Mojave National Preserve Lecyr Spring and Keystone Spring day hike, New York Mountains: Day 3
More hot weather, with high temperatures recorded as 96F at Lanfair and 103F down at Nipton. I don't see any other humans today, like yesterday. 9.7 hiking miles and about 1200 feet of elevation gain.
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Date: May 22, 2012, 10h01
Size: 53 items
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A good day of backcountry camping usually begins with a roll of toilet paper and a 'sanitation trowel'
Another hot morning and I'm forced awake early by the sun shining on my tent, just as I fall into a deep sleep. Not enough sleep, I feel like I have a hangover!
Date: May 22, 2012, 10h01
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I leave the tent on today's Lecyr Spring and Keystone Spring hike before 10h30
I can't stay in the tent any longer because it has become too hot inside. I had a couple of cups of "cold" coffee and a cup of vitamin C drink, plus some granola and almonds. But I can't eat much due to the heat.
Date: May 22, 2012, 10h02
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I start the hike by walking down Mail Spring Road, seeing the road that I rode two nights ago by headlight
I get to see my tire tracks along sandy stretches.
Date: May 22, 2012, 10h29
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I think I remember pushing my bike up this little rocky hill a couple of nights ago, dazed in the dark
There's the Castle Peaks again off in the distance...
Date: May 22, 2012, 10h34
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Straight ahead across the plain, halfway up the distant hill, is the old Trio Mine, today's first destination
I could walk cross-country, like I did yesterday, for a more direct route, but I feel like following the old road for a while.
Date: May 22, 2012, 10h38
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While walking down Mail Spring Road, I recall good memories of last year's hikes in the distant hills
The high hills at centre-left are the Bathtub Spring Peaks (http://mojave2011.drycyclist.com/willow-wash/) and the jagged hills at right are the Castle Peaks (http://mojave2011.drycyclist.com/castle-peaks/).
Date: May 22, 2012, 10h38
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I walk past a rusty metal object on Mail Spring Road
I have no idea what this is.
Date: May 22, 2012, 10h42
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When I reach the road to Lecyr Spring, I turn and hike up that way, with the New York Mountains peaks in the background
I haven't been up this road since my second Mojave National Preserve trip back in year 2000 (http://mojave2000.drycyclist.com/walking-box-ranch/010_7-keystone-canyon-road-800px.jpg.html).
Date: May 22, 2012, 10h56
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I arrive at the dry Lecyr Well site, with low-growing daturas in the foreground, Mojave National Preserve
A big mahonia (berberis) is covered with yellow flowers, I walk over to it.
Date: May 22, 2012, 10h57
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These flowering mahonia (berberis) bushes are noisy at this time of year, attracting lots of buzzing bees
Great scent! These were growing at Mail Spring also.
Date: May 22, 2012, 10h58
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It's not just bees making noise: these mahonia (berberis) flowers also attract many large orange wasp-like insects
Date: May 22, 2012, 10h59
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A windmill, a defunct wilderness camera and a dry cistern all sit at the old Lecyr Well site, Mojave National Preserve
Date: May 22, 2012, 11h00
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Next stop on today's hike is the old Trio Mine site
... that tailings pile on the hillside ahead
Date: May 22, 2012, 11h10
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I get closer to the tailings pile at the old Trio Mine site
Date: May 22, 2012, 11h19
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I follow an old road briefly beyond the Trio Mine site to another old tailings pile
Date: May 22, 2012, 11h30
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