Mojave National Preserve Bicycle Camping and Hiking 2008
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Mojave National Preserve Mountain-bike Camping (Bikepacking) and Hike 2008 Day 12: Keystone Canyon to Sunrise Rock near Cima Dome, Mojave National Preserve
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Mojave National Preserve Mountain-bike Camping (Bikepacking) and Hike 2008

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Mojave National Preserve map: Day 11, day hike to Keystone Spring and Keystone Canyon mine

Mojave National Preserve map: Day 11, day hike to Keystone Spring and Keystone Canyon mine

Date: July 23, 2008, 20h42

Day 12: Keystone Canyon to Sunrise Rock near Cima Dome, Mojave National Preserve

My destination today is not set because I don't know if my rear rack repair will hold up or not. All I know for sure is that I'm riding toward Baker and need to get on pavement as soon as possible to reduce vibration on the bike.

I ride from Keystone Canyon at 5300 feet, down to Ivanpah Valley at 2650 feet. I ride up Morning Star Mine Road and end up taking a detour and camping at Sunrise Rock off Cima Road at 5000 feet due to strong wind. 40.3 bicycle miles.

Date: May 04, 2008, 10h00
Size: 28 items
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I get up a bit earlier than usual this morning in preparation for the potentially unpredictable day

I get up a bit earlier than usual this morning in preparation for the potentially unpredictable day

The morning starts off a bit chilly, so my two cups of good strong coffee are soothing. A new addition to my cooking equipment is my wrench, which I need because the knob to open and close the valve of my propane burner disappeared a couple of days ago.

Date: May 04, 2008, 08h51
After a relaxing start to the morning, I empty the tent and begin packing up

After a relaxing start to the morning, I empty the tent and begin packing up

I could easily spend another day here at Keystone Canyon, but the smartest thing to do is move on. I have to accept the reality that the 10-ton bike could become disabled should I have more problems with my rear rack between here and Baker.

Date: May 04, 2008, 11h09
The last items to be removed from the tent are a big rock and my water bag

The last items to be removed from the tent are a big rock and my water bag

I placed these items in the corners of the tent to keep it from blowing away in last night's wind.

Date: May 04, 2008, 11h09
Last night's strong wind continues this morning and tries to push the tent around while I get ready to dismantle it

Last night's strong wind continues this morning and tries to push the tent around while I get ready to dismantle it

However, it doesn't cause much of a problem; I've gotten fairly good at taking the tent down in the wind!

Date: May 04, 2008, 11h10
All packed up, I begin walking the bike down Keystone Canyon; my tripod blows over and my camera lands face-first and dies

All packed up, I begin walking the bike down Keystone Canyon; my tripod blows over and my camera lands face-first and dies

What a finale! I can't take any more photos during the rest of this trip, so I'll just fill in gaps with a few photos taken earlier, or during previous trips here.

Date: May 04, 2008, 11h51
I walk my bike down the mostly-bumpy two miles of Keystone Canyon Road

I walk my bike down the mostly-bumpy two miles of Keystone Canyon Road

My original plan was to end this trip by riding across the middle of Mojave National Preserve on the dirt Cedar Canyon Road. Instead, to reach pavement as soon as possible because of my broken rear rack, I'm heading back toward Ivanpah Valley.

Date: May 02, 2008, 17h49
Well, I've been riding Ivanpah Road for a mile now and am passing the settlement of Barnwell again; so far, so good!

Well, I've been riding Ivanpah Road for a mile now and am passing the settlement of Barnwell again; so far, so good!

I'm taking advantage of the zero traffic on the road and ride all over the road to avoid the bumpiest, most washboarded parts.

Date: April 24, 2006, 13h58
Ivanpah Road rises over the pass and begins its slow descent down into the valley

Ivanpah Road rises over the pass and begins its slow descent down into the valley

It's really tempting to ride fast down these hills, but I'm afraid to let the bike take too much vibration on this rough road, lest my repaired rack break again.

Date: April 24, 2006, 14h05
I really like this area of Ivanpah Road where my bike broke down a couple of days ago

I really like this area of Ivanpah Road where my bike broke down a couple of days ago

I still want to do a short side trip or two on the back roads in this area, but today I'm aiming for pavement and don't want to test my bike's strength any more than I need to.

Date: April 24, 2006, 14h21
As Ivanpah Road comes out of the hills, views into the valley open up

As Ivanpah Road comes out of the hills, views into the valley open up

A small cabin off to the right is part of one the old mining areas along here.

Date: April 24, 2006, 14h35
I pass the worn sign to the old Goldome mine

I pass the worn sign to the old Goldome mine

This photo was taken in 2006, but the sign is still here in 2008.

Date: April 24, 2006, 14h36
With relief, I'm back on the paved part of Ivanpah Road now and I'm letting the bike gain speed as I ride down the smooth hill

With relief, I'm back on the paved part of Ivanpah Road now and I'm letting the bike gain speed as I ride down the smooth hill

The bike is handling well and I'm starting to feel like it might do just fine for the rest of the trip provided I stay on pavement. I'm approaching the abandoned store that I visited on the way up the hill two days ago.

Date: April 24, 2008, 14h47
The final slow descent to the bottom of Ivanpah Valley passes beautifully

The final slow descent to the bottom of Ivanpah Valley passes beautifully

I find myself riding at over 30 miles per hour a few times, forgetting than I'm riding a potentially disabled bike.

Date: April 24, 2006, 14h56
Good things do come to an end, and I reach the bottom of Ivanpah Valley and the beginning of Morning Star Mine Road

Good things do come to an end, and I reach the bottom of Ivanpah Valley and the beginning of Morning Star Mine Road

It has been mostly downhill today from my Keystone Canyon campsite at 5300 feet to the bottom of Ivanpah Road at about 2650 feet. I turn left here and it will be uphill for the rest of the day.

Date: April 24, 2006, 15h22
I have about 10 miles of uphill ahead of me on Morning Star Mine Road

I have about 10 miles of uphill ahead of me on Morning Star Mine Road

"Caution: this road subject to flash-flood." I'm heading south now, and the first thing I notice is that I'm pedalling hard into a strong headwind.

Date: April 25, 2006, 11h56
Morning Star Mine Road keeps climbing slowly up the fan

Morning Star Mine Road keeps climbing slowly up the fan

I've ridden up this long hill a couple of times in the past, and it's more long than it is difficult. However, today's headwind is making it a bit more demanding than I remember.

Date: April 25, 2006, 12h17
I stop a few miles up Morning Star Mine Road and look back to see how far I've risen

I stop a few miles up Morning Star Mine Road and look back to see how far I've risen

I'm perhaps halfway up the hill. The strong headwind is beating me back!

Date: April 25, 2006, 13h57
I take a break on the way up endless Morning Star Mine Road (at the old corral) and see a bicycle speed down the road

I take a break on the way up endless Morning Star Mine Road (at the old corral) and see a bicycle speed down the road

The bicycle looks to be fully loaded, the first other camping bicycle I've ever come across during my trips out here. The rider rings his bell and waves as he passes downward at hummingbird speed.

Date: April 25, 2006, 13h58
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Other bicycle camping 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)
  • Mojave National Preserve and Area Hiking and Bikepacking, Spring 2011 (15 days)
  • Route 66 and Kelso Dunes Wilderness Bikepacking, Fall 2010 (eight days)
  • Mojave National Preserve Bikepacking and Hiking, Spring 2010 (14 days)
  • Mojave National Preserve Bicycle Camping and Hiking, Fall 2009 (eight days)
  • Mojave National Preserve Bikepacking and Hiking, Spring 2009 (16 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 mojave2008 at priss dot org