Day 4: Globe Mine Road to North Coyote Springs, Mojave National Preserve
A warm day in the 80s: in preparation for a day hike tomorrow to Bighorn Basin, I ride (and walk) 18.8 bicycle miles from my campsite near the end of the middle fork of Globe Mine Road at 3000 feet, down to Kelso Depot at 2100 feet, then up to North Coyote Springs at almost 3200 feet.
Today I sleep in a little extra. Acclimating to the weather here that's hotter than back home, combined with hiking up lots of short steep hills during the past two days, have left me a little tired.
To make things easier, I'll ride to Coyote Springs today, just under 20 miles away, instead of to Butcher Knife Canyon, which was originally my next planned destination. Strong north winds set in this morning which would have made the uphill route to Butcher Knife Canyon slower than anticipated.
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Date: April 26, 2008, 10h00
Size: 30 items
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The road to Coyote Springs is a bit rough, but not too bad compared to some other old desert roads
Even though most of this road could probably be driven by a sedan, there are a couple of obstacles that make a high-clearance vehicle pretty much de rigueur.
Date: April 26, 2008, 16h50
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Looking back at a wash crossing that the 10-ton bike and I just walked through on the road to Coyote Springs
This isn't super-deep sand here, but there's enough that it's not rideable in my current uphill direction. Perhaps on the way back down this road a couple days from now I can approach this wash with built-up momentum and sail through it.
Date: April 26, 2008, 17h03
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Parts of the road to Coyote Springs are fairly smooth and well-graded
To my surprise, I find myself walking the bike most of the way, even though the road is hardly uphill at all. The sand layer on the road is sometimes just thick enough to create loss of traction.
Date: April 25, 2008, 17h37
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As the road gets closer to the mountains, it appears to be carved out of the land by a snow plow
This stretch of the road is sandier. I keep walking the bike and enjoying the hike.
Date: April 26, 2008, 17h55
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Almost at Coyote Springs!
I'll take the right fork here, which is not on most maps and turns back at a campsite 1/4 mile away. The real Coyote Springs, which is on most maps, is actually a little further down the road at the next right fork.
Date: April 26, 2008, 18h02
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On my way down the road to the north Coyote Springs campsite, I come across a festival put on by hundreds of bugs
This must be a mating season for these bugs; many of them are attaching themselves to each other at the rear end.
Date: April 26, 2008, 18h04
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There are hundreds, if not thousands, of these bugs playing here in the middle of the road to Coyote Springs
It's a display that's worth watching.
Date: April 26, 2008, 18h05
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The bugs seem especially fond of these plants
My campsite for the night is just down the road, so I'm hoping that these bugs haven't claimed it. Of course, it's not just bugs I need to worry about; other humans may also have claimed my campsite.
Date: April 26, 2008, 18h07
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The last little bit of road up to the campsite is a bit washed out
I'll call this spot North Coyote Springs, since it doesn't have a name and is just north of the real Coyote Springs a little further down the road.
Date: April 26, 2008, 18h12
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Happy camper arrives at North Coyote Springs
I breathe a sigh of relief that my chosen campsite is unoccupied. When I found this spot on my last Mojave National Preserve trip four months ago, I thought it would be a great spot to camp and use as a base for a day hike. It's nice to be back.
Date: April 26, 2008, 18h33
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Now that the tent is set up, it's time to make a backpacker meal and settle in for the evening
It's different here: a chorus of singing crickets fills the air, moths and flies flit against my tent, attracted to the light inside, and I can hear an occasional car pass on Kelbaker Road a couple of miles away.
Date: April 26, 2008, 18h51
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Mojave National Preserve map, Day 4: Globe Mine Road campsite to North Coyote Springs campsite
Continue to Day 5: Late-morning walk to Coyote Springs, Mojave National Preserve.
Date: July 23, 2008, 19h58
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