Now it's time to drive up Kelbaker Road into Mojave Preserve and find a campsite for the night

Now it's time to drive up Kelbaker Road into Mojave Preserve and find a campsite for the night

Some yellow-flowering buckwheats also grow around here

Some yellow-flowering buckwheats also grow around here

I drive down a dirt road into the Granite Mountains and pass by a gate

I drive down a dirt road into the Granite Mountains and pass by a gate

A nice place to walk around and enjoy the backdrop of the Providence Mountains

A nice place to walk around and enjoy the backdrop of the Providence Mountains

Granite Mountains are full of interesting rocky scenery

Granite Mountains are full of interesting rocky scenery

I drive on down the road toward Coyote Spring

I drive on down the road toward Coyote Spring

In a few spots, Mojave yuccas grow right up to the road

In a few spots, Mojave yuccas grow right up to the road

Here, a Catclaw bush grows out into the road

Here, a Catclaw bush grows out into the road

And here, a Cholla cactus threatens to poke the FJ as it slowly rolls by

And here, a Cholla cactus threatens to poke the FJ as it slowly rolls by

I drive slowly to savor the views of the Kelso Dunes down below

I drive slowly to savor the views of the Kelso Dunes down below

The road dips as it begins to approach the Coyote Spring area

The road dips as it begins to approach the Coyote Spring area

Weee, here we go down the little hill

Weee, here we go down the little hill

The Coyote Spring area is down around that corner behind that hill, I think

The Coyote Spring area is down around that corner behind that hill, I think

A showy bush that grows in the lower area here is Desert Willow (Chilopsis linearis)

A showy bush that grows in the lower area here is Desert Willow (Chilopsis linearis)

Sometimes mistletoe grows on Catclaw bushes

Sometimes mistletoe grows on Catclaw bushes

Another showy bush that grows out here is Bladderpod

Another showy bush that grows out here is Bladderpod

The road approaches Coyote Spring

The road approaches Coyote Spring

I stop to trim a creosote bush that's growing out into the narrow road

I stop to trim a creosote bush that's growing out into the narrow road

Once past Coyote Spring, the dirt road turns toward Kelbaker Road

Once past Coyote Spring, the dirt road turns toward Kelbaker Road

I drive for a while and then turn down a narrow 4WD road that skirts around the Granite Mountains

I drive for a while and then turn down a narrow 4WD road that skirts around the Granite Mountains

I park the FJ by this Wilderness marker and start my hike into the Granite Mountains

I park the FJ by this Wilderness marker and start my hike into the Granite Mountains

Looks like we have some corral remains here

Looks like we have some corral remains here

A short distance up the trail affords an overview of the old corral

A short distance up the trail affords an overview of the old corral

My trail here is actually an old road, like many Mojave Desert trails

My trail here is actually an old road, like many Mojave Desert trails

Two boulders dance with each other, frozen in time

Two boulders dance with each other, frozen in time

How do these two dancers look from the other side?

How do these two dancers look from the other side?

Smaller rocks have been piled under this boulder

Smaller rocks have been piled under this boulder

Manuel Lopez

Manuel Lopez

A.L.

A.L.

Cottonwood Spring should be over in that brushy area somewhere

Cottonwood Spring should be over in that brushy area somewhere

This seems to be Cottonwood Spring, but I'm not seeing any significant moisture here

This seems to be Cottonwood Spring, but I'm not seeing any significant moisture here

Here I come across the remains of an old rock wall

Here I come across the remains of an old rock wall

The trail is just high enough now that I'm starting to see a few junipers here and there

The trail is just high enough now that I'm starting to see a few junipers here and there

The trail then passes a little rock wall

The trail then passes a little rock wall

The Yerba Santa bush here reminds me of coastal chapparal landscapes

The Yerba Santa bush here reminds me of coastal chapparal landscapes

It's time to look back and see that, yes, I have risen a little from the valley

It's time to look back and see that, yes, I have risen a little from the valley

I pass a patch of reddish buckwheat shrubs as the trail climbs higher

I pass a patch of reddish buckwheat shrubs as the trail climbs higher

Another moment of looking back at the trail that's taking me upward

Another moment of looking back at the trail that's taking me upward

Up we go!

Up we go!

So many boulders

So many boulders

I keep rising, with great views over to the Providence Mountains right now

I keep rising, with great views over to the Providence Mountains right now

That should be Silver Peak up there

That should be Silver Peak up there

The trail passes scattered junipers and pinon pines

The trail passes scattered junipers and pinon pines

Here's a really old juniper trunk, twisted and mangled by time

Here's a really old juniper trunk, twisted and mangled by time

The views behind me keep improving, as I get closer to the top

The views behind me keep improving, as I get closer to the top

However, a short distance remains before I reach the top of the old road

However, a short distance remains before I reach the top of the old road

Wow, I can now see across the Kelso Dunes area over to distant places that I've visited

Wow, I can now see across the Kelso Dunes area over to distant places that I've visited

I'm not quite at the top of the old road yet though

I'm not quite at the top of the old road yet though

I arrive at a switchback on the trail looking down into canyons in the Bighorn Basin area

I arrive at a switchback on the trail looking down into canyons in the Bighorn Basin area

The old road ends at an overlook with incredible views over the Providence Mountains and southern Granite Mountains

The old road ends at an overlook with incredible views over the Providence Mountains and southern Granite Mountains

After my rest and contemplation, I start the hike back down

After my rest and contemplation, I start the hike back down

Before I descend further, I stop to enjoy the views across the Kelso Dunes again

Before I descend further, I stop to enjoy the views across the Kelso Dunes again

This old mining road is today a scenic perch overlooking the Providence Mountans

This old mining road is today a scenic perch overlooking the Providence Mountans

I need to take a look at this broken boulder before I go back down

I need to take a look at this broken boulder before I go back down

Downhill we go!

