Malpais Spring to Nipton by bicycle, plus Ivanpah Valley sunset hike, Mojave National Preserve (Day 12)
I wish I had time for another day at Malpais Spring. Instead, today I'll backtrack my bicycle route from a few days ago to Nipton and do a short hike in the creosote-bush flats in Ivanpah Valley at sunset.
27.2 bicycle miles, 1900 feet of elevation gain, 3500 feet of elevation loss, plus 4.4 hiking miles.
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Date: May 27, 2010, 09h49
Size: 49 items
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Time to pack up and leave Malpais Spring; it has been a great three nights here and I didn't encounter any other visitors
It was a bit windy overnight, but perfect sleeping temperature; I slept really well. Granola, dried fruit and coffee went down well. All that's left now is the dirty work of packing up.
Date: May 27, 2010, 09h49
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All packed up, I ride down the dirt road away from my Malpais Spring campsite
The upper part of the road here is in decent shape. Plus, it's slightly downhill, which usually makes the riding better.
Date: May 27, 2010, 10h27
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About a mile down the road from my campsite, I approach the defunct water tank and windmill of Stagecoach Well
The road is rougher here, and I had to walk up it when arrived here, but it's an easy ride down into the wash, taken carefully.
Date: May 27, 2010, 10h41
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I stop at Stagecoach Well when I hear a rubbing sound and, yes, my rear wheel is rubbing against the bike frame again
I loosen my rear quick release, which seems tight, adjust the wheel's position, and remount the bike. I can't seem to get the quick release tight enough to prevent movement under the weight of a swaying full load (my rear rack is axle-mounted).
Date: May 27, 2010, 11h07
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I arrive back at the "main road," Walking Box Ranch Road, and begin the 11-mile ride to the Nevada 164 highway
I'm backtracking the route to Nipton that I followed to get here three days ago. I considered taking an alternate route via Ivanpah Road, but I've ridden that route more often than Walking Box Ranch Road.
Date: May 27, 2010, 11h11
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After a mile, I pass the "stateline" sign on Walking Box Ranch Road; I'm leaving California and entering Nevada
I'll be in Nevada for a few hours until I reenter California this afternoon near Nipton.
Date: May 27, 2010, 11h23
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I stop briefly at an old corral behind which is an alternate old road leading to Malpais Spring
For variety's sake, I probably should have taken that road today, since I have plenty of time. However, with the problems that my rear wheel is giving me, I've been having some fears of breaking down in a remote location.
Date: May 27, 2010, 11h44
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Residual pavement exists here and there on Walking Box Ranch Road
Now that there is no longer much mining activity in the area, I'm guessing that the pavement is no longer being renewed. In my notes from my 2000 trip here, I recorded that someone called this an "oiled road," not a paved road.
Date: May 27, 2010, 12h03
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I pass the shot-up 5-mile marker on Walking Box Ranch Road
...meaning that I have five miles to go until I reach Nevada Highway 164. Most of Walking Box Ranch Road is long, straight, and slightly downhill, but here is one of several spots where it dips down to cross a wash.
Date: May 27, 2010, 12h05
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A field of pinkish-white buckwheat flowers in the joshua tree forest on the west side of Walking Box Ranch Road
The flowers were pinker on the way here three days ago. Today's high clouds whiten the flowers.
Date: May 27, 2010, 12h14
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A few more miles to go on Walking Box Ranch Road
Long, straight, slightly downhill, and a bit bumpy.
Date: May 27, 2010, 12h25
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Stop sign in the desert: after 11 dirt-road miles, I reach the end of Walking Box Ranch Road
I turn left here and begin the climb up paved Nevada Highway 164. I'm at about 3940 feet elevation here, and started out at 4600 feet earlier this morning, with numerous little ups and downs along the route.
Date: May 27, 2010, 12h41
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I begin the gentle 900-foot climb up Nevada 164 between Searchlight and Nipton
There's not a lot of traffic here on this Thursday at mid-day, but all traffic here is high-speed.
Date: May 27, 2010, 12h48
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I make a stop at one of the Wee Thump Wilderness signs along Nevada 164
I take a water-and-energy-bar break here and enjoy the scenery. Wee Thump Wilderness was designated in 2002.
Date: May 27, 2010, 12h58
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Near the Wee Thump Wilderness sign is an old dirt road that leads inland toward the McCullough Mountains
I recorded the track of this dirt road on my GPS in case I had time during this trip to visit the McCullough Mountains, but I don't. Next time perhaps?
Date: May 27, 2010, 12h59
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