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- I reach the lava flows of the historic Woods Wash area
- Yucca spines
- White thistle growing in Woods Wash
- I climb a hill and get a glimpse of Woods Wash northward toward Twin Buttes
- Barrel cactus, cholla cactus, and white buckwheat blossoms in Woods Wash
- I walk across to the other side of Woods Wash and note some pink cactus blooms
- It's even hotter on this hill than it was on the hill behind me on the other side of Woods Wash
- Yuccas in Woods Wash near the exposed rock
- I climb down the hill for the hike back up Woods Wash (to my right), but the canyon ahead into the Woods Mtns gets my attention
- As I hike back up Woods Wash to my bicycle, I try my cell phone, and it works
- Back at Woods Wash Road, my backpack goes back into my saddlebags and I start the ride back to Mid Hills campground
- Abandoned cistern in Woods Wash
- As the road rises slowly out of Woods Wash, it heads toward Table Mountain for a while, then turns left (west)
- As the road rolls over the hills, I'm sometimes looking straight at the Woods Mountains
- At other moments, the road heads straight toward the Twin Buttes
- After passing the southern tip of Twin Buttes, I open and close the old gate again
- With Wild Horse Mesa in the backgound, I spot an oversized and eroded old tire along Woods Wash Road
- "For flat base truck rim only"
- I decide to try a possible shortcut road that veers north (the right fork) off Woods Wash Road
- The shortcut road enters a sandy area, which I eventually forces me to dismount and walk the bike a bit
- The road pops out of the sandy wash briefly, and I arrive at the remains of an old cabin in Gold Valley
- I peek inside the one-room Gold Valley cabin
- The rear (west side) of the Gold Valley cabin has a window
- The stucco exterior on the south exterior wall of the Gold Valley cabin is peeling off
- I take one last look at the Gold Valley cabin, with the Woods Mountains in the background
- A half mile further up this unnamed Gold Valley road, I encounter a fence (or is it a locked gate?)
- I ride back down the 1.3 miles of this road in Gold Valley, passing the cabin again on the way
- The sandy part of this road is hard to ride, even in the downhill direction!
- Back on Woods Wash Road and approaching the government-owned residence, I notice a "No-hunting zone" sign
- Back on "the good part" of Woods Wash Road, the final 1.5 miles to Black Canyon Road rides smoothly
- Pink Desert four o'clock flowers and the yellow blooms of Snakeweed(?) pick up the sunset glow nicely
- Table Mountain and Twin Buttes take on a postcard-photo aura as I ride slowly up Black Canyon Road
- I look back regularly while climbing Black Canyon Road to take in the purple haze in the warmer areas south of Mojave Preserve
- At sunset on Black Canyon Road, I pass the Gold Valley Ranch
- Just north of Gold Valley Ranch, Black Canyon Road is signed as a four-wheel drive road
- Bumpy, bumpy, slowly uphill pedaling on the upper part of Black Canyon Road
- My headlight goes on as Black Canyon Road turns black
- After the four short hills on Wild Horse Canyon Road, I reach the entrance kiosk at Mid Hills campground
- Mountain-bike route across Gold Valley, Mojave National Preserve, from Mid Hills campground to Woods Wash
- Mountain-bike route elevation profile across Gold Valley, Mojave National Preserve, from Mid Hills campground to Woods Wash
- A lizard greets me as I step out of my tent for a short walk after breakfast at Mid Hills campground
- Two campsites away in the near-empty Mid Hills campground is a cute and cuddly wooden bear at the fire pit, a tad burnt
- I pack up my bike and ride out of Mid Hills campground on my way to Blue Jay Mine, from where I'll hike into Beecher Canyon
- Wild Horse Canyon Road is always so scenic as it rolls gently downward toward the Providence Mountains
- As I pass Macedonia Canyon Road, I notice that it has a nice new gate and is signed now, with a rather large sign
- I pass a field of orange desert mallow flowers on lower Wild Horse Canyon Road
- I see my first pink cactus bloom of the day, with Wild Horse Mesa in the background
- The 1.5-mile-long road to Blue Jay Mine rapidly deteriorates, but makes for a fun ride on a mountain bike
- At the end of the road, I lock my bike in a ditch, then start hiking up the hill above the Blue Jay Mine tunnel
- I climb up the hill above Blue Jay Mine toward Hill 1713 at 5575 feet elevation
- I enjoy the views across Kelso Valley to Cima Dome as I get closer to Hill 1713 in the Providence Mountains
