Mojave National Preserve Bicycle Camping and Hiking 2008
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Mojave National Preserve Mountain-bike Camping (Bikepacking) and Hike 2008 Day 9: Day ride from Nipton to Nevada State line and power-line road, Mojave National Preserve
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Mojave National Preserve Mountain-bike Camping (Bikepacking) and Hike 2008

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A little higher, I approach a face-like rock formation in the foreground at my left

A little higher, I approach a face-like rock formation in the foreground at my left

Date: May 03, 2008, 14h28

Day 9: Day ride from Nipton to Nevada State line and power-line road, Mojave National Preserve

I'm still affected by last night's beer. I've slept in late thanks to a cool breeze, but still have a bit of a headache anyway.

I'll spend another night here at Nipton and just go for an afternoon ride through a nearby area that I haven't visited yet: the power-line road from Nevada State line to Nipton-Brant Road. 12 bicycle miles.

Date: May 01, 2008, 10h00
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I notice a Wilderness marker and a closed road

I notice a Wilderness marker and a closed road

Maybe that's an abandoned mine or some other point of interest up at the end of the closed road, so I stash my bike in a gulley and go for a short walk to find out.

Date: May 01, 2008, 14h56
Off in the distance further down the power-line road, I see wafting trails of dust

Off in the distance further down the power-line road, I see wafting trails of dust

This must be the dirt-bike tour group heading back to Nipton after their trek over part of the Mojave Road.

Date: May 01, 2008, 14h57
Up the closed road, I come across small piles of mine tailings

Up the closed road, I come across small piles of mine tailings

It doesn't look like too much activity took place here.

Date: May 01, 2008, 15h01
Now the dust trails from the dirt bikes are soaring across the Ivanpah Valley below

Now the dust trails from the dirt bikes are soaring across the Ivanpah Valley below

They're probably on Nipton-Brant Road: the road that follows the train tracks to Nipton.

Date: May 01, 2008, 15h02
A fire ring up above the mine tailings doesn't look like it has been used in quite a while

A fire ring up above the mine tailings doesn't look like it has been used in quite a while

The wide open view of the Ivanpah Valley makes this a decent campsite, but the view is marred somewhat by the power lines.

Date: May 01, 2008, 15h04
The remnants of an old road climb a little further up the hill

The remnants of an old road climb a little further up the hill

I figure I might as well walk up to see if there's anything to be discovered.

Date: May 01, 2008, 15h05
The road ends at the top of the hill where the soil is a rich red colour

The road ends at the top of the hill where the soil is a rich red colour

However, the little canyon in the background looks interesting, so I'll go check it out.

Date: May 01, 2008, 15h08
This little canyon feels very remote even though it's not far from the busy road

This little canyon feels very remote even though it's not far from the busy road

There are so many little canyons out here like this one that probably rarely see people. I hike maybe a quarter of a mile up the canyon and then turn around and head back to the power-line road and my bike.

Date: May 01, 2008, 15h14
More rough road along the power lines above Nipton

More rough road along the power lines above Nipton

Drainage from the adjacent hills crosses the road in many places, but this is the deepest wash-out in the road so far.

Date: May 01, 2008, 15h44
This antique sign has seen better days

This antique sign has seen better days

From what I can discern, this is a "Danger: use this road at your own risk" sign.

Date: May 01, 2008, 15h46
A little further down the power-line road, a distant black hill gets my attention

A little further down the power-line road, a distant black hill gets my attention

It looks like a lava outcrop, but this isn't an area of lava flows. It's probably only a mile or so away, but I decide not to do the hike over to it (which I'll likely regret later).

Date: May 01, 2008, 15h57
At the bottom of the hill, the power-line road passes through an old ranch fence

At the bottom of the hill, the power-line road passes through an old ranch fence

The train tracks that head northeast (right) to Nipton are just beyond.

Date: May 01, 2008, 16h18
The power-line road goes right under the train tracks

The power-line road goes right under the train tracks

The concrete berm on the right makes it clear that this road also serves as a drainage channel during water events.

Date: May 01, 2008, 14h19
I ride the Nipton-Brant Road two miles along the train tracks to get back to Nipton

I ride the Nipton-Brant Road two miles along the train tracks to get back to Nipton

Signs warn that this road is unmaintained, and it is washboarded, but it's no worse (right now at least) than some of the maintained dirt roads in Mojave National Preserve.

Date: May 01, 2008, 16h38
Resting at my tent at Nipton: the pinkish glow of the desert sunset is always a welcome end of the day

Resting at my tent at Nipton: the pinkish glow of the desert sunset is always a welcome end of the day

A car is parked at the tent cabin across from my tent; I won't be alone tonight.

Date: May 01, 2008, 19h06
Some of that pink light spills across the hills in the background that I visited this afternoon

Some of that pink light spills across the hills in the background that I visited this afternoon

The other tent cabins at Nipton are occupied tonight by members of the dirt-bike tour.

Date: May 01, 2008, 19h15
The sun is going down and it's time for another juicy hamburger at the Nipton café

The sun is going down and it's time for another juicy hamburger at the Nipton café

The café turns out to be quite busy as the entire dirt-bike group is having supper there right now. I end up chatting with a couple of women who are in the area on research projects relating to bats and kangaroo rats.

Date: May 01, 2008, 19h35
Tonight is laundry night, since I didn't get to it last night because of the festivities

Tonight is laundry night, since I didn't get to it last night because of the festivities

Nipton often ends up on my bike-camping trips because of the general store, of course, but also because it's one of the few places in the area with laundry facilities.

Date: May 01, 2008, 20h59
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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