Mojave National Preserve Bicycle Camping and Hiking 2008
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Mojave National Preserve Mountain-bike Camping (Bikepacking) and Hike 2008 Day 11: Keystone Spring and mine 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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Yesterday morning I left San José and took Amtrak train and bus to Baker, California to start the trip

Yesterday morning I left San José and took Amtrak train and bus to Baker, California to start the trip

Date: April 22, 2008, 08h39

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.

Date: May 03, 2008, 10h00
Size: 49 items
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Here's a plant that I've never seen before

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
I'm down at the bottom of the big hill and in the main part of Keystone Canyon now

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
After refilling water at Keystone Spring again, I still have a bit more downhill on the old Keystone Canyon Road

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
The road in Keystone Canyon descends a little more

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
I'm down at the bottom of Keystone Canyon now and almost back home for the day

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
A few primroses bloom along Keystone Canyon Road a bit west of my campsite

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
Back at the tent, the job that awaits me is re-repairing my broken bike rack

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
I re-repair the broken bike rack by reinstalling my improvised brace under the rack, rather than on top of it

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
I take in the views of the surrounding hills while the sun goes down and I ponder my situation and exit strategy

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
Quite a few desert four o'clocks are blooming around my Keystone Canyon campsite

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
The last supper at Keystone Canyon

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
Keystone Canyon hike as viewed in Google Earth

Keystone Canyon hike as viewed in Google Earth

Date: July 21, 2008, 21h06
Mojave National Preserve map: Day 11, day hike to Keystone Spring and Keystone Canyon mine

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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Other bicycle camping trips on drycyclist.com:
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  • 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