Live Oak Spring hike from Mid Hills campground, Mojave National Preserve (Day 8)
Live Oak Spring is one of the springs in the northwest Mid Hills that I haven't seen yet. Today is my chance; this should make for a good hike.
It will be good for my knees to be off the bike and just walking for a day. It will also be good for the eyes. One sees more when walking compared to bicycling. Equally important is that one sees more while bicycling compared to driving a car.
I bring six litres of water and drink 4.5 of those. I'll also eat two Clif bars and one Larabar. 14.1 hiking miles with 2585 feet of elevation gain (and drop).
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Date: May 30, 2009, 10h33
Size: 67 items
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While eating breakfast in the tent, I study my maps in preparation for today's hike over to Live Oak Spring
I get up shortly after 9h to rather grey skies, which allowed me to sleep in. Breakfast is a typical sampling of items in my black bag (tamari and cajun almonds, dried plums and pears), plus hot tea and blueberry electrolyte-replacer drink.
Date: May 30, 2009, 10h33
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After a half-mile ride down to the kiosk to pay for one more night camping, I return to site 22 and lock the bike to a juniper
I've never camped in one place in Mojave National Preserve for six nights consecutively, but the perfect weather up here at Mid Hills campground is a relief from the heat down below.
Date: May 30, 2009, 11h52
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At noon, I start walking down the hill behind Mid Hills campsite 22
Though still a bit grey, it's an incredibly nice 70 degrees right now. I'll drop 1350 feet during the first four miles to the lowest point of the day.
Date: May 30, 2009, 11h53
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I follow a sometimes-shady drainage that leads northwest down the hill from my campsite
This drainage will lead me down to the wider unnamed wash that heads northeast from Eagle Rocks.
Date: May 30, 2009, 11h57
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Some cactus, and a few other flowers, are still blooming in the relative shelter of this area
The lichen on the rocks is as colourful as any of the few flowers down here.
Date: May 30, 2009, 12h08
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The drainage "trail" will end just ahead at the base of the small mountain
I'll turn right and head down the Eagle Rocks wash (away from Eagle Rocks) when I get there.
Date: May 30, 2009, 12h08
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A patch of fluffy pink seed heads greets me as I approach Eagle Rocks wash
That little straight line off in the distance is Cima Road rising up toward Kessler Peak.
Date: May 30, 2009, 12h10
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A tall, lone pinon pine grows in Eagle Rocks wash
The 2005 fires heavily burned everything on both sides of the wash, but spared this big pine tree growing in the wash. I see a roadrunner and a black-eared jackrabbit in this area (not together).
Date: May 30, 2009, 12h26
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A BBQ grate hangs from that lone pinon pine in the wash
This area feels rarely visited, but people have obviously camped here before! In fact, the USGS maps show this wash as hosting an old "drive-in road."
Date: May 30, 2009, 12h27
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Cedar Canyon Road is now visible: that horizontal line down below
I enjoy starting a hike with a good downhill to get warmed up, and good views, to get inspired. Some people I know greatly prefer saving the downhill for the end of a hike.
Date: May 30, 2009, 12h32
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On my way down the wash, my nose keeps picking up a highly aromatic scent that isn't sagebrush
I think it might be this plant, which I'm not familiar with.
Date: May 30, 2009, 12h45
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Before it joins Cedar Wash below, Eagle Rocks wash narrows and curves through an opening in the hill
Though it's dry today, it's easy to imagine a temporary river rushing down this wash after a rainstorm, carrying sand and rocks.
Date: May 30, 2009, 12h52
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I reach Cedar Wash, cross it, then climb up the other side and look back across Cedar Wash to the south
I'm at about 4525 feet elevation and have expansive views down toward Kelso Dunes, that tan patch in the distance. The pointy ridges just below my hat brim are around Macedonia Canyon and Chicken Water Spring, where I've already hiked on this trip.
Date: May 30, 2009, 13h04
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When I reach Cedar Canyon Road, I stop to check my GPS for directions
I'm either just east or just west of Death Valley Mine Road (marked Cima Road on some maps), which is my next "trail." Cima Dome, that gentle curve on the horizon, is a prominent feature in views from this area.
Date: May 30, 2009, 13h06
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I cross Cedar Canyon Road, which I rode up last week, and start walking up the lesser Death Valley Mine Road to my right
Cedar Canyon Road is a "main road" in this part of Mojave National Preserve, but no cars pass by while I'm here. I've never seen a pedestrian on Cedar Canyon Road.
Date: May 30, 2009, 13h08
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A bird flies past and lands in this cholla cactus
He seems undisturbed by my passing, probably knowing innately that I have no way of bothering him through all the thorns!
Date: May 30, 2009, 13h11
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Death Valley Mine Road, Mojave National Preserve (marked as Cima Road on some maps)
I've ridden this road twice before, but this is the first time that I've walked it. Most of the road is fairly sandy, but rocks rise to the surface along this stretch.
Date: May 30, 2009, 13h21
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I turn left into the old driveway leading down to Thomas Place, that abandoned building ahead
Thomas Place is a good place to take a short break. My cell phone hasn't had any reception for a few days, but it works here, so I make a call to change my outgoing message so callers know I'm not lost or missing.
Date: May 30, 2009, 13h26
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