Mojave National Preserve Mountain-Bike Camping Bicycle 2000
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Mojave National Preserve Bicycle Camping Trip 2000 Day 4: Mid Hills Campground to Nipton via Death Valley Mine Road
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Mojave National Preserve Bicycle Camping Trip 2000

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Northeast from Providence Mountains Campground, one gets a view of Wild Horse Mesa

Northeast from Providence Mountains Campground, one gets a view of Wild Horse Mesa

Date: November 14, 2000

Day 4: Mid Hills Campground to Nipton via Death Valley Mine Road

I wake up at 7h and decide to get up this time, instead of rolling over to get more sleep as I would usually do. It will be mostly downhill today from 5500 feet at Mid Hills to about 3000 feet at Nipton, woo hoo, I'm excited about that!

The slow, rough and remote Death Valley Mine Road near Cima is quite beautiful as it passes through a Joshua tree forest.

I reach full speed zooming down the paved Morning Star Mine Road.

40.7 miles, 3:25 hours, 38.5 mph max speed, 11.9 mph average.

Date: November 08, 2000
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Leaving Mid Hills Campground

Leaving Mid Hills Campground

It was cold last night, so I get up at 7h as soon as there is promise of a bit of warmth from the awakening sun. It is a slow, relaxing morning under the cold sun packing up, making morning tea and brown-rice ramen soup.

Date: November 08, 2000
Heading back down the upper part of Wild Horse Canyon Road with a great view of Round Valley beyond

Heading back down the upper part of Wild Horse Canyon Road with a great view of Round Valley beyond

I clearly remember this delightful view from last year's trip out here.

Date: November 08, 2000
Descending Black Canyon Road to Cedar Canyon Road at the bottom

Descending Black Canyon Road to Cedar Canyon Road at the bottom

Upper Black Canyon Road here is a bit sandy, as I know from having ridden it in the uphill direction in complete darkness last year. Fortunately, I'm heading downhill today!

Date: November 08, 2000
Stopping under a Joshua tree on Cedar Canyon Road

Stopping under a Joshua tree on Cedar Canyon Road

I ride three miles along Cedar Canyon Road, which is rather washboarded and sandy. I've managed to ride most of it without stopping and walking, but it is difficult here and there.

Date: November 08, 2000
Now on Death Valley Mine Road, I cross the junction of the old Mojave Road

Now on Death Valley Mine Road, I cross the junction of the old Mojave Road

Before starting up this road, I check my maps twice because this looks so remote and untravelled, perhaps not even a road. But this is it, and it's great out here.

Date: November 08, 2000
Death Valley Mine Road is almost just a trail in places

Death Valley Mine Road is almost just a trail in places

Death Valley Mine Road has a remote feel to it. Not a great place to get stranded. It's difficult here and there where it crosses a sandy wash, but most of it has enough traction for me to ride it.

Date: November 08, 2000
Death Valley Mine Road is also rocky in places

Death Valley Mine Road is also rocky in places

But the rocky spots do provide some much-needed traction. Many of the rocks are pinkish quartz which adds to the luminescent quality of the landscape.

Date: November 08, 2000
At the end of Death Valley Mine Road, I hit patches of deep sand on the Cima Road

At the end of Death Valley Mine Road, I hit patches of deep sand on the Cima Road

It's slightly downhill from here to pavement at Cima, almost three miles away. I have to drag the bike through some of this sand, but it's ridable in between sandy stretches.

Date: November 08, 2000
Beautiful open views across the Joshua tree forest on the way down to Cima

Beautiful open views across the Joshua tree forest on the way down to Cima

Cima Dome is visible from here behind that Joshua tree on the left; it's that ever-so-gentle curve on the horizon that constitutes the barely perceptible dome.

Date: November 08, 2000
I reach the pavement of Kelso-Cima Road and the Cima Store

I reach the pavement of Kelso-Cima Road and the Cima Store

There doesn't seem to be any residences here at Cima, just this combination store/post office.

Date: November 08, 2000
Close-up of the Cima Store and post office

Close-up of the Cima Store and post office

I ring the bell and the shopkeeper, an older woman, comes out and opens the store.

Date: November 08, 2000
Beginning the ride down Morning Star Mine Road toward Nipton

Beginning the ride down Morning Star Mine Road toward Nipton

I'm up around 4000 feet right now and will descend down toward 2500 feet.

Date: November 08, 2000
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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 Bicycle-Camping and Day Hikes 2008 (two weeks)
  • Mojave National Preserve Bicycle Camping Xmas 2007 Trip (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 1999 (one week)
Contact mojave2000 at priss dot org