Home / Mojave Preserve and Desert bikepacking trips / 2009, Spring: Mojave National Preserve / Day 3: Cornfield Spring Road to Mid Hills Campground via Kelso Depot, Mojave National Preserve 46
Today's goal is to get up in the mountains out of the heat and start enjoying this trip more. 27.9 bicycle miles from my Cornfield Spring Road campsite to Mid Hills campground, rising from 2125 feet at Kelso Depot to 5600 feet.
I eat three Clif bars throughout the day and consume about five litres of water on the way to Mid Hills campground.
I'm irreversibly awake and sweating as soon the hot sun rises around 6h; by 7h, I'm outside taking a "dry shower"
By 9h, the contents of my campsite on Cornfield Spring Road has been decisively packed into my bloated saddlebags
I start the two-mile trek down Cornfield Spring Road toward Kelso Depot
Looking behind me up Cornfield Spring Road toward Providence Mountains as I ride down the rough road to Kelso Depot
I pass an ant hill on Cornfield Spring Road
Dead tree along Cornfield Spring Road near Kelso Depot, with Kelso Dunes in the background
My tires hiss gently as I ride through the sand at the bottom of Cornfield Road toward Kelso Depot
Just before Kelso Depot and the train tracks, I cross Kelso's back street where sit a few inhabited houses
Next to Kelso Depot is an old metal structure that was formerly used as Kelso's jail!
I take a one-hour break and cool down in Kelso Depot's air conditioning before starting the climb up to Mid Hills campground
Downstairs in Kelso Depot is a model that shows how Kelso was back in the 1940s
Also downstairs at Kelso Depot is a gallery featuring work from a new artist-in-residence program by photographer Bob Killen
It's already 84 degrees and I've cooled down as much as I can in Kelso Depot's air conditioning; it's time to ride on!
I'm officially on my way to Mid Hills now as I leave Kelso Depot and head north on Kelso-Cima Road
I pass my favourite old house in Kelso, the one with the rounded roof and the cabin in the backyard built of railway ties
Kelso-Cima Road isn't too busy, but traffic is fast and there's no paved shoulder, so cars have to change lanes to pass me
Datura flowers along Kelso-Cima Road
Globe Mine Road; I camped three nights up this road on my 2008 trip
I pedal slowly upward and take a Clif-bar-and-water-break about an hour later off Kelso-Cima Road along the train tracks
The break helps a lot, and I get back on Kelso-Cima Road for the last few miles to Cedar Canyon Road and watch a train pass by
Cedar Canyon Road junction, another much-needed break, at 3725 feet on Kelso-Cima Road
Information plaque on Mojave Road marker at junction of Cedar Canyon Road and Kelso-Cima Road
Mojave Road and Marl Mountains in the background, I try my cell phone here, but there's no reception
While at Cedar Canyon Road junction, I notice an indecisive SUV, so I go speak to its driver; maybe he needs directions
Refreshed after my break, I'm ready to start the ride up Cedar Canyon Road when a freight train passes by
The climb up Cedar Canyon Road into the Mid Hills starts out well
I pull in at the road to Chicken Water Spring and try my cell phone; it works here as hoped
Cedar Canyon Road's famous "pavement ends" sign
Cedar Canyon Road dips down into Cedar Wash for a couple of miles
Cedar Canyon Road is scenic, but I'm always so happy when I reach the junction of Black Canyon Road at 5000 feet
Black Canyon Road rises up from Cedar Canyon Road toward the Mid Hills, Mojave National Preserve
Black Canyon Road's grade here ranges from three to seven per cent, with a bit of loose sand on a hard washboard surface
After climbing out of Cedar Canyon Road, Black Canyon Road reaches the plateau of Round Valley
Wild Horse Canyon Road junction, and Mid Hills campground is just two miles away
The last couple of miles before Mid Hills campground bring a few short hills just when you have little energy left
Almost at Mid Hills campground, Mojave National Preserve
Mid Hills campground, Mojave National Preserve, entrance kiosk
I ride through Mid Hills campground, Mojave National Preserve, and select site 22, where I've camped previously
Desert four o'clock flowers
A pinon pine infant grows near a banana yucca at Mid Hills campground, Mojave National Preserve
After selecting site 22, I ride through the deserted Mid Hills campground back to the entrance kiosk to deposit my fees
Returning to my tent at Mid Hills site 22, I spot some tiny flowers along the road that I've never noticed before
Mid Hills campground sunset; I set up my burner on the picnic table and get ready to boil water for tonight's meal
Sunset haze drifts over the Ivanpah Mountains and the Clark Mountain Range beyond
Bicycle route from my Cornfield Spring Road campsite to Mid Hills campground, via Kelso-Cima Road (Day 3)
Elevation profile of bicycle route from my Cornfield Spring Road campsite to Mid Hills campground, via Kelso-Cima Road (Day 3)