Mojave National Preserve Bicycle Camping and Hiking 2008
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Mojave National Preserve Mountain-bike Camping (Bikepacking) and Hike 2008 Day 7: Mojave Desert springs: Butcher Knife Spring and Cottonwood Spring day hike, New York Mountains, Mojave National Preserve
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Mojave National Preserve Mountain-bike Camping (Bikepacking) and Hike 2008

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And finally—ta da—here we are, the road to Coyote Springs

And finally—ta da—here we are, the road to Coyote Springs

Date: April 26, 2008, 16h46

Day 7: Mojave Desert springs: Butcher Knife Spring and Cottonwood Spring day hike, New York Mountains, Mojave National Preserve

After yesterday's inspiring but tiring trek, sleeping in late this morning is a goal, but I wake up at 8h from the hot sun cooking my tent. Fortunately, the ample breeze makes it easy to roll over and fall back asleep after opening the tent windows (and leaving the screens closed).

Today's nine-mile round-trip hike from my campsite at Butcher Knife Corral (4600 feet) will take me to springs on the northwest side of New York Mountains in Butcher Knife Canyon and Cottonwood Canyon (5300 feet). No long steep hills, just plenty of great scenery, solitude, joshua trees, spring water, and wildflowers on a perfect day no warmer than the low 80s.

No human contact today.

Date: April 29, 2008, 10h00
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Apparently, this dripping water is the source of Cottonwood Spring

Apparently, this dripping water is the source of Cottonwood Spring

The small quantity of water dripping out from under the tree roots here does not amount to very much. At least not right now; the flow is probably more significant during the wetter months.

Date: April 29, 2008, 14h04
There doesn't seem to be more water to discover in Cottonwood Canyon, so I climb up a small hill for a break with nice views

There doesn't seem to be more water to discover in Cottonwood Canyon, so I climb up a small hill for a break with nice views

My tent is about two miles down below. The high peak in the background is Clark Mountain, the highest point of Mojave National Preserve, which I haven't gotten around to exploring yet.

Date: April 29, 2008, 14h16
Cottonwood Spring is aptly named since this cottonwood tree lives here

Cottonwood Spring is aptly named since this cottonwood tree lives here

This tree is dumping some of its fluff and pollen into the air, which probably explains why I just had a sneezing fit (I'm allergic to cottonwood trees, which I hate to admit because I like them).

Date: April 29, 2008, 14h30
I walk back down to Cottonwood Spring to filter some water

I walk back down to Cottonwood Spring to filter some water

It looks like the wilderness camera is going to get some choice shots of me and my water filter instead of a deer or a mountain lion.

Date: April 29, 2008, 14h35
The water that drips out from under the tree roots at Cottonwood Spring flows over this rock as a clear shiny film

The water that drips out from under the tree roots at Cottonwood Spring flows over this rock as a clear shiny film

Then the water hits the ground and creates the small stream below. I'm relieved to find water because I drank more of my water supply than expected yesterday on the way here.

Date: April 29, 2008, 14h39
The meagre stream contains as much algae as it does water

The meagre stream contains as much algae as it does water

There's also a fair amount of mud around, or is that something less sanitary? There's a reason that I'm using a water filter...

Date: April 29, 2008, 14h42
The stream is too shallow to pump water from it, so I dig a small depression to accept the intake hose of my water filter

The stream is too shallow to pump water from it, so I dig a small depression to accept the intake hose of my water filter

Inevitably, this stirs up a lot of silt, so I'll have to wait a few minutes before I can begin to pump water.

Date: April 29, 2008, 14h44
Filtering water from Cottonwood Spring, Mojave National Preserve

Filtering water from Cottonwood Spring, Mojave National Preserve

I've waited five minutes, and the silt in the depression that I dug in the stream has cleared away. I'm filling my half-depleted two-litre Camelbak and two empty 1.5-litre water bottles.

