20 replies to this topic

[lqhikers]

Just got back from a trip to the Mojave Preserve with my wife and thought we would share trip and pictures.The first part of trip was covering a part of the Mojave road which follows an historic Indian trail/wagon road/stage route from near bullhead city Az. to Barstow off I-15 (road to Vegas) We just did a section near Kelso (neat restored train station now Preserve information center/Museum,a must stop for first time visitors.2nd pic is mine area and 3rd camp spot ,a good place to explore and get the feel of the area. Next, 4th is Marl springs which was a important water spot and army post (1867).
I,ll post pics then continue.
Les Lqhikers

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[lqhikers]

Marl springs,(2 pics)Mail box(1 pic) which is a stopping place now to sign in and take a break.A little past here we took off on side trip to cinder cones lava beds to explore one of the lava tubes/caves.Set up camp here to explore caves and hike to lava arch which is an old Indian area with a lot of rock art etc.
Les lqhikers

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[lqhikers]

Lava tubes/caves hard to get good pics but do show size and vents.
Les lqhikers

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[lqhikers]

more lava tubes .This area is always great to explore as you will always find something new and it is not over run with people,we did not run across anyone on any trail the whole week we were in area,must be the price of gas!

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[lqhikers]

This is the lava arch area.Lots of Indian traces in area and if you are willing to hike you can find some interesting spots that are not disturbed!Make sure you have your boots on as the lava is unforgiving!

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[lqhikers]

After exploring Lava area we headed back to Kelso and used their good history section to look up a couple of mines we have heard about but do not show up on newer maps.1st pic is of the Good Hope Mine you have to do some research as the trail is through a wash and is not visable .but with gps setting from map's we were able to find mine.A lot of old stuff and if you hike the canyons you can find a lot of shafts that are not on maps!(no off road travel is allowed so it is hiking only.

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[lqhikers]

I could spend days in these old mines as it is unbelievable what it took to work them (supplies,water equipt etc.) Fund so old corner markers with claims and left them for next person to find.Seems like anything next to a road is long gone so it is nice to find some old paper work.

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[lqhikers]

After we spent 2 days at the Good Hope mine we moved about 5 miles to the end of trail that stops at the wilderness boundry.This mine is hard to find without gps and even then it took 5 hours of hiking up the mtn trails to find,But was it worth it! Since the trail up the wash was washed out for 3 miles the was no trail to let anyone know their was a trail ahead.As you can see from pics if the structure did not fall down it would of been untouched since the early 1950's.We almost turned around not 100 ft from mine as we thought the shaft in first pic was it but over the ridge was the main mine.This mine is near the Tough Nut Spring Which you can find on some of the maps of the Providence mtns.We still can't figure out the two hole out house

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[lqhikers]

more of mine area,lucky the fire that burned this area a couple of years ago stopped just on other side of canyon!

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[lqhikers]

Hope you all don't mind so many pics,explains better than words,at least my words!

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