Mojave National Preserve Bicycle Camping and Hiking, Fall 2012
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Mojave National Preserve bicycle-camping and hiking, Lanfair Valley loop, fall 2012 Round-trip bicycle ride from Piute Gorge to Hackberry Spring via Rattlesnake Mine: Day 5
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Mojave National Preserve bicycle-camping and hiking, Lanfair Valley loop, fall 2012

1. Nipton to... ... 3. To the Lost... 4. The Lost... 5. Piute Gorge... 6. Round-trip ... 7. Old... 8. Crossing... 9. Ivanpah Rd ...

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I'm getting hungry; time for an energy bar while hiking across the rolling highlands here

I'm getting hungry; time for an energy bar while hiking across the rolling highlands here

Date: November 19, 2012, 15h02

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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A bright and sunny morning overlooking Piute Gorge

A bright and sunny morning overlooking Piute Gorge

Morning sunshine overheats my tent and I wake up at 8h30. Didn't sleep well. It hit 70F yesterday, but dropped into the mid 30s overnight. Wind has picked up, so I put large rocks in the corners of my tent to keep it from blowing away.

Date: November 22, 2012, 12h00
I take a look down into the canyon at an old discarded truck before heading out on today's bicycle ride

I take a look down into the canyon at an old discarded truck before heading out on today's bicycle ride

Apparently there used to be a road down there! I have the usual breakfast of granola, nuts, dried apricots, vitamin C drink, and coffee (3 cups this morning: I may need it).

Date: November 22, 2012, 11h15
Shortly after I start today's bike ride, I ride past an old circular corral

Shortly after I start today's bike ride, I ride past an old circular corral

I wasn't going to stop for a photo break so soon!

Date: November 22, 2012, 12h07
Inside the corral is a fire ring

Inside the corral is a fire ring

Nice place for an overnight camp!

Date: November 22, 2012, 12h09
Just before I start riding up the pipeline road here, I run into Bryan and his sons in their pickup, and we have a great chat

Just before I start riding up the pipeline road here, I run into Bryan and his sons in their pickup, and we have a great chat

The first people I've seen in almost three days! Bryan explains that the drive up from Hwy 95 is pretty rough. I haven't been that way yet. I tell them about the hike down to Piute Spring and they did it. I hope they liked all the crazy rocks down there!

Date: November 22, 2012, 12h57
I have to walk the bike across several sandy wash crossings on the pipeline road

I have to walk the bike across several sandy wash crossings on the pipeline road

... but the ride is going well so far.

Date: November 22, 2012, 13h06
I ride west on the pipeline road toward the old Rattlesnake Mine area

I ride west on the pipeline road toward the old Rattlesnake Mine area

It's much easier than expected, after all the rough roads I rode the past two days. Also, I'm not riding with all my camping gear, so I feel ultra-light.

Date: November 22, 2012, 12h56
I turn on the road to the old Rattlesnake Mine site

I turn on the road to the old Rattlesnake Mine site

For a road that's not used all that much, this one is quite ridable, so far at least. It's a bit under a mile to the mine site, with a slight uphill grade.

Date: November 22, 2012, 13h22
A few yellow flowers (Encelia farinosa perhaps) bloom at the old Rattlesnake Mine site

A few yellow flowers (Encelia farinosa perhaps) bloom at the old Rattlesnake Mine site

It appears that these flowers are only found in an area of disturbed soil (on the edge of where old mine installations were removed?)

Date: November 22, 2012, 13h32
This part of the old Rattlesnake Mine site has great views over to both the Castle Peaks and the Castle Mountains

This part of the old Rattlesnake Mine site has great views over to both the Castle Peaks and the Castle Mountains

Castle Peaks are the sharp spikes at left (I've camped over there before) and Castle Mountains near Hart are the larger hills at right. I rode across some of that area during the last two days.

Date: November 22, 2012, 12h33
From the Rattlesnake Mine site, I have a clear view across the valley to my Piute Gorge campsite, that slot in the distant hills

From the Rattlesnake Mine site, I have a clear view across the valley to my Piute Gorge campsite, that slot in the distant hills

The area in the foreground is rather sparse. I'm guessing it's reclamation land from the mine that hasn't completely grown back yet. It can take many decades for a desert landscape to slowly recover from human uses.

Date: November 22, 2012, 13h33
A little further up Rattlesnake Mine Road, I decide to go for a short walk up to the top of the rooster-comb ahead

A little further up Rattlesnake Mine Road, I decide to go for a short walk up to the top of the rooster-comb ahead

Date: November 22, 2012, 13h41
This unusual metal grate over a mine hole is apparently intended to keep the mine shaft open to bats

This unusual metal grate over a mine hole is apparently intended to keep the mine shaft open to bats

Date: November 22, 2012, 13h46
The views from the Rattlesnake Mine rooster-comb extend all the way across the Lanfair Valley to the New York Mountains

The views from the Rattlesnake Mine rooster-comb extend all the way across the Lanfair Valley to the New York Mountains

Hey, I was over there a few days ago! The bicycle sits quietly at the junction of the roads below me. Can you see it?

Date: November 22, 2012, 13h49
From the Rattlesnake Mine site, I still have views across the valley to my Piute Gorge campsite, that slot in the distant hills

From the Rattlesnake Mine site, I still have views across the valley to my Piute Gorge campsite, that slot in the distant hills

Date: November 22, 2012, 14h05
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Other bikepacking trips on drycyclist.com:
  • Mojave National Preserve Bikepacking and Camping, Spring 2012 (15 days)
  • Cady Mountains, Sleeping Beauty and Kelso Dunes Wilderness Bicycle Camping, Fall 2011 (8 days)
  • Mojave National Preserve Bikepacking and Hiking, Spring 2011 (15 days)
  • Route 66 and Kelso Dunes Wilderness Bikepacking, Fall 2010 (eight days)
  • Mojave National Preserve Hiking and Bicycle Camping, Spring 2010 (two weeks)
  • Mojave National Preserve Hiking and Bicycle Camping, Fall 2009 (8 days)
  • Mojave National Preserve Bicycle Camping and Hiking, Spring 2009 (16 days)
  • Mojave National Preserve Bikepacking and Hiking 2008 (14 days)
  • Henry Coe State Park Bikepacking 2008 (eight days)
  • Mojave National Preserve Xmas 2007 Mountain-Bike Camping (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 2000 (11 days)
  • Mojave National Preserve Bicycle Camping 1999 (one week)
Contact mojave2011 at drycyclist dot com