Mojave National Preserve Bicycle Camping and Hiking, Spring 2012
Login
Mojave National Preserve Bicycle-Camping and Hiking, Late Spring 2012 Mail Spring to Mid Hills Campground by bicycle via New York Mountains Road, Mojave National Preserve: Day 4
Advanced Search
RSS Feed for this Album

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...

Random Image

A lone tree in this part of Upper Black Diamond Spring Valley survived the 2005 brush fires

A lone tree in this part of Upper Black Diamond Spring Valley survived the 2005 brush fires

Date: May 26, 2012, 16h25

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
nextlast
I make a last-minute decision to leave Mail Spring and ride to Mid Hills campground today (I was going to stay here another day)

I make a last-minute decision to leave Mail Spring and ride to Mid Hills campground today (I was going to stay here another day)

I pack up and leave around 13h15. A breeze this morning kept the tent a bit cooler this morning, so I managed to sleep in until 9h30. Really needed the sleep, but it's still hot enough that I can't eat much.

Date: May 23, 2012, 12h14
1.5 downhill miles on the old Mail Spring Road, then 3.5 miles down Ivanpah Rd into the Lanfair Valley

1.5 downhill miles on the old Mail Spring Road, then 3.5 miles down Ivanpah Rd into the Lanfair Valley

I rapidly lose a few hundred feet of elevation as I ride down Ivanpah Road, but due to the bumpy, washboarded road, I ride almost as slowly as if I were riding uphill. A bit sweaty even on the downhill!

Date: May 23, 2012, 14h11
I make a quick stop along Ivanpah Road to climb up onto an old railway grade that is marked as a road on some maps

I make a quick stop along Ivanpah Road to climb up onto an old railway grade that is marked as a road on some maps

It's hard to tell this is a an old railway grade extending into the distance because it's so grown in.

Date: May 23, 2012, 14h25
The 10-ton bicycle leaves Ivanpah Road for the Sagamore Cut-off Road

The 10-ton bicycle leaves Ivanpah Road for the Sagamore Cut-off Road

I rode this peaceful 5-mile road through the Joshua-tree forest last year and am looking forward to doing it again.

Date: May 23, 2012, 14h35
Video snippet of riding the 10-ton bike through the Joshua tree forest on the Sagamore Cut-Off Road

Video snippet of riding the 10-ton bike through the Joshua tree forest on the Sagamore Cut-Off Road

It's tricky trying to ride the ungainly 10-ton bike with one hand on a camera, and only one hand on the handlebars. Youtube adjustments to the video to reduce shakiness produce interesting effects at times.

Date: May 23, 2012, 14h39
Way off in the distance, I can see flat-topped Table Mountain, which I'll pass later on the way to Mid Hills campground

Way off in the distance, I can see flat-topped Table Mountain, which I'll pass later on the way to Mid Hills campground

The road rolls up and down across drainage areas. I like this kind of terrain for mountain-biking.

Date: May 23, 2012, 14h44
Riding (and walking the 10-ton bike) up the Sagamore Cut-off Road, looking for shade under a Joshua tree

Riding (and walking the 10-ton bike) up the Sagamore Cut-off Road, looking for shade under a Joshua tree

Time for an energy-bar break. The heat is still killing my appetite, so I might not be able to eat it all, but I'll eat as much of it as I can.

Date: May 23, 2012, 15h19
An hour goes by, and I'm still riding, and pushing, the bike up the Sagamore Cut-off Road

An hour goes by, and I'm still riding, and pushing, the bike up the Sagamore Cut-off Road

I still haven't seen any people yet today (nor yesterday, nor the day before). Occasionally, there's a bit of shade to provide a spot for a brief rest.

Date: May 23, 2012, 16h14
I arrive at the junction of New York Mountains Road and Carruthers Canyon, the first of two summits today

I arrive at the junction of New York Mountains Road and Carruthers Canyon, the first of two summits today

There's a hint of a cool breeze up here at 5500 feet, unbelievable after the past few hot days. I've risen almost 1000 feet since I left Ivanpah Road a while back, but it doesn't seem like it because the grade is fairly gradual, and the trip so enjoyable.

Date: May 23, 2012, 17h23
Postcard view of the New York Mountains while mountain-biking through the Carruthers Canyon area

Postcard view of the New York Mountains while mountain-biking through the Carruthers Canyon area

There are many nice campsites in this area; I'd consider camping here tonight if I were carrying more water. I'm tired already!

Date: May 23, 2012, 17h24
A gentle downhill begins as I start crossing the Watson Wash area on New York Mountains Road, Mojave National Preserve

A gentle downhill begins as I start crossing the Watson Wash area on New York Mountains Road, Mojave National Preserve

I still have about 15 miles to go and will drop down to about 4800 feet before climbing back up to 5600 at Mid Hills Campground.

Date: May 23, 2012, 17h57
The 10-ton bicycle rides down New York Mountains Road alongside Watson Wash toward Cedar Canyon Road

The 10-ton bicycle rides down New York Mountains Road alongside Watson Wash toward Cedar Canyon Road

I quickly drop down about 400 feet to join Cedar Canyon Road. Nice to have some downhill, but loose sand on the road requires that I pay close attention in order to not slip and lose control.

Date: May 23, 2012, 18h27
Dead coyote on Cedar Canyon Road, Mojave National Preserve

Dead coyote on Cedar Canyon Road, Mojave National Preserve

The short, steep climb out of Watson Wash was tiring, and now I'm riding slowly uphill into a fierce headwind, so the dead coyote gives a good excuse to take a short break.

Date: May 23, 2012, 19h07
Riding (and walking the 10-ton bike) up the Black Canyon Cut-off Road as the sun goes down

Riding (and walking the 10-ton bike) up the Black Canyon Cut-off Road as the sun goes down

A few desert mallow flowers are blooming. Sometimes there are thousands of these orange flowers here. I like this short-cut road, only .75 miles long, excellent for mountain bikes.

Date: May 23, 2012, 19h46
Nice sunset (belt of Venus) on the way up the Black Canyon Cut-off Road: my final 5 uphill miles of the day will be in the dark

Nice sunset (belt of Venus) on the way up the Black Canyon Cut-off Road: my final 5 uphill miles of the day will be in the dark

I feel beaten down the last few miles before Mid Hills Campground (as usual!), but riding in the dark means less heat. The campground is almost empty. Like. I don't feel like eating, but make Mountain House Teriyaki Chicken and Rice a bit before midnight.

Date: May 23, 2012, 19h50
nextlast
Page: 1 2
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