- From my privileged position on Hill 1713, I take a short break to enjoy the vistas on all sides; this view looks southwest
- Southeast from Hill 1713 in the Providence Mountains are great views across nearby Wild Horse Mesa and the Beecher Canyon area
- I decide to hike along the ridge toward nearby Hill 1625 in the Providence Mountains and cross through an old ranch fence
- From Hill 1625 in the Providence Mountains I look down a wash that leads into Beecher Canyon
- I decide to head down the wash to Beecher Canyon
- As I walk down into Beecher Canyon, I look up at the hilltops above
- On the way down into Beecher Canyon I find myself approaching a steep rocky drop-off
- At the drop-off into Beecher Canyon, I spot a historic stack of rocks that once shored up a bypass road around the drop-off
- I walk down into Beecher Canyon on what's left of the old raised road that someone carefully constructed perhaps a century ago
- Once down in Beecher Canyon, I look up at distant rock formations in the Providence Mountains in the area around Summit Spring
- Pink cactus flowers and desert dudleya blooms push out of rocks in Beecher Canyon
- Patches of orange desert mallow flowers abound as I drop down into Beecher Canyon
- Also still blooming in the lower north fork of Beecher Canyon are a few phacelias
- When I reach the junction of the north and east forks of Beecher Canyon, I turn left and start walking up the east fork
- As I begin my way up the east fork of Beecher Canyon, I take note of a steep bluff that I circumvented on my way down
- I hear some noise while starting up the east fork of Beecher Canyon and notice a herd of cows in the distance, scurrying away
- Many large rocks are strewn about in the east fork of Beecher Canyon
- To my surprise, I arrive at a small spring and pool of water in the east fork of Beecher Canyon
- Climbing up the steep hillside to get around the spring in Beecher Canyon is challenging but I eventually find myself above it
- It looks like the climb up the east fork of Beecher Canyon above the spring might be relatively obstruction-free
- More rock ahead in the east fork of Beecher Canyon...
- This dry waterfall in the east fork of Beecher Canyon is steeper than it looked from a distance
- I take a short break after climbing the dry waterfall in Beecher Canyon and look back down at my progress
- I'm getting close to the top of Beecher Canyon, check my maps, and decide that it's time to turn left (north)
- Just a few more boulder piles to climb before I'm completely up out of Beecher Canyon
- Near the top of the hill above Beecher Canyon I pass by a few junipers growing in limestone-like soil
- Just when I least expect it, I pass a small pool of water here way above Beecher Canyon
- Now up out of Beecher Canyon, views across the contorted landscape to the distant Providence Mountains peaks unfold behind me
- On a fleeting rocky plateau above Beecher Canyon blooms a small garden
- Lots of rock on this plateau above Beecher Canyon
- I consult my GPS and find that the next step in getting back to my bicycle is to climb over the ridglet ahead
- I pass through another field of orange desert mallow flowers on the way over the ridge back to the Blue Jay Mine area
- I've crossed the ridge; Blue Jay Mine and my bicycle are down below
- I pass some purple desert four o'clock flowers and more orange desert mallows on the way down to Blue Jay Mine and my bicycle
- I return to my bicycle by Blue Jay Mine after the hike in Beecher Canyon
- Near Blue Jay Mine are a few ruins of the former Winkler's Cabin that burned during the 2005 brush fires
- Blue Jay Mine Road is slightly downhill during most of its 1.7 miles back to Wild Horse Canyon Road
- At the bottom of Blue Jay Mine Road, near Wild Horse Canyon Road, the road is almost flat
- A few desert four o'clocks bloom near the junction of Wild Horse Canyon Road and the road to Blue Jay Mine
- The ride up the final six miles back to Mid Hills campground goes really well
- As I climb Wild Horse Canyon Road, I pause to look back toward the glowing hills around Macedonia Canyon
- A lone cow darts off into the sunset when he sees me near Wild Horse Canyon Road
- I pull over along Wild Horse Canyon Road to collect a stray balloon for later disposal
- Behind me as I climb Wild Horse Canyon Road is a dramatic view of the peaks of the Providence Mountains
- On the upper stretches of Wild Horse Canyon Road, one can see across Gold Valley to Table Mountain and Twin Buttes
