dryfj.com / drycyclist.com (kevin cook)

12/31
Home / Mojave Preserve and Desert bikepacking trips / 2010, Mojave National Preserve / Day 1: Baker, California to Kelso Peak area, Mojave National Preserve /

Looking behind me down Kelbaker Road, I've risen about 1500 feet over approximately 16 miles

3319-kelbaker-road.jpg My next break along Kelbaker Road is near the road to the Rainy Day Mine site, with the cinder cones in the backgroundThumbnailsA bit further up Kelbaker Road, I stop again to refill my Camelbak, which has run dry again; any excuse for a break is goodMy next break along Kelbaker Road is near the road to the Rainy Day Mine site, with the cinder cones in the backgroundThumbnailsA bit further up Kelbaker Road, I stop again to refill my Camelbak, which has run dry again; any excuse for a break is goodMy next break along Kelbaker Road is near the road to the Rainy Day Mine site, with the cinder cones in the backgroundThumbnailsA bit further up Kelbaker Road, I stop again to refill my Camelbak, which has run dry again; any excuse for a break is goodMy next break along Kelbaker Road is near the road to the Rainy Day Mine site, with the cinder cones in the backgroundThumbnailsA bit further up Kelbaker Road, I stop again to refill my Camelbak, which has run dry again; any excuse for a break is goodMy next break along Kelbaker Road is near the road to the Rainy Day Mine site, with the cinder cones in the backgroundThumbnailsA bit further up Kelbaker Road, I stop again to refill my Camelbak, which has run dry again; any excuse for a break is good

I've done this long gradual climb many times over the years. It's relatively easy in cool weather, but on the first day of a trip, fully loaded down before I'm acclimated to 90-degree heat, it gets a bit slow and sweaty!