Mojave National Preserve: Bull Canyon hike, Granite Mountains, (Day 7)
My first time hiking into a canyon in the Granite Mountains. I approach it from the Kelso Dunes area. Great rocky scenery worth another visit. 11.5 hiking miles, 2140 feet elevation gain.
Temperatures recorded in Baker, CA: high of 54F, low 41F.
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Date: November 28, 2009, 08h31
Size: 74 items
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A brisk sunny morning on my camping mound with a view of Kelso Dunes
I still have a cold, but it's not as bad as it was. If I look closely, I can see two people, smaller than ants, climbing up the Kelso Dunes a couple of miles away. It's noticeably cooler this morning.
Date: November 28, 2009, 08h31
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On the other side of my tent are the Granite Mountains, with the mouth of Bull Canyon, today's hike, in front of the hill
Several canyons penetrate the Granite Mountains in this area. I've randomly chosen Bull Canyon because it penetrates the mountains deeper than some of the others, but I probably won't have time to hike all the way up.
Date: November 28, 2009, 08h33
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The hike begins with a 1.3 mile walk on the power-line road west of Kelso Dunes, which soon becomes quite sandy
I was hoping to arrive in the area earlier yesterday and set up camp a bit closer to the mouth of Bull Canyon, but a fun two hours of socializing at Kelso Depot yesterday afternoon delayed me a bit.
Date: November 28, 2009, 10h34
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This road also serves as access to a gas pipeline, as evidenced by "marker 64" here
Signed "Pacific Lighting Gas Supply Company." Presumably the pipeline leads to Los Angeles.
Date: November 28, 2009, 10h40
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The power-line road heads straight up a really steep grade ahead, but a detour to the left offers an easier way over the hill
Since I'm hiking, I'll take the shorter, steeper route. The power-line roads out here are notorious for their steep ups and downs as they trace straight lines across the desert, ignoring the topography.
Date: November 28, 2009, 10h47
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The short, sandy hill on the power-line road is really steep, rising at about 15% grade, with poor traction
This would be tough to get up with the 10-ton bike. With the bike, I would have taken the more gradual detour road around the hill for sure.
Date: November 28, 2009, 10h50
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Looking back down the power-line road hill that I just walked up, toward the Providence Mountains
Yup, it's as steep as it looks. Edgar Peak in the Providence Mountains is hidden by clouds this morning.
Date: November 28, 2009, 10h52
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Heading down the other side of the power-line road is almost as steep as it was coming up
The power-line road continues for many miles, reaching the next speck of civilization about 25 miles further on at the village of Ludlow, CA.
Date: November 28, 2009, 10h54
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A GPS check tells me that I can turn left anywhere here and start hiking up the fan to the mouth of Bull Canyon
Good, I'm tired of the power-line road!
Date: November 28, 2009, 11h00
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Looks like I may have a rocky hike ahead me up into Bull Canyon, the gap in the middle of the two big hills
I haven't been to Bull Canyon before, so I'm not sure what to expect. A lot of desert canyons are quite rocky and sometimes densely vegetated.
Date: November 28, 2009, 11h06
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Now that I'm about 1.25 miles up the rocky fan and 300 feet higher, the Kelso Dunes create a contrasty backdrop behind me
Of course, I'm more interested in the view ahead of me right now as I approach Bull Canyon with anticipation.
Date: November 28, 2009, 11h41
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Approaching Bull Canyon, I'm happy when I stumble upon an animal trail like this one, to help me navigate the rocky terrain
These animal trails vanish sometimes as quickly as they appear, but they're always helpful whenever I find them.
Date: November 28, 2009, 11h43
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Burned desert willow (chilopsis linearis) in Bull Canyon wash, Mojave National Preserve
Quite clearly, there was once a brush fire here in Bull Canyon.
Date: November 28, 2009, 11h58
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Seasonal streams have done a good job of polishing this rock bed in lower Bull Canyon, Mojave National Preserve
It may be dry right now, but this place must get pretty wet after a thunderstorm... I take note of the trees (probably junipers and pinon pines) growing on the high hill in the distance.
Date: November 28, 2009, 12h00
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I finally start to enter the foot of the Granite Mountains in Bull Canyon
The canyon is starting to have walls, albeit it low ones.
Date: November 28, 2009, 12h08
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