Mojave National Preserve Mountain-Bike Camping 2007
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Mojave National Preserve Mountain-Bike Camping 2007 Day 3: Indian Springs to Devil's Playground via Jackass Canyon, Mojave National Preserve
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Mojave National Preserve Mountain-Bike Camping 2007

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Back at the road between Sands and my campsite on the other side of Devil's Playground, I re-enter Mojave National Preserve

Back at the road between Sands and my campsite on the other side of Devil's Playground, I re-enter Mojave National Preserve

Date: December 28, 2007, 15h30

Day 3: Indian Springs to Devil's Playground via Jackass Canyon, Mojave National Preserve

After a late start, as usual, I leave Indian Springs, climb Kelbaker Road for a few miles, then descend into Jackass Canyon to reach the Devil's Playground.

There will be no water at today's destination, so I need to carry in all that I need.

I wasn't really expecting to find water here at Indian Springs (even though I knew it was a remote possibility), so my original plan was to fill up on water at either Marl Springs or Kelso Depot before heading down to Devil's Playground.

I'm hoping to cross the Devil's Playground and camp near an abandoned settlement called Sands, but am not sure how road conditions will be down there. 21.9 bicycle miles.

Date: December 27, 2007, 12h00
Size: 32 items
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Ice in my water bottles this morning at Indian Springs!

Ice in my water bottles this morning at Indian Springs!

The water bottles with the most ice were the ones I left outside my tent, but there was even some ice in the drinking tube of my Camelbak, which I kept inside.

Date: December 27, 2007, 09h09
Looking back down to my campsite from my outhouse with a view

Looking back down to my campsite from my outhouse with a view

The earth up here on the hillside is hard, dry clay. It would have been easier to dig a cat hole down in the sand of the wash, but the views up here are worth the extra effort.

Date: December 27, 2007, 09h14
Bladderpod (Isomeris arborea) flowering and fruiting on the hillside behind my tent near Indian Springs

Bladderpod (Isomeris arborea) flowering and fruiting on the hillside behind my tent near Indian Springs

I like this plant enough that I would try growing one in my yard back in San José if I thought it would tolerate the wet winters back there.

Date: December 27, 2007, 09h12
Unidentified alyssum-like plant

Unidentified alyssum-like plant

I wouldn't be surprised if I know the name of this plant from having studied the native-plant catalogues, but I don't recognize it in its real-life situation.

Date: December 27, 2007, 09h14
Before packing up, I head back up to Indian Springs 1/2 mile up the road to refill my drinking-water supply

Before packing up, I head back up to Indian Springs 1/2 mile up the road to refill my drinking-water supply

I still have some water left, but not enough to last another day or two.

Date: December 27, 2007, 10h47
Pumping water at Indian Springs

Pumping water at Indian Springs

I refill all my containers: four 1.5-litre water bottles, two-litre Camelbak, and 10-litre MSR water bag, all of which weighs almost 40 pounds when full!

Date: December 27, 2007, 10h47
Dismantling the tent; time to move on and continue my bikepacking trip

Dismantling the tent; time to move on and continue my bikepacking trip

I hate to leave Indian Springs; I really like this area. I could easily do another day hike here like yesterday, exploring more branches of the wash. The next time I come here, the springs will quite possibly be dry.

Date: December 27, 2007, 11h41
Around 13h, I ride down Indian Springs wash, away from my quiet campsite of the past two nights

Around 13h, I ride down Indian Springs wash, away from my quiet campsite of the past two nights

I haven't seen anybody since arriving here. Heading downhill from about 2800 feet to about 2100 feet, I'm taking the bumpy road slowly. My bike rack is surely loaded beyond its recommended maximum carrying weight.

Date: December 27, 2007, 13h07
A mile or so down Indian Springs Road, I stop to look at some stone ruins in a hillside on the north side of the road

A mile or so down Indian Springs Road, I stop to look at some stone ruins in a hillside on the north side of the road

I also make a couple of phone calls on the way here because my cell phone works on this open stretch of road (it didn't work at my campsite).

Date: December 27, 2007, 13h14
At the stone ruins off Indian Springs Road

At the stone ruins off Indian Springs Road

I'm not sure what this is: a mine or a cabin of sorts?

Date: December 27, 2007, 13h17
Whatever this was, there's practically no mortar left at all between the stones

Whatever this was, there's practically no mortar left at all between the stones

It doesn't really look big enough to have been a cabin, unless it was just one room.

Date: December 27, 2007, 13h18
Near those crumbling rock walls is a hole in the hillside

Near those crumbling rock walls is a hole in the hillside

This must have been a mine, or an attempt at starting one.

Date: December 27, 2007, 13h19
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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 Bicycle Camping and Hiking, Spring 2009 (16 days)
  • Henry Coe State Park Bikepacking 2008 (eight days)
  • Mojave National Preserve Mountain-Bike Camping and Day Hikes 2008 (two weeks)
  • 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 mojave2007 at priss dot org