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
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 making morning tea and brown-rice ramen soup, and I even take time out to smoke a small, tasty bowl of McClelland's #2050 for dessert.
It is a slow, relaxing morning under the cold sun making morning tea and brown-rice ramen soup, and I even take time out to smoke a small, tasty bowl of McClelland's #2050 for dessert.
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
I clearly remember this delightful view from last year's trip out here.
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
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!
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
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.
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
Before starting up this road, I check my maps twice because this looks so remote and untravelled, perhaps not even a road. I will have almost seven miles to ride until I reach pavement again.
But this is it, and it's great out here.
But this is it, and it's great out here.
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 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.
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
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.
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
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.
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
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.
That rocky mound straight ahead is Teutonia Peak, which I haven't hiked yet.
That rocky mound straight ahead is Teutonia Peak, which I haven't hiked yet.
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
There doesn't seem to be any residences here at Cima, just this combination store/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
I ring the bell and the shopkeeper, an older woman, comes out and opens the store. After buying a can of Mountain Dew and an Almond Joy bar (junk food for the granola man!), I go to the post office next door to mail a postcard to a friend.
Well, it's her again, running the post office as well as the store, with separate exterior entrances for customers. Hello, goodbye, hello!
We chat a bit, which is nice because I haven't spoken to anybody in a couple of days. She talks about her grand-children, who are adults now.
Well, it's her again, running the post office as well as the store, with separate exterior entrances for customers. Hello, goodbye, hello!
We chat a bit, which is nice because I haven't spoken to anybody in a couple of days. She talks about her grand-children, who are adults now.
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
I'm up around 4000 feet right now and will descend down toward 2500 feet.
Grand views of the Ivanpah Valley open up as I descend Morning Star Mine Road
I have a tail wind and reach 38.5 mph as I go down (a record for me), with extended stretches over 30 mph.
Date: November 08, 2000
I have a tail wind and reach 38.5 mph as I go down (a record for me), with extended stretches over 30 mph.
At the bottom of my glorious downhill on Morning Star Mine Road, I meet the junction of Ivanpah Road on the way to Nipton
I turn left and ride a couple of miles to meet up with Nipton Road.
Date: November 08, 2000
I turn left and ride a couple of miles to meet up with Nipton Road.
Heading down Nipton Road for the last five miles before reaching town (that blotch of a few buildings off in the distance)
I'm almost there, just a few more miles...
Date: November 08, 2000
I'm almost there, just a few more miles...
Full moon over Nipton
I reach Nipton at sunset, have a chat with the storekeeper and pay for my campsite--she gives me some laundry soap for my wash tonight since I don't want to buy a whole big box of the stuff.
Date: November 08, 2000
I reach Nipton at sunset, have a chat with the storekeeper and pay for my campsite. She gives me some laundry soap for my wash tonight--I don't want to buy a whole big box of the stuff (last year when I was here she gave me a few tea bags).
I have time before closing to grab a combo BBQ plate at the café next door, delicious pork, turkey and beef with negligeable side dishes.
I buy some Corona beer from the store at the 18h closing time and go about doing my laundry and enjoying the full moon before clouds roll in to cover it up and huge winds blow in to rattle my tent for a while (as if it needed it).
Light snow is forecast tonight for the surrounding mountains, and it might translate into a bit of light rain for those of us down in the valleys.
Continue to day 5: Day ride from Nipton up to I-15 near Clark Mountain area and back.
I have time before closing to grab a combo BBQ plate at the café next door, delicious pork, turkey and beef with negligeable side dishes.
I buy some Corona beer from the store at the 18h closing time and go about doing my laundry and enjoying the full moon before clouds roll in to cover it up and huge winds blow in to rattle my tent for a while (as if it needed it).
Light snow is forecast tonight for the surrounding mountains, and it might translate into a bit of light rain for those of us down in the valleys.
Continue to day 5: Day ride from Nipton up to I-15 near Clark Mountain area and back.