Mojave National Preserve Bicycle Camping and Hiking, Spring 2011
Login
Mojave National Preserve and area bicycle camping, Spring 2011 Day 11: Bicycle ride from Mid Hills campground to Pinto Valley, Mojave National Preserve
Advanced Search
RSS Feed for this Album View Slideshow

Mojave National Preserve and area bicycle camping, Spring 2011

1. Day 1:... ... 8. Day 8: Gold... 9. Day 9:... 10. Day 10:... 11. Day 11:... 12. Day 12:... 13. Day 13:... 14. Day 14:... 15. Day 15:...

Random Image

Dry

Dry

Date: May 27, 2011, 15h57

Day 11: Bicycle ride from Mid Hills campground to Pinto Valley, Mojave National Preserve

After yesterday's relaxing and social day with Sarah and Heather, I'm refreshed and excited to start the final chapter of this trip. I've visited Pinto Valley before, but haven't camped there yet. 16.2 bicycle miles with about 850 feet of elevation gain, another easy day.

Date: May 25, 2011, 08h37
Size: 45 items
first previous
Howe Spring Road is rather rough in places, but nothing that a high-clearance can't take care of

Howe Spring Road is rather rough in places, but nothing that a high-clearance can't take care of

Being slightly uphill, it's a slow mountain-bike ride, but scenic, enjoyable and not difficult.

Date: May 25, 2011, 16h33
Ah, another crossroads! The right fork leads to Howe Spring, the left to Bathtub Spring

Ah, another crossroads! The right fork leads to Howe Spring, the left to Bathtub Spring

I take the left fork. It's apparent from the tire tracks here that some motor vehicles do come out this way, though I haven't seen any yet.

Date: May 25, 2011, 16h44
I pass a big boulder alongside the road to Bathtub Spring

I pass a big boulder alongside the road to Bathtub Spring

This area of the northern Mid Hills, where they merge into the New York Mountains, is full of boulders and small pinnacles.

Date: May 25, 2011, 16h49
I arrive at the end of the road toward Bathtub Spring

I arrive at the end of the road toward Bathtub Spring

A row of posts here identify the beginning of the official Wilderness area, beyond which no mechanized vehicles, including bicycles, are permitted. I've been told that there's a nice campsite just off to my right.

Date: May 25, 2011, 17h06
Ah, there's even a fire pit here, which doesn't look like it has been used in a while

Ah, there's even a fire pit here, which doesn't look like it has been used in a while

I'm not carrying any wood with me to make a campfire, but someone left a big pile of twigs here that I could burn. A campfire here might spread into the grass though...

Date: May 25, 2011, 17h34
I go for a walk in the adjacent rock piles to get familiar with the area around my new campsite

I go for a walk in the adjacent rock piles to get familiar with the area around my new campsite

I'll stay here a few nights. I've brought water with me, but I've been told by a generous source that nearby Bathtub Spring has water this year (this isn't the same Bathtub Spring that I passed while hiking a few days ago).

Date: May 25, 2011, 18h52
Time for my evening meal; I'm hungry! Mountain House Sweet and Sour Pork with Rice, predictably tasty

Time for my evening meal; I'm hungry! Mountain House Sweet and Sour Pork with Rice, predictably tasty

Occasional strong winds interrupt an otherwise tranquil evening. A few flies flit against my tent. Other than a distant glow of light from Las Vegas, the sky is black, the stars are out, and I can see the Milky Way.

Date: May 25, 2011, 19h39
Bicycle route from Mid Hills Campground to Pinto Valley, Mojave National Preserve

Bicycle route from Mid Hills Campground to Pinto Valley, Mojave National Preserve

16.2 bicycle miles with about 850 feet of elevation gain, an easy day!

Date: May 25, 2011, 19h39
Elevation profile of bicycle route from Mid Hills Campground to Pinto Valley, Mojave National Preserve.
View Panorama

Elevation profile of bicycle route from Mid Hills Campground to Pinto Valley, Mojave National Preserve.

16.2 bicycle miles with about 850 feet of elevation gain, an easy day!

Date: May 25, 2011, 19h39
first previous
Page: 1 2 3
Other bikepacking 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)
  • 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