I set up camp and settle in for the evening, looking forward to tomorrow

I set up camp and settle in for the evening, looking forward to tomorrow

I get on I-40, drive many miles, then exit on Crucero Road toward Broadwell Dry Lake

I get on I-40, drive many miles, then exit on Crucero Road toward Broadwell Dry Lake

Broadwell Dry Lake gets closer, the road rougher

Broadwell Dry Lake gets closer, the road rougher

The FJ and I make a quick stop at Broadwell Dry Lake in front of the Bristol Mountains

The FJ and I make a quick stop at Broadwell Dry Lake in front of the Bristol Mountains

The FJ drives onward along Broadwell Dry Lake, wondering where it will camp tonight

The FJ drives onward along Broadwell Dry Lake, wondering where it will camp tonight

At this point, Crucero Road seems to head straight toward the Cady Mountains

At this point, Crucero Road seems to head straight toward the Cady Mountains

There is more sand on the road here, but it's not a cause for concern

There is more sand on the road here, but it's not a cause for concern

I turn onto the powerline road

I turn onto the powerline road

I plan to hike tomorrow over there in the Bristol Mountains, Kelso Dunes Wilderness

I plan to hike tomorrow over there in the Bristol Mountains, Kelso Dunes Wilderness

A lot of rough spots on this powerline road...

A lot of rough spots on this powerline road...

The sun is setting, let's look for a campsite

The sun is setting, let's look for a campsite

Broadwell Dry Lake is wide open and fun to hike across in the dark, but not today

Broadwell Dry Lake is wide open and fun to hike across in the dark, but not today

Beautiful sunset as my excellent hike today ends, just 1.5 miles to go

Beautiful sunset as my excellent hike today ends, just 1.5 miles to go

I start my hike up the wash into the Bristol Mountains in the Kelso Dunes Wilderness

I start my hike up the wash into the Bristol Mountains in the Kelso Dunes Wilderness

Here's a healthy Cholla cactus

Here's a healthy Cholla cactus

And here's a series of Bladderpod bushes sporting their yellow flowers, attracting many bees

And here's a series of Bladderpod bushes sporting their yellow flowers, attracting many bees

I look behind me and see the forest of Smoke trees I've started walking through

I look behind me and see the forest of Smoke trees I've started walking through

There's something oddly picturesque about these Smoke trees

There's something oddly picturesque about these Smoke trees

Some of the Smoke trees have thick trunks and might be quite old

Some of the Smoke trees have thick trunks and might be quite old

I remember coming across Coyote melons when I hiked here in 2011 too

I remember coming across Coyote melons when I hiked here in 2011 too

These green Coyote melons look like you could bake them like a squash

These green Coyote melons look like you could bake them like a squash

I pass more Smoke trees as I enter the Bristol Mountains

I pass more Smoke trees as I enter the Bristol Mountains

I check my GPS as I slowly rise, though it's unlikely that I'm off-track

I check my GPS as I slowly rise, though it's unlikely that I'm off-track

Footprints, not mine

Footprints, not mine

Entering the gateway, I follow tire tracks that perhaps shouldn't be here

Entering the gateway, I follow tire tracks that perhaps shouldn't be here

Who lives up in that hole in the rock behind the Bladderpod flowers?

Who lives up in that hole in the rock behind the Bladderpod flowers?

A few Barrel cacti have taken root in crevices in the rock wall on the other side of the wash

A few Barrel cacti have taken root in crevices in the rock wall on the other side of the wash

A plant I was not expecting to see today in the Bristol Mountains is this purple-flowering lupine

A plant I was not expecting to see today in the Bristol Mountains is this purple-flowering lupine

Follow the tire tracks!

Follow the tire tracks!

The tire tracks do end at a guzzler, I remember stopping here in 2011

The tire tracks do end at a guzzler, I remember stopping here in 2011

Specifically, a nearby plaque tells me that it's the Lew Carpenter guzzler

Specifically, a nearby plaque tells me that it's the Lew Carpenter guzzler

I walk on beyond the guzzler, up the little canyon I didn't explore when I was last here

I walk on beyond the guzzler, up the little canyon I didn't explore when I was last here

The drainage swirls around rocks and low hills

The drainage swirls around rocks and low hills

I walk through a "mini-narrows" stretch

I walk through a "mini-narrows" stretch

A few really easy stairsteps to walk up...

A few really easy stairsteps to walk up...

I pass some red rock

I pass some red rock

And then a narrow curve

And then a narrow curve

A few volcanic rocks fall down from the hills above

A few volcanic rocks fall down from the hills above

A few more stairsteps

A few more stairsteps

A statue standing in the middle of my trail gets my attention

A statue standing in the middle of my trail gets my attention

Few plants grow in this area, so this flowering Phacelia stands out

Few plants grow in this area, so this flowering Phacelia stands out

Rocks guide me onward

Rocks guide me onward

I see that water once pooled here, perhaps not long ago

I see that water once pooled here, perhaps not long ago

Greenish rock, blackish rock

Greenish rock, blackish rock

Blue sky, blue rock

Blue sky, blue rock

I arrive on the edge of the Broadwell Mesa formation

I arrive on the edge of the Broadwell Mesa formation

Where to go from here, now that I've arrived at Broadwell Mesa?

Where to go from here, now that I've arrived at Broadwell Mesa?