Date: April 29, 2008, 14h53
Successful taste test of the water at Cottonwood Spring, Mojave National Preserve

Successful taste test of the water at Cottonwood Spring, Mojave National Preserve

The water from Cottonwood Spring tastes great filtered. It helps that the water is almost cold, so it's really refreshing on this warm day, the coolest water that I've drank since yesterday at Kelso Depot visitor centre.

Date: April 29, 2008, 14h57
The proud deed of pumping water completed, I begin my walk back down Cottonwood Canyon and toward Butcher Knife Canyon

The proud deed of pumping water completed, I begin my walk back down Cottonwood Canyon and toward Butcher Knife Canyon

The hike ahead of me should be interesting, and I might get lucky and find even more water at Butcher Knife Spring.

Date: April 29, 2008, 15h20
Lots of purple salvia dorrii flowers in this area

Lots of purple salvia dorrii flowers in this area

These sage flowers are especially striking when they occur next to yellow encelia flowers or orange desert-mallow flowers. Of course, they're always super-fragrant.

Date: April 29, 2008, 15h25
I leave the road and begin hiking cross-country to the Butcher Knife Canyon area, about a mile away

I leave the road and begin hiking cross-country to the Butcher Knife Canyon area, about a mile away

I dodge tough shrubs and the occasional cholla cactus as I make my way over to Butcher Knife Canyon. The straight-line hike is barely a mile, but cross-country hiking requires longer distances as one walks around shrubs, and never in a straight line.

Date: April 29, 2008, 15h31
I scramble over a few rocks on the way to Butcher Knife Canyon

I scramble over a few rocks on the way to Butcher Knife Canyon

I could have avoided this by taking a tiny detour, but rock scrambles are scenic and enjoyable.

Date: April 29, 2008, 15h37
Burned joshua tree near Butcher Knife Canyon, Mojave National Preserve

Burned joshua tree near Butcher Knife Canyon, Mojave National Preserve

This dead joshua tree has more reach than most. The burned trees in this area suggest that the Mojave National Preserve "Hackberry Complex" lightning fires of 2005 reached this area.

Date: April 29, 2008, 15h43
For some reason, this meadow near Butcher Knife Canyon is resplendent with small white flowers

For some reason, this meadow near Butcher Knife Canyon is resplendent with small white flowers

I haven't seen any of these flowers in the area except at this location.

Date: April 29, 2008, 15h50
As I get closer to Butcher Knife Canyon, I note some piles of mine tailings on the hillside in the distance

As I get closer to Butcher Knife Canyon, I note some piles of mine tailings on the hillside in the distance

The piles appear to be colour-coded. I decide to head up to that area to look closer.

Date: April 29, 2008, 15h54
On the way up to the mine tailings, I cross a drainage with profuse desert-mallow blooms

On the way up to the mine tailings, I cross a drainage with profuse desert-mallow blooms

I don't think I've ever seen so many desert-mallow blooms at once. Often, these plants don't grow higher than a foot or so.

Date: April 29, 2008, 15h59
Above the piles of tailings at the Butcher Knife Mine

Above the piles of tailings at the Butcher Knife Mine

So many orange desert-mallow flowers up here... The sandy area to the right that looks like road (and which is, sort of, a road) is the wash into which Butcher Knife Canyon drains, my route today.

Date: April 29, 2008, 16h04
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Other bicycle camping trips on drycyclist.com:
  • Mojave National Preserve Lanfair Valley Loop Bicycle Camping, Fall 2012 (8 days)
  • Mojave National Preserve Hiking and Bikepacking, Spring 2012 (15 days)
  • Cady Mountains, Sleeping Beauty and Kelso Dunes Wilderness Bicycle Camping, Fall 2011 (8 days)
  • Mojave National Preserve and Area Hiking and Bikepacking, Spring 2011 (15 days)
  • Route 66 and Kelso Dunes Wilderness Bikepacking, Fall 2010 (eight days)
  • Mojave National Preserve Bikepacking and Hiking, Spring 2010 (14 days)
  • Mojave National Preserve Bicycle Camping and Hiking, Fall 2009 (eight days)
  • Mojave National Preserve Bikepacking and Hiking, Spring 2009 (16 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 mojave2008 at priss dot org