Day 11: Providence Mountains State Recreation Area to Baker via Foshay Pass and Kelbaker Road
There was a lot of wind last night again, but not as much as the night before and I didn't feel like my tent was going to get ripped apart like the night previous. It turned out to be colder after all, approaching freezing temperatures.
It's a beautiful dry, sunny day and the ride over Foshay Pass is remote, peaceful and satisfying. I don't see a single person or vehicle during the afternoon climb over Foshay Pass.
I end up skipping a planned stop at Kelso Dunes and continue riding all the way back to Baker, California, ending the trip a day early.
62.2 miles, 5:37 hours, 32.0 mph max speed. From 4300 feet, I drop to 3000 feet on Essex Road, climb over Foshay Pass at 4500 feet, drop to Kelso at 2100 feet, rise over the Kelbaker Road summit at 3800 feet, and end the ride at Baker, California at 925 feet.
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Date: November 15, 2000
Size: 24 items
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Enjoying the morning outside my tent at Providence Mountains State Recreation Area
Do I really have to leave today? Though windy and chilly, it's a beautiful, sunny day. I really enjoyed my leisurely stay here yesterday and my evening campfires, which gave off lots of much-needed heat!
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The little six-site campground at Providence Mountains State Recreation Area
The historic visitor-centre buildings are slightly more sheltered from the wind, being closer to the steep Providence Mountains. Would I come back to this tiny campground? Definitely.
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After breaking camp, I leave the Providence Mountains campground and coast down the hill to the desert floor on Essex Road
I leave the campground at 4300 feet around 10h45. The steep hill was tough coming up a couple of days ago, so it's of course a lot of fun to go back down now.
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About 3 miles down the hill from the Providence Mountains campground, I hear a big "clunk" and feel something dragging
Ooops, the brace holding my bike rack to the back of the seat post has just snapped off!
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At the bottom of the hill, at about 3000 feet, I leave the pavement of Essex Road
I start climbing the sandy Powerline Road back in the general direction from which I just came. This road crosses the Providence Mountains in about 7 miles at Foshay Pass, and is the most remote road I've tried riding out here so far.
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The gravelly road toward Foshay Pass rises slowly
I'm very glad that the road is proving (so far) to be mostly rideable. The sand patches at the beginning of the road made me wonder if I might be getting myself into trouble by trying to ride this road.
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Along the way to Foshay Pass, there are a few steep sections, but the grade is mostly moderate
After the fast downhill on paved Essex Road a short while ago, I'm still getting used to my new slow speed on this rough road. No more 25 mph downhill!
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A bit higher up the road to Foshay Pass, I turn around to take in the view behind me
It's always fun to stop and take in the view behind oneself while climbing a hill and I need a few big slugs of water anyway.
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This short, rocky hill on the road to Foshay Pass requires that I drag the bike up the hill little by little
Fortunately, most of the road hasn't been as steep as this part!
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Entering Foshay Pass now, the actual summit is still a little further ahead
I'm more or less on top now, and it looks like I might reach an overlook down the other side after I cross this less-hilly stretch.
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At the Foshay Pass summit in the Providence Mountains, looking back (east) at the desert behind me where I started my climb
I think this item here might be part of the gas pipeline that passes along this road.
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Still at the Foshay Pass summit, the road ahead passes alongside a few ridgetops before it descends to the other side
I was expecting a big grand view of the Kelso Dunes down the other side, but I guess all the surrounding hills are in the way!
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