Bicycle camping in and around Death Valley National Park 2007
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Bicycle camping (bikepacking) in and around Death Valley National Park 2007 Day 6, afternoon: 10 round-trip bike miles (walked up the steeper sections) up Chloride Cliff Road from Monarch Canyon
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Bicycle camping (bikepacking) in and around Death Valley National Park 2007

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On the way from Ubehebe Crater to The Racetrack is a particularly colourful area

On the way from Ubehebe Crater to The Racetrack is a particularly colourful area

Date: April 26, 2007, 13h30

Day 6, afternoon: 10 round-trip bike miles (walked up the steeper sections) up Chloride Cliff Road from Monarch Canyon

Leaving my Monarch Canyon camp site at around 3300 feet elevation intact, I go for a ride up Chloride Cliff Road to about 4600 feet.

I don't pass any other vehicles during this ride and haven't seen anyone since leaving pavement yesterday afternoon. It's so nice to ride without the weight of all my gear!

I don't go quite all the way to the old Chloride City site, opting to park the bike and walk up a hill to take in the views of Death Valley down below. I also take a short walk in the area of the old trail to Keane Spring on the way back down to my camp site in Monarch Canyon.

Date: April 23, 2007, 13h00
Size: 13 items
Interesting patch of reddish soil on the way up Chloride Cliff Road away from Monarch Canyon

Interesting patch of reddish soil on the way up Chloride Cliff Road away from Monarch Canyon

A geologist would probably have a lot to say about what this is, and isn't; I don't.

Date: April 23, 2007, 13h30
Looking back down toward Monarch Canyon to see how much I've risen

Looking back down toward Monarch Canyon to see how much I've risen

I think my Monarch Canyon camp site is roughly in the center of the photo down behind the small mountains in the middleground.

Date: April 23, 2007, 13h40
Switchbacks on the way up Chloride Cliff Road

Switchbacks on the way up Chloride Cliff Road

I guess they decided that the road would have been too steep if it went straight up the hillside when they built it.

Date: April 23, 2007, 13h50
An off-camber section of Chloride Cliff Road on the way up

An off-camber section of Chloride Cliff Road on the way up

Photo breaks are a great way to give my occasionally sore right knee a rest.

Date: April 23, 2007, 14h00
Higher up after more switchbacks on Chloride Cliff Road

Higher up after more switchbacks on Chloride Cliff Road

This road snakes around so much that it's easy to lose track of the direction in which you're looking if you aren't paying attention.

Date: April 23, 2007, 14h15
Near the top of this set of switchbacks on Chloride Cliff Road

Near the top of this set of switchbacks on Chloride Cliff Road

The road has risen a lot in a short distance.

Date: April 23, 2007, 14h10
I park the bike and go for a walk up the big hill to my right to take in the views of Death Valley below

I park the bike and go for a walk up the big hill to my right to take in the views of Death Valley below

The old Chloride City site is actually another mile or two up the road, up over the hills to my left.

Date: April 23, 2007, 14h20
Up at the summit of the hill that I just walked up, with Death Valley about 4500 feet down below

Up at the summit of the hill that I just walked up, with Death Valley about 4500 feet down below

The Furnace Creek tourist area, where I camped two nights ago, is down in that large dark patch in the distance in the valley.

Date: April 23, 2007, 15h15
Me, up at the summit of the big hill I just walked up

Me, up at the summit of the big hill I just walked up

The old Chloride City site is probably just beyond the hill behind me to the left (south).

Date: April 23, 2007, 14h30
On my way back down Chloride Cliff Road

On my way back down Chloride Cliff Road

Chloride Cliff Road is quite rocky in places.

Date: April 23, 2007, 15h30
Further down Chloride Cliff Road on the way back to Monarch Canyon

Further down Chloride Cliff Road on the way back to Monarch Canyon

Another rocky stretch of road.

Date: April 23, 2007, 16h30
Back down near Monarch Canyon, an old water tank sits near Chloride Cliff Road

Back down near Monarch Canyon, an old water tank sits near Chloride Cliff Road

In the background, Chloride Cliff Road heads up into the hills to the left (south).

Date: April 23, 2007, 17h00
I lock my bike to a wilderness sign along Chloride Cliff Road and go for a short walk toward the old Keane Spring

I lock my bike to a wilderness sign along Chloride Cliff Road and go for a short walk toward the old Keane Spring

I don't see any green spots that might indicate the presence of a spring, but I had read that Keane Spring is probably dry, so I'm not surprised.

Date: April 23, 2007, 17h30
   
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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 Mountain-Bike Camping and Day Hiking 2008 (two weeks)
  • Mojave National Preserve Mountain-Bike Camping Xmas 2007 (one week)
  • Henry Coe State Park Mountain-Bike Camping 2007 (eight nights)
  • Henry Coe State Park Mountain-Bike Camping 2006 (four nights)
  • Mojave National Preserve Bicycle Camping 2006 (two weeks)
  • Mojave National Preserve Bicycle Camping 2000 (11 days)
  • Mojave National Preserve Bicycle Camping 1999 (one week)
Contact deathvalley2007 at priss dot org