I've hiked parts of Broadwell Mesa from different sides, but never all together

I've hiked parts of Broadwell Mesa from different sides, but never all together

Over there is another drainage leading up to Broadwell Mesa, but I'll pass on that one for now

Over there is another drainage leading up to Broadwell Mesa, but I'll pass on that one for now

Rocks tumble down from Broadwell Mesa

Rocks tumble down from Broadwell Mesa

I take a short break on a hill in the Broadwell Mesa area to savor the silent beauty of just being here

I take a short break on a hill in the Broadwell Mesa area to savor the silent beauty of just being here

More footprints not mine...

More footprints not mine...

I'll start walking over toward Hyten Spring now, over in those hills

I'll start walking over toward Hyten Spring now, over in those hills

Through an opening in the Bristol Mountains, I can see across to the Providence Mountains

Through an opening in the Bristol Mountains, I can see across to the Providence Mountains

I've arrived at the bottom of the canyon for the next part of my hike

I've arrived at the bottom of the canyon for the next part of my hike

One last look across the sparse Broadwell Mesa area before heading up the canyon...

One last look across the sparse Broadwell Mesa area before heading up the canyon...

I almost missed this little Claretcup cactus and its tiny burst of color

I almost missed this little Claretcup cactus and its tiny burst of color

Arriving Hyten Spring!

Arriving Hyten Spring!

The tank here at Hyten Spriing was apparently rebuilt in the 1990s

The tank here at Hyten Spriing was apparently rebuilt in the 1990s

It appears that water from nearby sources is drained into the tank for storage

It appears that water from nearby sources is drained into the tank for storage

The water at Hyten Spring doesn't look very fresh and tasty

The water at Hyten Spring doesn't look very fresh and tasty

Someone was here in 1908, 107 years ago

Someone was here in 1908, 107 years ago

U.S. Survey 1911

U.S. Survey 1911

I take a look around for other inscriptions in the rock that might be nearby

I take a look around for other inscriptions in the rock that might be nearby

Despite some catclaw growing in the wash, no bushwhacking is required

Despite some catclaw growing in the wash, no bushwhacking is required

Easy hiking between the rocks

Easy hiking between the rocks

I can still see some of Broadwell Mesa when I turn to look back down the canyon

I can still see some of Broadwell Mesa when I turn to look back down the canyon

Looks like a small dam was built here to collect water

Looks like a small dam was built here to collect water

There's even a small pool of water remaining here in the rocks

There's even a small pool of water remaining here in the rocks

Water flowing down the canyon has polished the rock floor

Water flowing down the canyon has polished the rock floor

Out of the canyon, I enter an open area with more hiking choices

Out of the canyon, I enter an open area with more hiking choices

Late-afternoon shadows begin early during the winter months

Late-afternoon shadows begin early during the winter months

It will be mostly downhill from here back to my campsite

It will be mostly downhill from here back to my campsite

Today's hike wouldn't be complete without a balloon sighting!

Today's hike wouldn't be complete without a balloon sighting!

I follow the sunshine

I follow the sunshine

More coyote melons!

More coyote melons!

I follow the trail of dried water around the bend

I follow the trail of dried water around the bend

And now I'm in the land of Smoke trees again

And now I'm in the land of Smoke trees again

I glow along with tips of the Bristol Mountains

I glow along with tips of the Bristol Mountains

The Smoke trees prepare for the onset of evening

The Smoke trees prepare for the onset of evening

Occasionally I like to stop walking so I can just focus on the sunset

Occasionally I like to stop walking so I can just focus on the sunset

I've almost reached the end of the Smoke tree belt

I've almost reached the end of the Smoke tree belt

Map of Hyten Spring hike, Kelso Dunes Wilderness

Map of Hyten Spring hike, Kelso Dunes Wilderness

Elevation profile of Hyten Spring hike, Kelso Dunes Wilderness

Elevation profile of Hyten Spring hike, Kelso Dunes Wilderness

I rise up onto a plateau

I rise up onto a plateau

Someone lost something here, glad it's not me!

Someone lost something here, glad it's not me!

Good morning from underneath the Mojave Desert power lines!

Good morning from underneath the Mojave Desert power lines!

I have over 25 miles of dirt road ahead 'til I reach the pavement of Kelbaker Road

I have over 25 miles of dirt road ahead 'til I reach the pavement of Kelbaker Road

Ah, my first little hilly section of the morning

Ah, my first little hilly section of the morning

The road flattens out again, for a while at least

The road flattens out again, for a while at least

A morning pipe of Orlik Golden Slices softens the drive

A morning pipe of Orlik Golden Slices softens the drive

The powerline road is getting sandy as it heads toward the Kelso Mountains and Old Dad Mountain

The powerline road is getting sandy as it heads toward the Kelso Mountains and Old Dad Mountain

The sandy road curves to avoid a couple of hills

The sandy road curves to avoid a couple of hills

We continue driving straight toward Old Dad Mountain

We continue driving straight toward Old Dad Mountain

A patch of yellow Desert marigolds blooms amidst a sparse creosote bush forest

A patch of yellow Desert marigolds blooms amidst a sparse creosote bush forest

My road flattens out a little and has more residual pavement

My road flattens out a little and has more residual pavement

Desert primroses start to become common as I drive past the Bristol Mountains

Desert primroses start to become common as I drive past the Bristol Mountains

The road descends gently into the far west end of the Devil's Playground area

The road descends gently into the far west end of the Devil's Playground area

So far, I'm finding the road to be in better condition than I expected

So far, I'm finding the road to be in better condition than I expected

I see a snake track in the road next to my footprints

I see a snake track in the road next to my footprints

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