Mojave National Preserve Bicycle Camping and Hiking, Spring 2012
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Mojave National Preserve Bicycle-Camping and Hiking, Late Spring 2012 Mojave National Preserve Lecyr Spring and Keystone Spring day hike, New York Mountains: Day 3
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Mojave National Preserve Bicycle-Camping and Hiking, Late Spring 2012

1. Mojave... 2. Keystone... 3. Mojave... 4. Mail Spring... 5. A lazy day ... 6. Gold Valley... 7. Black... ... 15. Twin Buttes...

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Ugh, Fenner Hills Road passes through a couple of sandy stretches where I can barely ride my bike.

Ugh, Fenner Hills Road passes through a couple of sandy stretches where I can barely ride my bike.

Date: May 29, 2012, 16h41

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.

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'

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
I leave the tent on today's Lecyr Spring and Keystone Spring hike before 10h30

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
I start the hike by walking down Mail Spring Road, seeing the road that I rode two nights ago by headlight

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
I think I remember pushing my bike up this little rocky hill a couple of nights ago, dazed in the dark

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
Straight ahead across the plain, halfway up the distant hill, is the old Trio Mine, today's first destination

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
While walking down Mail Spring Road, I recall good memories of last year's hikes in the distant hills

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
I walk past a rusty metal object on Mail Spring Road

I walk past a rusty metal object on Mail Spring Road

I have no idea what this is.

Date: May 22, 2012, 10h42
When I reach the road to Lecyr Spring, I turn and hike up that way, with the New York Mountains peaks in the background

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
I arrive at the dry Lecyr Well site, with low-growing daturas in the foreground, Mojave National Preserve

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
These flowering mahonia (berberis) bushes are noisy at this time of year, attracting lots of buzzing bees

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
It's not just bees making noise: these mahonia (berberis) flowers also attract many large orange wasp-like insects

It's not just bees making noise: these mahonia (berberis) flowers also attract many large orange wasp-like insects

Date: May 22, 2012, 10h59
A windmill, a defunct wilderness camera and a dry cistern all sit at the old Lecyr Well site, Mojave National Preserve

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
Next stop on today's hike is the old Trio Mine site

Next stop on today's hike is the old Trio Mine site

... that tailings pile on the hillside ahead

Date: May 22, 2012, 11h10
I get closer to the tailings pile at the old Trio Mine site

I get closer to the tailings pile at the old Trio Mine site

Date: May 22, 2012, 11h19
I follow an old road briefly beyond the Trio Mine site to another old tailings pile

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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Other bikepacking trips on drycyclist.com:
  • Mojave National Preserve Lanfair Valley Loop Bicycle Camping, Fall 2012 (8 days)
  • Cady Mountains, Sleeping Beauty and Kelso Dunes Wilderness Bicycle Camping, Fall 2011 (8 days)
  • Mojave National Preserve Bikepacking and Hiking, Spring 2011 (15 days)
  • Route 66 and Kelso Dunes Wilderness Bikepacking, Fall 2010 (eight days)
  • Mojave National Preserve Hiking and Bicycle Camping, Spring 2010 (two weeks)
  • Mojave National Preserve Hiking and Bicycle Camping, Fall 2009 (8 days)
  • Mojave National Preserve Bicycle Camping and Hiking, Spring 2009 (16 days)
  • Mojave National Preserve Bikepacking and Hiking 2008 (14 days)
  • Henry Coe State Park Bikepacking 2008 (eight days)
  • Mojave National Preserve Xmas 2007 Mountain-Bike Camping (one week)
  • Henry Coe State Park Mountain-Bike Camping 2007 (eight nights)
  • Death Valley Bicycle Camping 2007 (two weeks)
  • Henry Coe State Park Bicycle Camping 2006 (four nights)
  • Mojave National Preserve Bicycle Camping 2006 (two weeks)
  • Mojave National Preserve Bicycle Camping 2000 (11 days)
  • Mojave National Preserve Bicycle Camping 1999 (one week)
Contact mojave2011 at drycyclist dot com