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.
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Date: December 27, 2007, 12h00
Size: 32 items
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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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