Mojave National Preserve Bicycle-Camping and Hiking, Late Spring 2012
I encounter a lot of heat on this two-week adventure, which changes my planned route after the first few days, after which I'm in search of higher and cooler ground.
I start and end with my bicycle at the Amtrak bus stop at Primm, NV. Rough at times with a bit of heat exhaustion at the beginning, but a great trip nonetheless: 295 bicycle miles and 68 hiking miles.
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Date: May 20, 2012, 08h11
Size: 15 items
(587 items total)
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Album: Mojave National Preserve: Primm, NV to Mail Spring, New York Mountains foothills, by bicycle: Day 1
33.3 bicycle miles and about 3000 feet of elevation gain. This wouldn't be so difficult except that I'm not yet acclimated to 90-degree F heat and the 10-ton bike! Despite fatigue and heat, it's a great to leave the grid again.
Date: May 20, 2012, 08h11
Size: 44 items
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Album: Keystone Spring day hike from Mail Spring, New York Mountains, Mojave National Preserve: Day 2
Hot day! I'm not yet acclimated to the heat, so feeling heat-sick and a bit lethargic (highs: 98F at Lanfair, 104F at Nipton). Nonetheless, I trek on and get water from Keystone Spring. 9.2 hiking miles and about 1500 feet of elevation gain.
Date: May 21, 2012, 06h50
Size: 66 items
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Album: 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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Album: Mail Spring to Mid Hills Campground by bicycle via New York Mountains Road, Mojave National Preserve: Day 4
I wasn't planning on visiting Mid Hills Campground, but the hot weather is changing my plans. It's a few degrees cooler than yesterday, but still *hot*: (92F at Lanfair and 99F down at Nipton). 27.4 bicycle miles and about 1800 feet of elevation gain.
Date: May 23, 2012, 12h14
Size: 17 items
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Album: A lazy day at Mid Hills Campground, Mojave National Preserve, to recover from heat exhaustion from the past few days: Day 5
Cooler weather today, warm and comfortable! I resolve to do as little as possible today, and spend time thinking and writing notes in my journal. A short sunset hike up the low peaks east of the campground is a fine end to a relaxing day.
Date: May 24, 2012, 12h01
Size: 12 items
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Album: Gold Valley and Black Canyon bicycle ride from Mid Hills Campground, Mojave National Preserve: Day 6
A fun mountain-biking day without the weight of all my gear, for the first time on this trip, with a stop at Hole-in-the-Wall to recharge my phone. Perfect weather: 82F at Cima. 27 bicycle miles, plus 1.5 hiking miles near Rustler Canyon.
Date: May 25, 2012, 12h20
Size: 28 items
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Album: Black Diamond Spring and Barnett Mine day hike and bicycle ride, Mojave National Preserve: Day 7
Cooler weather today, which is nice. I wasn't planning on being at Mid Hills campground on this trip, but there's always more to explore out here. I haven't hiked in the Black Diamond Spring area before. 22.3 bicycle miles and 7.5 hiking miles.
Date: May 26, 2012, 12h15
Size: 37 items
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Album: I leave Mid Hills Campground and ride over to the Twin Buttes area, Mojave National Preserve, to set up a campsite there: Day 8
Easy day (hey, I'm on vacation!): 16.4 bicycle miles on the 10-ton bike plus about 800 feet of elevation gain, and a fun 1700 feet of elevation drop. Another perfect day temperature-wise: it only hits 77F at Cima and drops to 41F at night.
Date: May 27, 2012, 11h28
Size: 20 items
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Album: Tortoise Shell Mountain and Woods Wash day hike, Mojave National Preserve: Day 9
I want to hike somewhere in the Woods Mountains, so I end up visiting Tortoise Shell Mountain on foot, via Woods Wash. A bit warmer than yesterday, high of 86F at Cima, mid 40s at night. 12 hiking miles, 1500 feet elevation gain.
Date: May 28, 2012, 10h19
Size: 26 items
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Album: Mountain-bike ride from Twin Buttes to Fenner and Essex on historic Route 66 via Woods Wash Valley dirt roads: Day 10
My bud calls this the 73-mile beer run (I'll buy beer at the Fenner store). I explore some of the expansive cattle-grazing country in the Woods Wash Valley. High of 102F in the Essex area. 73 bicycle miles and about 3500 feet of elevation gain.
Date: May 29, 2012, 10h04
Size: 56 items
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Album: Rings Trail and Barber Peak Loop Trail hike, Mojave National Preserve: Day 11
I never got around to checking out these great trails near the Hole-in-the-Wall Visitor Centre during past trips. I was missing out! 7.8 hiking miles and 11 bicycle miles. Temperature hits 93F today at Cima, so it's a warm one.
Date: May 30, 2012, 12h43
Size: 42 items
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Album: Twin Buttes and Table Mountain hike, Mojave National Preserve: Day 12
Time for a walk up Twin Buttes and Table Mountain, both of which I've looked at for years. I doubt I'll make it to the top, due to the steepness, but who knows... 99 degrees F at Cima today, yikes. 9.8 hiking miles and about 1800 feet of elevation gain.
Date: May 31, 2012, 09h41
Size: 46 items
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Album: Cave Spring hike, Mojave National Preserve: Day 13
It's another hot day (102 degrees F today at nearby Cima), so I take it slowly. I don't know what to expect in the Cave Spring area, and it turns out to be an excellent short hike. 4.7 hiking miles, plus 17.6 bicycle miles.
Date: June 01, 2012, 10h07
Size: 47 items
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Album: Borrego Canyon hike, Mojave National Preserve: Day 14
Another hot day (nearby Cima: high 98F, low 69F), so I decide on this shorter hike instead of a long bike ride through some lower, and thus hotter, territory to Foshay Pass and back that I've been considering. 4.6 hiking miles and 16.7 bicycle miles.
Date: June 02, 2012, 09h49
Size: 44 items
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Album: Twin Buttes / Woods Mountains to Nipton by bicycle: Day 15
Another hot one for the final day of the trip, with a high of 96F at Cima, and 103F down at Nipton. I'm glad that much of this is downhill today! 50.9 bicycle miles, about 30 of which are downhill riding, almost 4000 feet of downhill elevation loss: fun!
Date: June 03, 2012, 08h38
Size: 34 items
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