Mojave National Preserve wake-up call near Kelso Depot: morning sunshine

I thought I died peacefully when I dozed off last night, exhausted. But I'm reminded that I'm still alive when sun shines on my tent shortly after sunrise. It's great to wake up in this beautiful emptiness for the first time in a bit over a year.

I make a small pot of tea, wondering if it will be enough to jumpstart my day; I would prefer some strong coffee, but have none

I still can't believe that the Starbuck's in Baker has closed after being open for only a year or two. I do like tea, but I like espresso more.

It's a hot morning, probably in the high 70s; I mount the rain cover on the sunny side of the tent to get some shade

I stay inside the tent, out of the sun's rays, even though it's hotter inside. I eat a breakfast of dry granola, dried fruit, tamari almonds, hot tea, water, and an instant electrolyte-replacer drink. My hot tea makes me sweat profusely.

Time to dig my first cat hole of the trip

Nothing like a nice view down to Kelso while doing it!

I pack my backpack and start walking up the road toward Cornfield Spring

I'm not carrying much water since there's a patch of greenery just up the road, which most likely has water coming down from Cornfield Spring.

Hmm... no water here at all, just a nice patch of desert willows (chilopsis linearis)

Crap! I guess I'll have to walk up to Cornfield Spring itself at the base of the Providence Mountains ahead. This gravelly wash must get wet during water events, or all these desert willows wouldn't be here scented the air sweetly.

Chilopsis linearis flowers in close-up

Not many flowers bloom this late in the spring at the lower elevations, but these are still putting on a show for the hummingbirds. I planted one of these trees in my garden in San José, where it's doing fine in clay soil with very little water.

As I hike up Cornfield Spring Road, I come across this collection of old pipes

My understanding is that Cornfield Spring once provided water to Kelso, so these pipes are probably a remnant from that time.

I keep hiking up Cornfield Spring Road and realize that I'm almost out of water already; not good on a hot day like this

I've hiked 2.5 miles and it's already well into the 80s. I should have returned to my tent for more water before hiking this far. I know better! Cornfield Spring is only 3/4 mile away, but I should turn back because it may not have water anyway.

Kelso Dunes paint a scenic backdrop for this moment of indecision

I don't want to turn back when I'm so close to Cornfield Spring. But I'm spooked by the prospect of running dry on a hot day, even briefly; I'm drinking a lot. With water, I could also walk two miles toward Kelso Dunes to check out the old Rex Mine site.

Break time! A Clif bar, and more water, which is already rather warm

I'm in disbelief that I screwed up this short hike! If the sun weren't so hot and I weren't sweating so much, I would just continue to Cornfield Spring. I would also continue if I knew that the spring has a bit of water for me, but I don't know that.

Desert-horned-lizard break! Quite different from my Clif-bar-and-water break a few minutes ago

I've just resigned myself to turn back and start walking back toward my tent when this lizard crossing the old road stops and shows off for me. Very cool.

The 2.5-mile hike back to the tent is pleasant, and I'm enjoying the gentle downhill as I sweat under the hot sun

Off to my right, a wash is carved into the desert by the water it receives during rain, hence the greenery growing in it.

Residual flowers on a cactus; these may become cactus pears soon

These fading flowers stand out amid the dearth of other desert flowers so late in the spring.

I pass again through the stand of desert willows on the way back to the tent

It's amazing that some plants can grow in gravel!

As I approach the tent, I'm overcome by a feeling of disappointment due to not having reached Cornfield Spring

Sure, I hiked five miles in the heat, but Cornfield Spring is just too close to be a destination that I couldn't reach. Maybe I can try again later today...

I reach inside my tent to get some water and notice yesterday's heavily salt-crusted t-shirt

I'm always intrigued by salt stains since they exude from the body without us noticing their accumulation. Merino-wool t-shirts, like this one by Smartwool, are the best for hot weather activities! It's amazing that it doesn't smell a lot worse.

A wasp, or some kind of big fly, is sitting outside my tent, obviously attracted to something

With my severe allergy to yellowjackets and hornets, I take great care to avoid potentially stinging insects. This guy might be benign to me, like honey bees are, but I don't know what he is...