dryfj.com / drycyclist.com (kevin cook)

25/27
Home / Mojave Preserve and Desert bikepacking trips / 2009, Fall: Mojave National Preserve / Day 6: Cornfield Spring Road to west of Kelso Dunes by bicycle /

Success! I found one flat, wide-enough, non-rocky spot above the road, so I'm back at the bike to dismantle it and set up camp

07821-powerline-road.jpg Hmmm... maybe there's a campsite for me on the raised rocky area to my left?ThumbnailsElevation profile of bicycle route from Cornfield Spring Road to west of Kelso Dunes by bicycleHmmm... maybe there's a campsite for me on the raised rocky area to my left?ThumbnailsElevation profile of bicycle route from Cornfield Spring Road to west of Kelso Dunes by bicycleHmmm... maybe there's a campsite for me on the raised rocky area to my left?ThumbnailsElevation profile of bicycle route from Cornfield Spring Road to west of Kelso Dunes by bicycleHmmm... maybe there's a campsite for me on the raised rocky area to my left?ThumbnailsElevation profile of bicycle route from Cornfield Spring Road to west of Kelso Dunes by bicycleHmmm... maybe there's a campsite for me on the raised rocky area to my left?ThumbnailsElevation profile of bicycle route from Cornfield Spring Road to west of Kelso Dunes by bicycle

I bring the saddlebags, two at a time, to the campsite, which is about 100 feet from the road. I carry the bike to my campsite (off-road riding is not allowed, even in a non-Wilderness area like this), and set up camp in the dark.

Some clouds float around during the evening, often muffling the brilliant almost-full moon. The white ceiling over the desert casts a mysterious light on the Kelso Dunes, which are visible from my campsite. I can see for miles tonight.

The quiet evening is often interrupted by the loud whooshing of strong winds above in the adjacent Granite Mountains. The forlorn howls warn of a possible wind storm tonight, but, here at my campsite, most of the wind is just a big noise, not a physical force. Only occasionally does the wind actually touch down, and when it does, it lacks the violence of the gusts I can hear overhead. This is one of the more mysterious sounds heard in the desert.

Supper is Mountain House Beef Stew, one of my favourites. As the evening progresses, several extra layers of clothing go on, and a few swigs of brandy add extra warmth.