- I approach Mid Hills campground on Wild Horse Canyon Road at sunset
- Just before 20h, I pass by the Mid Hills campground entrance kiosk and ride the final 0.6 miles to my campsite
- Bicycle route (in red) from Mid Hills campground to Blue Jay Mine via Wild Horse Canyon Road, Mojave National Preserve
- Bicycle route elevation profile from Mid Hills campground to Blue Jay Mine via Wild Horse Canyon Road, Mojave National Preserve
- Elevation profile of hiking route in upper forks of Beecher Canyon from Blue Jay Mine
- Hiking route in upper forks of Beecher Canyon from Blue Jay Mine
- One of several juniper trees around my campsite at Mid Hills campground that has been chopped down by campers for firewood
- An elderly pinon pine near my tent at Mid Hills campground drools sticky and waxy
- I ride down to the entrance kiosk of Mid Hills campground to sign up for an extra night of camping and deposit my fees
- I start the short hike from Mid Hills campground over to Eagle Rocks and pass these diminutive flowers near the campground road
- Except for this campsite, Mid Hills campground is almost empty this morning, which is surprising for a Saturday morning
- A few mariposa lilies bloom in a rocky area at Mid Hills campground
- Reaching the turrets of Eagle Rocks from Mid Hills campground requires climbing down into an intervening wide canyon
- I choose to follow a drainage downward into the canyon below Eagle Rocks
- I pass a patch of white thistles on the way down to the canyon below Eagle Rocks
- After crossing the canyon, I climb up the hill toward the Eagle Rocks turrets
- I passed the south end of Eagle Rocks while hiking to Chicken Water Spring last year, but didn't have time to explore the rocks
- The big rock outcrop ahead at the top looks insurmountable to non-rock-climbers, but I'll continue upward to see how close I get
- I turn around to take in the views northeast, toward Mid Hills campground on the first ridge, between a couple of rock piles
- I climb up the eroded rock in the upper area of the Eagle Rocks, Mojave National Preserve
- Manzanitas, which are not usually a desert plant, grow here and there in the Eagle Rocks area
- Also in the Eagle Rocks area are occasional patches of Palmer's penstemon
- It looks like there's a saddle on each side of the Eagle Rocks pinnacle above
- From this saddle in the Eagle Rocks, I look into the haze southwest across Mojave National Preserve
- Looking straight down from the saddle, instead of toward Kelso Dunes, reveals a rather steep drop
- A boulder crowns other boulders at Eagle Rocks, Mojave National Preserve
- Rock-scrambling at Mojave National Preserve's Eagle Rocks can include scrambling under boulders, not just over them
- A manzanita grows out of a crack in the boulders at Eagle Rocks
- Well, here's a rock summit at Eagle Rocks that I don't think I can climb
- A Claret cup cactus blooms in a shady area of Eagle Rocks where I wouldn't expect to find one
- I might be able to climb this Eagle Rocks pinnacle from the right side
- I reach a somewhat open area in the Eagle Rocks on the way to the next pinnacles
- In the shade of some big rocks, I look up through the canopy of a couple of burned trees
- A substantial rock overhang at Eagle Rocks, Mojave National Preserve
- This area of Eagle Rocks is a lot of fun
- More burned trees at Eagle Rocks, Mojave National Preserve
- Under boulders at Eagle Rocks, I peer out toward the sunshine
- I run across a patch of young Palmer's penstemons in the burned area on the way back to Mid Hills campground
- It's amazing how a few trees manage to grow in the cracks between rocks in the steep slopes of Eagle Rocks
- I look up through another burned-tree canopy toward rock towers at Eagle Rocks
- Peering between boulders at Eagle Rocks, Mojave National Preserve
- I back up a few feet under a big boulder, still looking at the slot between the rocks in front of me
- I haven't seen any large animals here today, but this scat shows that some are indeed here somewhere
- A completely burned mound cactus at Eagle Rocks, Mojave National Preserve
- I walk across this flat area, between cholla cactus skeletons, to the next pile of rocks
- This rock has teeth!
- At the south end of Eagle Rocks sits a patch of blooming desert mallows
- Desert mallow close-up at Eagle Rocks, Mojave National Preserve
- I'm at the south end of the Eagle Rocks now, looking southwest toward the pointy hills around Wildcat and Chicken Water Springs
- What's that red speck poking out of that boulder?
