Day 1: Baker, California to Kelbaker Road campsite, Mojave National Preserve

Mojave National Preserve Mountain-Bike Camping Bicycle 2000

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Mojave National Preserve Bicycle Camping Trip 2000

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Looking southeast from the Essex post office, down Sunflower Springs Road, a dirt road that rises up over the mountains

Date: November 13, 2000

Day 1: Baker, California to Kelbaker Road campsite, Mojave National Preserve

The Greyhound bus drops me off at Baker, California and I reassemble my bicycle and pack it up. It's already getting late in the afternoon. I ride 10 miles into Mojave National Preserve on Kelbaker Road, gradually rising 1000 feet in the process.

I set up camp at the foot of one of the Kelbaker Hills. I'm about 1/4 mile from the paved road and not visible to what little passing traffic there is.

11.8 miles, 1:23 hours, 21.8 mph max speed, 8.5 mph average. Elevation gain from 925 feet to 2000 feet.

Date: November 05, 2000

Size: 5 items

I ride into Mojave National Preserve up Kelbaker Road away from Baker, California

A tailwind is pushing me nicely. Around the 10-mile point, Kelbaker Road turns sharply to the right, but I turn left at that point and set up camp at the base of one of the Kelbaker Hills there.

Date: November 05, 2000

Posts mark the beginning of a Wilderness area at the base of Kelbaker Hills

I set up camp near here on last year's Mojave National Preserve trip as well. I set up camp just before the sun goes down and get to bed early for a change, exhausted from the long Greyhound bus ride.

Date: November 05, 2000

Wake up! After a rejuvenating sleep, I get up and snap a few photos of the Kelbaker Hills area before packing up

It was a bit chilly last night and quite windy, but not downright cold. The Indian Springs area, which I won't visit on this trip, is in the hills in the background.

Date: November 05, 2000

A different view of the Kelbaker Hills campsite showing the rocky hill behind it

I think I'll climb up that hill.

Date: November 05, 2000

View northwest across the desert toward Soda Lake from Kelbaker Hills

The dirt road just below me is one of many that criss-cross this wide desert expanse. I prepare a quick breakfast and leave my Kelbaker Road campsite just before noon to head further into Mojave National Preserve.

Date: November 05, 2000

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 Bicycle-Camping and Day Hikes 2008 (two weeks)
Mojave National Preserve Bicycle Camping Xmas 2007 Trip (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 1999 (one week)

Contact mojave2000 at priss dot org