Short Days and Long Hikes in the Mojave

Visiting the Mojave National Preserve has - unconsciously - become a traditional "last trip of the year." For three years now, the pull of the desert sun has drawn us south - out of the gloomy grey of the Pacific Northwest. This year the trip would center around foot travel - something that had been uncharacteristically difficult on our last visit - allowing us to immerse ourselves in our surroundings. Over the course of a week - at the end of this most unusual year - we'd take advantage of every moment of daylight to discover the solitude, history, and beauty of the rocky terrain.

Hope you enjoy!

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...Poking along, my attention was pulled in multiple directions. Up-and-around - the stunning views only getting better as I climbed higher; but also down - colorful rocks liberated from the hillsides, still beckoning passers-by, as they lay - uncovered - on the ground....

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A Tough Year at Alaska Hill - Mojave 2020 #1​

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A Tough Year at Alaska Hill - Mojave 2020 #1​

 

...We wouldn't see much pavement on this trip, and a gravel road would have been a much more pleasant drive than the few paved miles of Ivanpah Rd. that would deliver us to the New York Mountains. With disintegrating pavement that made us thankful for our aired down tires, we were glad to see the pavement ends sign as we crossed the tracks of the Union Pacific Railroad....

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Convergence of Canyons in the New York Mountains - Mojave #2​

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Convergence of Canyons in the New York Mountains - Mojave #2​

 

...Headed north once again - Teutonia Peak now visible in the distance - our conversation pivoted from history and geology to a much more modern-day concern: fire.

Sparked by lightning from a series of dry storms, and with the help of gusty winds a and dry conditions in the following days, containment of the Dome fire was challenging. More than 43,273 acres of Joshua Tree forest centered around Cima Dome burned....

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Into the Dome Fire - Mojave #3​

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Into the Dome Fire - Mojave #3​

 

The draw of this place - for us, at any rate - was the solitude. Unlike every other dune field I've visited, there were no footprints on these dunes before we set out to explore...

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The Devils Playground - Mojave #4​

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The Devils Playground - Mojave #4​

 

I often have a hard time going for extended hikes when way out in backcountry for fear that I will return to find my rig missing a bunch of parts, or missing altogether.

Curious as to how you handle this, or any extra precautions you take?

I know 99.99% of the time it's a non issue, but I've had my car broken into at trailheads so I'm a little extra wary. When backpacking, I don't take my truck for this reason.

 

For me, it's really about focusing on that 99.99% and doing my best to believe that people who are out exploring like me are (hopefully) like-minded and not going to break into a truck they find in the middle of nowhere - at least for a few days.

I have (historically) been more worried about parking my truck at a crowded trailhead, where nefarious folks know there are a plethora of targets, ripe for the picking.

So anyway, the way I handle it is to lock the truck and then just enjoy myself.

 

...While my favorite places - at least so far - to hike in the Mojave Preserve have been in the New York and Ivanpah Mountains, I've always found the Granite Mountains - viewed from the south - to be the most stunning to look at. ...

The Thrill of the Hunt - Mojave #5​

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The Thrill of the Hunt - Mojave #5​

 

Perched atop a pile of granite, the "Mojave Megaphone" as it has come to be called, has been a mystery to many over the years. Theories abound as to its origin - perhaps related to the Tidewater and Tonopah Rail, or to military exercises conducted in the nearby valley; perhaps a test funnel for early rocket research or part of a siren to warn workers of impending danger.

It is, for certain, a strange shape to see out here in the middle of nowhere; but, it is none of those things. Here is the real story....

What is the Mojave Megaphone? - Mojave #6​

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What is the Mojave Megaphone? - Mojave #6​