old Government Road day hike to Piute Spring from Piute Gorge campsite
Route of Old Government Road day hike to Piute Spring from Piute Gorge campsite