Mojave Preserve and Desert bikepacking trips / Fall 2012: Mojave National Preserve bicycle-camping and hiking, Lanfair Valley loop / Day 1: Nipton to Slaughterhouse Spring, Mojave National Preserve

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Home / Mojave Preserve and Desert bikepacking trips / Fall 2012: Mojave National Preserve bicycle-camping and hiking, Lanfair Valley loop / Day 1: Nipton to Slaughterhouse Spring, Mojave National Preserve 20

An easy day mileage-wise, but for some reason I don't have much energy today. I was hoping to go further, but this is a good excuse to finally explore some of the Slaughterhouse Spring area. 13.5 bicycle miles, about 1000 feet of elevation gain.

Yesterday, to get out here, I boarded the Amtrak train in Stockton, followed by an Amtrak bus to Primm, NV in the Mojave Desert
I considered staying at a Primm casino hotel last night, but they were full, so I rode 12 dark miles to Nipton and camped there
Morning at Nipton is nice and sunny; the tent sits at the back of the cactus garden by some eucalyptus trees
I recharge my cell phone and my headlight battery in the shower building before leaving Nipton
I take several short breaks along Nipton-Moore Road, enjoying the solitude and the plant life
I don't pass any other vehicles while riding Nipton-Moore Road today, but it clearly does get some use
Against my will, I can't help but look across Ivanpah Valley to the Primm Brightsource solar plant under construction
One of those long freight trains that crosses the Mojave Desert passes me on Nipton-Moore Road
A jet-exhaust stream glides by effortlessly in the sky while I rattle along Nipton-Moore Road, hugging the train tracks
As a result of recent rains, Nipton-Moore Road has had recent washouts that have been freshly repaired
I arrive at the pavement of Ivanpah Road just after mile 10 and have over 3 miles of pavement ahead
I ride past the old Ivanpah general store building, a landmark in this area
After more than 3 miles of pavement on Ivanpah Road, the pavement ends
I decide I don't feeling like riding up Ivanpah Road any further and look for a campsite on adjacent Slaughterhouse Spring Road
Fluffy post-flower residue along Slaughterhouse Road
Almost a mile up Slaughterhouse Spring Road, I start looking for a campsite more seriously
While setting up camp, a pickup truck drives by, not seeing me, and drives up the hill a bit (see the headlights at bottom-left)
I didn't travel as far as hoped today, but I'm very happy camping here by Slaughterhouse Spring, now planning tomorrow's hike
Nipton to Slaughterhouse Spring by bicycle, route
Nipton to Slaughterhouse Spring by bicycle, elevation profile