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Home / Mojave Preserve and Desert bikepacking trips / 2009, Spring: Mojave National Preserve / Day 1: Baker, California to Cornfield Spring, Mojave National Preserve /

Kelso Depot Visitor Centre, Mojave National Preserve, former 1920s train station restored in 2005

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01417-kelso-depot.jpg Still heading downhill into the Kelso Valley, now approaching the town of Kelso, that ribbon of buildingsThumbnailsWhile lingering in the shade of the Kelso Depot waiting platform, I chat with a couple on their first visit to the PreserveStill heading downhill into the Kelso Valley, now approaching the town of Kelso, that ribbon of buildingsThumbnailsWhile lingering in the shade of the Kelso Depot waiting platform, I chat with a couple on their first visit to the PreserveStill heading downhill into the Kelso Valley, now approaching the town of Kelso, that ribbon of buildingsThumbnailsWhile lingering in the shade of the Kelso Depot waiting platform, I chat with a couple on their first visit to the PreserveStill heading downhill into the Kelso Valley, now approaching the town of Kelso, that ribbon of buildingsThumbnailsWhile lingering in the shade of the Kelso Depot waiting platform, I chat with a couple on their first visit to the PreserveStill heading downhill into the Kelso Valley, now approaching the town of Kelso, that ribbon of buildingsThumbnailsWhile lingering in the shade of the Kelso Depot waiting platform, I chat with a couple on their first visit to the Preserve

My fun descent ends at the bottom of the Kelso Valley a bit after 17h30. I take a half hour break here and refill my water bottles from a hose left outside on the lawn and soak my head with the cool water. I consumed almost seven litres of water on the way here!

Usually I refill my water from the utility closet in the basement of the Kelso Depot building, but the visitor centre closed at 17h. I'm lucky that they've left the hose out for me because filling my water bottles from the tiny sinks in the 24-hour bathroom building would be quite tedious.

Since this is a dry desert park and people occasionally need water, an outdoor water tap would be a nice addition at this location.