Mojave National Preserve bicycle-camping and hiking, Lanfair Valley loop, fall 2012
The 10-ton bike and I take Amtrak to Primm, NV, the start and end of this 8-day bicycle-camping loop around part of Lanfair Valley. Excellent Thanksgiving-week weather and I visit Piute Spring and Hackberry Spring for the first time. 131 bicycle miles and 22 hiking miles.
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Date: November 18, 2012, 09h00
Size: 9 items
(355 items total)
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Album: Nipton to Slaughterhouse Spring: Day 1
An easy day mileage-wise, but for some reason I don't have much energy today. I was hoping to go further, but this is a good excuse to finally explore some of the Slaughterhouse Spring area. 13.5 bicycle miles, about 1000 feet of elevation gain.
Date: November 18, 2012, 09h00
Size: 20 items
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Album: Slaughterhouse Spring hills and old Ivanpah railway bed hike: Day 2
My energy is low again today, but the Slaughterhouse Spring canyon makes for an inspiring day hike. I had hoped to hike this canyon during my May 2012 trip. 13.8 hiking miles and about 1500 feet of elevation gain (and loss). I see no other people today.
Date: November 19, 2012, 10h14
Size: 59 items
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Album: To the Lost Campsite in Lanfair Valley from Slaughterhouse Spring, via Hart Mine Road: Day 3
Despite traveling on some well-used roads (by Mojave National Preserve standards), I won't see any other people. I take a wrong turn near Hart and end up camping in a remote spot in Lanfair Valley. 19.4 bicycle miles and about 1200 feet of elevation gain.
Date: November 20, 2012, 07h12
Size: 50 items
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Album: The Lost Campsite to Piute Gorge by bicycle: Day 4
A relatively easy afternoon for my first time in this part of Mojave National Preserve. 11.6 bicycle miles and about 500 feet of elevation drop, which is not much, but it's slow due to bad road conditions. Great scenery and solitude, no people seen today.
Date: November 21, 2012, 07h56
Size: 33 items
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Album: Piute Gorge hike to Piute Spring to filter water: End of day 4
Great way to end the day! It's only 3.6 hiking miles, and about 600 feet of elevation gain on the way back up, but I feel like I'm in one of those spectacular Death Valley canyons with coloured rock walls, not common in Mojave National Preserve.
Date: November 21, 2012, 15h36
Size: 29 items
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Album: Round-trip bicycle ride from Piute Gorge to Hackberry Spring via Rattlesnake Mine: Day 5
Another sunny day, almost warm, I ride across Lanfair Valley to Hackberry Spring and back. It's a dark and chilly ride back to camp; I get home just before 9 p.m. 36.5 dirt-road bicycle miles and approximately 1500 feet elevation gain.
Date: November 22, 2012, 12h00
Size: 45 items
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Album: Old Government Road day hike to Piute Spring from Piute Gorge campsite: Day 6
I'm tired this morning, so today's hike down to the Piute Spring is short, but scenic. It's bright and sunny, and the temperature almost hits 70F, despite being in the low 40s last night. 5 hiking miles and about 1000 feet of elevation gain.
Date: November 23, 2013, 10h43
Size: 38 items
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Album: Crossing Lanfair Valley: Piute Gorge to Bathtub Spring by bicycle via Mojave Road and Ivanpah Road: Day 7
I ride (and walk) the bike over 10 miles on the Mojave Road and its sibling roads, and finish the day by riding up Ivanpah Road at sunset. Another perfectly sunny and warmish afternoon. 26.3 bicycle miles and about 1500 feet of elevation gain.
Date: November 24, 2012, 06h58
Size: 45 items
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Album: Ivanpah Rd to Nipton and then Primm the next morning: Day 8
15 easy bicycle miles to Nipton from my campsite near Bathtub Spring. I break along Ivanpah Rd when I meet Ken. After an overnighter in a tent cabin at Nipton, I'm up super-early to ride the final 12 miles to Primm at dawn, to catch my Amtrak bus.
Date: November 25, 2012, 10h45
Size: 27 items
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