Mojave National Preserve: hike to Cornfield Spring on the west side of the Providence Mountains (Day 4)
I camped here in May along Cornfield Spring Road amidst the warm rocks. Hot valley temperatures were setting in and I didn't make it to Cornfield Spring on a hike that I planned (I stupidly didn't carry enough water to get me that far).
On this late-November day, it's much cooler, and I will easily make it up to Cornfield Spring on foot. Great scenery, and I will filter fresh water from the spring there to get me through another day.
I won't see another person today. I'll drink a bit more than two litres of water and eat two energy bars during 9.5 round-trip hiking miles and 1838 feet of elevation gain. Temperatures recorded at Baker, CA today are 68F (high) and 34F (low).
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Date: November 25, 2009, 11h49
Size: 50 items
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The suns feels good as it warms the chilly morning air on the fan near the former Kelso reservoir
The nasty cold I picked up two nights ago is still with me; sniffle, cough, extremely sore throat. It was chilly overnight, close to freezing but not quite. After sleeping in a bit and lazing around, I'm ready for the hike to Cornfield Spring by noon.
Date: November 25, 2009, 11h49
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As I start the walk up Cornfield Spring Road, I stop at a concrete box that I missed when I camped here a few months ago
This is another part of the nearby extinct reservoir which used to hold water piped down from Cornfield Spring for the town of Kelso below.
Date: November 25, 2009, 11h58
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A former road that connected the old Kelso reservoir to Cornfield Spring Road is still discernable
It can take decades for old roads in the desert to grow back in. Nice view of Kelso Dunes from here.
Date: November 25, 2009, 12h00
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The exact location of Cornfield Spring Road has moved a few times over the decades
Two long rows of rock parallel to today's Cornfield Spring Road delineate former edges of the road, now somewhat grown-in with vegetation.
Date: November 25, 2009, 12h01
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It looks flat, but the walk up the fan toward the Providence Mountains is a gentle uphill at about 4% grade
I hike briskly, enjoying the sunshine and the scenery, even though I feel like crap due to the flu-like symptoms of the cold I caught two nights ago. The sun is warm and I'm comfortable wearing just a T-shirt.
Date: November 25, 2009, 12h27
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Looking back down to Kelso Valley, I watch a train slowly climb the Kelso-Cima grade
This historic train line can be seen or heard from many parts of Mojave National Preserve.
Date: November 25, 2009, 13h03
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About 3 miles up Cornfield Spring Road from my tent, I pass an abandoned corral and the edge of the Providence Mountains block
Look closely and you'll see the road continuing beyond the corral. I turned back here at 3000 feet elevation on a hot May 2009 morning hike a few months ago because I foolishly wasn't carrying sufficient water.
Date: November 25, 2009, 13h11
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Along the wash near the old Cornfield Spring Road corral is a rock wall with lots of mini-caves carved into it
I'm sure there's wildlife of some kind who is happy to find these holes in the wall.
Date: November 25, 2009, 13h14
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Cornfield Spring Road climbs over a few big hills during its final two miles to avoid the flood-prone wash below the spring
Hiking up the wash instead of on the road would have been shorter, but much slower, due to the brush growing in the wash. I'm glad I didn't choose to do that, even though I considered it.
Date: November 25, 2009, 13h22
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The soil on this steep stretch of Cornfield Spring Road has eroded over decades, leaving just a trail of rocks
I catch a glimpse of two bighorn sheep walking along the crest of this hill as I climb up, but they are gone when I reach the top. This road is still open for vehicular travel, and a few tire tracks show that the road is still driven occasionally.
Date: November 25, 2009, 13h24
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From this hill at 3450 feet, Cornfield Spring Road zigzags down into a gulley and then up along the ridge of the next hill
I unintentionally scare away a couple of coveys of quail as I pass through this area. I still can't see Cornfield Spring itself, but it should be in the canyon at the top-left of the photo.
Date: November 25, 2009, 13h52
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I'll follow Cornfield Spring Road around the sharp U-turn at the bottom of the hill just ahead
If I had more time today, I'd like to stray off the road and walk straight ahead up into that canyon which drains the west side of the Providence Mountains northwest of Edgar Peak.
Date: November 25, 2009, 13h57
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Cornfield Spring Road's final switchback takes me up a hill and around a bend to this tripod-like end-of-road marker
I still don't see it. Cornfield Spring is somewhere in the canyon at upper-middle-right. It looks like there used to be a road on the other side of the wash.
Date: November 25, 2009, 14h08
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I don't see Cornfield Spring yet, but following the old pipe should take me there
This is presumably part of the pipe system that leads down to the old Kelso reservoir near my tent.
Date: November 25, 2009, 14h14
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Anticipation: Cornfield Spring is obviously somewhere down there at the upper end of the green area
It's always fun to search for natural water in the desert, but today I do need to filter some extra drinking water, unless I want to do an unplanned visit to Kelso Depot visitor centre tomorrow.
Date: November 25, 2009, 14h21
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