Downhill we go!

Hmmm, a big buried can

Hmmm, a big buried can

And some sort of e-waste...

And some sort of e-waste...

I stop to check out a couple rock formations that I noticed on the hike up here

I stop to check out a couple rock formations that I noticed on the hike up here

Hiking downhill can be so much fun!

Hiking downhill can be so much fun!

Hey, I snapped a photo very similar to this two hours ago on the hike up the hill

Hey, I snapped a photo very similar to this two hours ago on the hike up the hill

In silhouette, this upright rock at center-right reminds me of a hawk

In silhouette, this upright rock at center-right reminds me of a hawk

Back down on the desert floor, hiking the old road

Back down on the desert floor, hiking the old road

I've got that view over to the Providence Mountains again as I hike back to the FJ

I've got that view over to the Providence Mountains again as I hike back to the FJ

The FJ has a few bumps to drive over as it leaves the Silver Peak area

The FJ has a few bumps to drive over as it leaves the Silver Peak area

The upper peaks of the Providence Mountains catch the final sun of the day

The upper peaks of the Providence Mountains catch the final sun of the day

When I turn my head to the left, I'm looking at the jagged Granite Mountains

When I turn my head to the left, I'm looking at the jagged Granite Mountains

A lot of mistletoe grows around here on the catclaw bushes

A lot of mistletoe grows around here on the catclaw bushes

This area is surprisingly green, perhaps water collects here occasionally

This area is surprisingly green, perhaps water collects here occasionally

Creosote bushes crowd the trail at times

Creosote bushes crowd the trail at times

I'll drive across the pavement of Kelbaker Road and pick up that dirt road over there

I'll drive across the pavement of Kelbaker Road and pick up that dirt road over there

I've never explored the dirt roads on this side of the Granite Mountains previously

I've never explored the dirt roads on this side of the Granite Mountains previously

I get out to spot this short dip, in case there's an unseen hazard

I get out to spot this short dip, in case there's an unseen hazard

The Granite Mountains are authoritarian regardless of the approach

The Granite Mountains are authoritarian regardless of the approach

Another junction... I'lll follow the fence

Another junction... I'lll follow the fence

I find myself heading toward the Van Winkle Mountains again

I find myself heading toward the Van Winkle Mountains again

I was camped over on the other side of the Van Winkle Mountains over there last night

I was camped over on the other side of the Van Winkle Mountains over there last night

I'm getting close to Kelbaker Road, I-40 and the Clipper Mountains, time to look for another dirt road

I'm getting close to Kelbaker Road, I-40 and the Clipper Mountains, time to look for another dirt road

Now heading toward the Granite Mountains from a different angle

Now heading toward the Granite Mountains from a different angle

I roll past a blooming Bladderpod bush

I roll past a blooming Bladderpod bush

This area is sometimes referred to as the Willow Springs Basin

This area is sometimes referred to as the Willow Springs Basin

My road splits into two, not an optical illusion

My road splits into two, not an optical illusion

Another junction, time to check my map!

Another junction, time to check my map!

The road seems to be getting a bit rougher

The road seems to be getting a bit rougher

A brief off-camber stretch passes some boulder piles

A brief off-camber stretch passes some boulder piles

Nice fire pit!

Nice fire pit!

A sweet and sheltered campsite I've just found, but it's too early for me to set up camp

A sweet and sheltered campsite I've just found, but it's too early for me to set up camp

Let's drive on!

Let's drive on!

I like roads like this that meander between rock piles

I like roads like this that meander between rock piles

Now I'm driving gently downhill toward the Clipper Mountains

Now I'm driving gently downhill toward the Clipper Mountains

I spy someone camping over there!

I spy someone camping over there!

Sun pokes through the clouds as we rise up Kelbaker Road toward the Granite Mountains

Sun pokes through the clouds as we rise up Kelbaker Road toward the Granite Mountains

Kelbaker Road approaches the low edge of the Providence Mountains

Kelbaker Road approaches the low edge of the Providence Mountains

I pull over near the summit for a few minutes to enjoy the changing Granite Mountains scenery

I pull over near the summit for a few minutes to enjoy the changing Granite Mountains scenery

Gentle plumes of Orlik pipe tobacco smoke imitate the fluffy clouds

Gentle plumes of Orlik pipe tobacco smoke imitate the fluffy clouds

Kelbaker Road descends under a surreal grey blanket toward the Clipper Mountains and the I-40 freeway

Kelbaker Road descends under a surreal grey blanket toward the Clipper Mountains and the I-40 freeway

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