Day 11: Keystone Spring and mine day hike, New York Mountains, Mojave National Preserve
Leaving the ailing 10-ton bike at my Keystone Canyon campsite at 5300 feet, I hike up to Keystone Spring in search of water, then up to the old mine below New York Mountain at about 6000 feet. 5.5 miles round trip. No humans sighted today.
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Date: May 03, 2008, 10h00
Size: 49 items
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Here's a plant that I've never seen before
It reminds me a bit of some kind of verbena.
Date: May 03, 2008, 15h29
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I'm down at the bottom of the big hill and in the main part of Keystone Canyon now
I turn right for another short walk up to Keystone Spring to top off my water supply before heading back to camp. My two-litre Camelbak is almost empty again. Turning left here would take me back to my campsite.
Date: May 03, 2008, 15h30
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After refilling water at Keystone Spring again, I still have a bit more downhill on the old Keystone Canyon Road
The tire tracks make me wonder if I have neighbours in the area this weekend that I haven't run into yet.
Date: May 03, 2008, 16h05
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The road in Keystone Canyon descends a little more
The dark patches of earth on the hillside straight ahead stand out.
Date: May 03, 2008, 16h07
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I'm down at the bottom of Keystone Canyon now and almost back home for the day
Even though I'm up at 5300 feet here, it doesn't really feel that high because there are no open views down to the nearby lower desert areas.
Date: May 03, 2008, 16h24
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A few primroses bloom along Keystone Canyon Road a bit west of my campsite
I remember seeing a single lonely primrose bloom during Xmas week near my campsite at Devil's Playground, in the lower area of Mojave National Preserve.
Date: May 03, 2008, 16h25
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Back at the tent, the job that awaits me is re-repairing my broken bike rack
I could have hiked longer today, but I needed to return to camp and settle my mind by fixing (or trying to fix) the bike rack again.
Date: May 03, 2008, 18h05
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I re-repair the broken bike rack by reinstalling my improvised brace under the rack, rather than on top of it
The brace on the outside of the broken rack worked for a while, but the rack eventually started rubbing against the wheel again. Having the brace on the underside of the rack should prevent that from happening.
Date: May 03, 2008, 17h57
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I take in the views of the surrounding hills while the sun goes down and I ponder my situation and exit strategy
I'd like to spend another day hiking and exploring this area, but only two more nights in Mojave National Preserve remain before my trip ends. In case I run into more unforeseen problems, it's best that I begin the 75-mile trek back to Baker tomorrow.
Date: May 03, 2008, 19h05
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Quite a few desert four o'clocks are blooming around my Keystone Canyon campsite
These plants look too green and plump to be growing in the desert!
Date: May 03, 2008, 19h06
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The last supper at Keystone Canyon
Supper tonight is Backpacker Pantry's vegan Kathmandu Curry, a delicious and interestingly textured mixture of mostly potatoes and lentils. I follow up with some Trader Joe's beef jerky, tamari almonds, a bowl of miso soup with dulse and a bit of granola
Date: May 03, 2008, 20h07
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Keystone Canyon hike as viewed in Google Earth
Date: July 21, 2008, 21h06
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Mojave National Preserve map: Day 11, day hike to Keystone Spring and Keystone Canyon mine
Continue to day 12: Keystone Canyon to Sunrise Rock near Cima Dome, Mojave National Preserve.
Date: July 23, 2008, 20h42
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