- Somehow, a Claret cup cactus is managing to eke out an existence in that crack in the boulder
- I'm constantly fascinated by the ability of some trees to grow in the upper reaches of the boulders, where soil is almost absent
- I take a final look up at the Eagle Rocks before starting the hike back to Mid Hills campground
- Just east of the south end of Eagle Rocks, I head east (right) across the broad canyon
- Instead of climbing straight up the hills back to Mid Hills campground, I head south briefly on an old road
- The old road that heads south from Eagle Rocks passes through an area that escaped the 2005 brush fires
- When I reach a patch of mature, unburned sagebrush, I turn east (left) and begin hiking cross-country to Mid Hills campground
- On the way back to Mid Hills campground, I reach an open area with views spanning all the way down to Wild Horse Mesa
- Hiking cross-country back to Mid Hills campground, I exit the boundary of the unburned area
- Five years after the 2005 brush fires here, many of the burned trees are finally falling down
- A mound cactus and a desert four o'clock grow in the burned area near Mid Hills campground, Mojave National Preserve
- Hurray, this might be a pinon pine seedling growing in the burned area of Mid Hills campground
- I walk up the hill near my tent to catch another great sunset from Mid Hills campground
- Eagle Rocks pinnacles at sunset, from Mid Hills campground, Mojave National Preserve
- Close-up of sunset behind Eagle Rocks
- Brrr! It's really cold up here at Mid Hills campground tonight
- Eagle Rocks hike from Mid Hills campground elevation profile
- Eagle Rocks hiking route from Mid Hills campground
- I'm up early this morning, enjoying the warm morning sun on my very cold tent; it must have dropped down into the 30s last night
- I walk up the hill near my campsite to take in the views from around 5600 ft elevation before leaving Mid Hills campground
- After spending five nights at Mid Hills campground, the contents of my tent have become quite disorganized
- The 10-ton bike is ready to leave Mid Hills campground for Nipton
- One last look at Eagle Rocks before I leave Mid Hills campground
- Goodbye Mid Hills campground for this year
- As I exit Mid Hills campground, I notice what looks like rain clouds over in the area of the Providence Mountains
- I head east, downhill, a couple of miles on Wild Horse Canyon Road until it reaches Black Canyon Road beyond the pinnacle ahead
- I ride through the shade of a dark cloud as I descend Black Canyon Road toward Cedar Canyon Road
- The north end of Black Canyon Road is a nice straight downhill to the "T" intersection at Cedar Canyon Road
- I watch a small RV rattle its way up, at about 5 miles per hour, the washboarded hill of Black Canyon Road that I just descended
- Riding west on Cedar Canyon Road, I get views of the Eagle Rocks area from down below
- Riding through Cedar Canyon is scenic, but my fingers are getting cold!
- The road pops out of Cedar canyon and begins its way down the foothills toward Kelso-Cima Road
- Beyond the purple sage, it looks like the area around Death Valley Mine might be getting a shower right now
- Many fallen joshua trees are seen along Cedar Canyon Road where the 2005 brush fires burned
- I'm now in the small area of Cedar Canyon Road where I can usually get cell-phone reception
- I turn down the little road off Cedar Canyon Road for a short break and watch the rain clouds approach
- I shove my cell phone up to my mouth and enjoy the reception here, as well as the view of Cima Dome in the distance
- The moist clouds blow past; what first looks like a bit of pollen in the breeze are a few snowflakes
- After my cell-phone break, I speed down the final 2.75 miles of Cedar Canyon Road at about 20 mph; pavement begins just ahead
- I cross a cattleguard, then the train tracks, then turn right (north) on Kelso-Cima Road at the stop sign
- I ride almost five miles up the gentle grade of Kelso-Cima Road to the Cima Store, gaining about 450 feet in elevation
- Outside the Cima Store is a pay phone and a very worn sign telling us to preserve our desert (good message)
- Also by the Cima Store sits an old boxcar or trailer
- Cima Store is open today, so I stop for a bag of chips and a bottle of blogger Morongo Bill's esteemed Sioux City Sarsaparilla
- I finish my snacks from the Cima Store and start riding Morning Star Mine Road, which is flat at first
- From the upper stretch of Morning Star Mine Road, I enjoy the views across miles of joshua-tree forest to the New York Mountains
- I stop briefly off Morning Star Mine Road where the power lines cross
- Looking across Ivanpah Valley from upper Morning Star Mine Road, I wonder if maybe I will experience rain after all
- I begin the stimulating descent down Morning Star Mine Road into Ivanpah Valley, and I don't stop until I reach the bottom
- Near the bottom of Morning Star Mine Road, signs and cars pop up through the creosote-bush scrub
- I reach that stop sign in the middle of nowhere at the bottom of Morning Star Mine Road, at the junction of Ivanpah Road
- I pause at the end of Morning Star Mine Road to look east up Ivanpah Road into the New York Mountains
- I ride 3 miles on Ivanpah Rd, then 7 miles across Ivanpah Valley on Nipton Road, and arrive at Nipton, population 20
- I pull up at the Nipton store and sign up for a campsite for the night