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Home / Mojave Preserve and Desert bikepacking trips / 2007, Christmas: Mojave National Preserve Mountain-Bike Camping / Day 2: Hike beyond Indian Springs toward Cane Spring, returning cross-country via Eyeball Rock in an unnamed wash, 7-8 miles /

After 1/ 2 mile or so, I'm relieved to stumble across Indian Springs Road as hoped

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06708-tent-night-800px.jpg I nervously hike cross-country by flashlight toward the lights of Baker, in search of the road back to my tentThumbnailsAfter I get home next week, I'll get a detailed USGS map and try to map today's hike in the Indian Springs and Cane Spring areaI nervously hike cross-country by flashlight toward the lights of Baker, in search of the road back to my tentThumbnailsAfter I get home next week, I'll get a detailed USGS map and try to map today's hike in the Indian Springs and Cane Spring areaI nervously hike cross-country by flashlight toward the lights of Baker, in search of the road back to my tentThumbnailsAfter I get home next week, I'll get a detailed USGS map and try to map today's hike in the Indian Springs and Cane Spring areaI nervously hike cross-country by flashlight toward the lights of Baker, in search of the road back to my tentThumbnailsAfter I get home next week, I'll get a detailed USGS map and try to map today's hike in the Indian Springs and Cane Spring areaI nervously hike cross-country by flashlight toward the lights of Baker, in search of the road back to my tentThumbnailsAfter I get home next week, I'll get a detailed USGS map and try to map today's hike in the Indian Springs and Cane Spring area

I briskly walk up the dark, silent road by flashlight for a distance that turns out to be about two miles, arriving "home" around 19h. - After more walking toward the lights of Baker, I stumble across Indian Springs Road as hoped with a sigh of relief. I see now that I've unintentionally overshot my campsite by circumventing the hills behind my tent.

I briskly up the dark, silent road by flashlight for a distance that turns out to be about two miles, arriving "home" around 19h.

Tonight's add-boiling-water-to-bag meal is José's Chicken Mole from Backpacker's Pantry. The spicy flavour is satisfying, but it's too salty and not complex enough for my taste considering how heavily seasoned it is--like licking the residue inside of a can of tomato paste. The last time I tried this meal was during very hot weather when the salt content was more welcome.

It's cold in the tent and I have no campfire tonight, darn it. Some clouds have moved in and are obscuring the rising full moon; some gusty winds have also moved in. One particularly strong gust lifts up one side of the tent, threatening to overturn it, then sets it back down and lifts up the other side for a few seconds. Fortunately, there's not too much more of that.

It might not be as cold as it was last night. Maybe I'll sleep better tonight.