Day 6: Nipton to Keystone Canyon area via Walking Box Ranch Road
It's a cool day that gets much chillier as I climb up toward Keystone Canyon in the New York Mountains from Nipton. I don't see any other people after leaving the highway.
By the time I reach Keystone Canyon Road at the end of the day, a few snowflakes are floating around in a light drizzle. I can see that it's cloudy and snowing a little higher up the mountains, just up the road.
Instead of continuing on further up Keystone Canyon proper, I set up camp just off the adjacent road to the old Trio Mine.
42.2 miles, 4:35 hours, 23.8 mph max speed, 9.2 mph average. From Nipton at 3000 feet, I rise to 4900 feet near Crescent Peak on Nevada Highway 164, drop down to 3900 feet at the start of Walking Box Ranch Road, then rise slowly up to my campsite for the night at Trio Mine Road in Mojave National Preserve at 5000 feet.
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Date: November 10, 2000
Size: 16 items
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I leave Nipton and start the 12-mile crawl Nipton Road hill toward the Nevada border and Crescent Peak beyond
It's still a bit cold this morning, but the sunshine feels good. Fortunately, it appears to have cleared up a bit in the mountains too, where I'm going today.
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Looking back down at Nipton as I climb slowly
After climbing a bit, it's fun to look back down at Nipton in the Ivanpah Valley. Starting on an uphill with no warm-up first is not really the best way to get the day going, but, as the song says, "I will survive."
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Welcome to Nevada!
The sign says it all. Actually, I won't be in Nevada for long. In a few miles beyond the summit, I'll start the ride up Walking Box Ranch Road, which reenters California, and then Mojave National Preserve.
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Nipton Road, now Nevada Highway 164, rises through a pass between the New York Mountains and the McCullough Mountains
The views down toward Nipton and the Ivanpah Valley disappear behind me for good. I'm working up a sweat on this climb, but the wind is chilly enough that I almost feel cold.
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Walking Box Ranch Road turns out to be easy to locate on Nevada Highway 164
Walking Box Ranch Road is a decent dirt road that seems to have been covered with pavement long ago. I stop here to put on my outer shell and booties, to warm my cold feet.
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Views of the New York Mountains (today's destination) while heading west on Walking Box Ranch Road
Walking Box Ranch Road seems almost flat, but it does rise slowly, with a few little humps like these along the way. Dark clouds have moved in and obscured the sun, and the temperature feels like it might be dropping.
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Walking Box Ranch Road passes fairly close to the Castle Peaks, which are visible from Nipton down below on the other side
Castle Peaks, a recommended hiking area, are actually part of the New York Mountains, but their lower stature makes them seem separate from the taller formations west of Ivanpah Road.
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There are a few sharp turns on Walking Box Ranch Road
A little bit of sunshine is still getting through...
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Taking a Joshua-tree break on Walking Box Ranch Road
I'm starting to feel a chill, but the slight climb is keeping my body working just enough to stay warm. I took my booties off a while ago, but I may have to put them back on over my sneakers soon.
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After that previous sharp curve on Walking Box Ranch Road, it looks like there might be another one ahead
I'm in a bright semi-sunny spot here with dark clouds surrounding me.
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Ominous dark clouds overhead!
Somewhere along here, Walking Box Ranch Road becomes Hart Mine Road, but I haven't seen a road sign mentioning that.
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Pinkish gravel on Hart Mine Road; the New York Mountains are not too far away now
Not enough gravel to make bicycling too difficult.
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