Day 5: Round-trip hike (5.25 miles) to an old mine site in the Bighorn Basin hills, Granite Mountains, Mojave National Preserve
I won't see any people today. It's not a long hike, but it's dramatic due to the steep terrain, with no relatively flat land except for the the half mile closest to my campsite.
Total elevation gain (and loss) of 1425 feet as I follow the switchbacks of a steep, grown-in road up a hill, into the secluded gorge of Devil's Playground Wash, then up a mountainside in the Bighorn Basin area of the Granite Mountains.
From my campsite at North Coyote Springs at 3150 feet, the hike climbs to the first summit at 3600 feet, drops quickly to the bottom of Devil's Playground Wash at 3275 feet, then climbs to the second summit above the upper mine at 3875 feet.
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Date: April 27, 2008, 13h00
Size: 49 items
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OK, here we go; I've been looking forward to this hike over the hill into the Bighorn Basin area of the Granite Mountains
The old road to the mine is in a Wilderness area, so motor vehicles and bicycles are prohibited. Where they exist, these closed roads serve as excellent hiking trails.
Date: April 27, 2008, 13h28
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A few desert dudleya grow in the rocks along the old road
I like these subtly colourful succulents and have a few in my garden of other species.
Date: April 27, 2008, 13h35
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The old road crosses the dry creek here in the grasses and then begins its ascent up the hillside
Vegetation is now growing in the old road, which is still visible in the centre-left if you look closely.
Date: April 27, 2008, 13h35
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Today, some moisture, mud and algae remain in the otherwise-dry creek at North Coyote Springs
When I was here during my Xmas 2007 trip, this stream was flowing with fresh water. I thought that this was Coyote Springs, unaware that the real Coyote Springs is a little further up the road.
Date: April 27, 2008, 13h36
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The road rises steeply up from the North Coyote Springs creek; I look behind me to see how much I've risen in such a short time
A little bit of heart-pounding after hiking up this steep incline... The lower part of the road on the other side of the creek that leads back to my campsite is visible down at the centre-left in the photo.
Date: April 27, 2008, 13h45
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After another steep switchback and a bit more climbing, the views get even better
My campsite is down at the bottom of this view, somewhere to the left of my hat.
Date: April 27, 2008, 13h52
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The steepest part of the climb is over for now and the old road switchbacks gently around the crest of the hill on a ledge
It's a steep drop off the ledge on the left side here.
Date: April 27, 2008, 13h53
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Flowers growing in the middle of the old road
Orange desert mallow and blue Mojave aster.
Date: April 27, 2008, 13h56
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I reach the summit of the old road at "Hill 1114"
The road that I just ascended from North Coyote Springs arrives from the left, while the road leaving at the right drops down into Devil's Playground Wash. All routes lead downward from here, so I take a short break up here to absorb the wonderful views.
Date: April 27, 2008, 14h12
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From Hill 1114, I get my last glimpse of the Providence Mountains before I head down into Devil's Playground Wash
My campsite is down there somewhere in front of that boulder pile in the centre of the photo.
Date: April 27, 2008, 14h06
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Hill 1114 also offers an excellent view of the Kelso Dunes from above
I haven't seen Kelso Dunes from this vantage point before.
Date: April 27, 2008, 14h12
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I get my first view down into the gorge of Devil's Playground Wash and the old mining road that rises up the other side
I feel like I'm entering a secret world where nobody goes as I begin the steep hike down the switchbacks to the bottom of Devil's Playground Wash. The road drops 375 feet in just over 1/3 mile.
Date: April 27, 2008, 14h11
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On the way down, but still up high, I pass a mine tunnel that's not indicated on my map
Painted on the rock near the tunnel entrance is a word that looks like "Hen."
Date: April 27, 2008, 14h25
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I continue walking down the middle of the old road, which is almost invisible in places
Devil's Playground Wash below drains into the area of the Kelso Dunes beyond.
Date: April 27, 2008, 14h28
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I arrive at the bottom of the hill in Devil's Playground Wash and look for the road rising up the other side
For a few hundred feet, the old road apparently went down the wash before rising up the other side, but there's no longer any trace of it here.
Date: April 27, 2008, 14h34
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One very small pool of water remains between some rocks in Devil's Playground Wash right now; it's otherwise dry down here
Apparently, a lot of water (and rocks) from the mountains runs down this wash during the wetter months. This must have hindered access to the old mine up on the mountainside.
Date: April 27, 2008, 14h35
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I walk down the wash a little and locate the old road rising up the hill
The lower part of the road here is quite steep, but it was presumably the best route the miners could carve out of such rugged surroundings.
Date: April 27, 2008, 14h36
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As I climb up the other side, I look over to the hill that I just descended
The old road passing over the tailings pile and then zigzagging down the hill is very difficult to discern from here because it's so eroded and grown-in.
Date: April 27, 2008, 14h39
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