Lava Flow Boondock and Hole-In -The Wall

March 14-19, 2019

We spent four days and nights at the lava flow in Mojave Preserve and loved it as much as last time! Greg did some biking on the old sand road and washes. The weather was warm and sunny and we had the wash all to ourselves. We were close enough to the road to see an occasional car go by, but the opening to the wash was small enough that unless a driver deliberately turned their head at just the right time to look, no one saw us there. One afternoon four vans showed up for a geology field trip and we stood at our campsite and heard the lecture. Greg was quietly answering the professor's questions!

Geology Field Trip

We hiked up the wash, and on top of the lava flow. We stargazed and enjoyed the full moon that was strong enough to cast shadows at night.

The top of the lava flow

Looking up at the cinder cone source of the lava (10,000 years ago)

Baby spiny things - Barrel Cacti

Desert Holly

Our cozy campsite

Joshua Tree

Beaver Tail Cactus

Barrel Cactus

Grilling by Moonlight

Moonshadow

The only downside was that our solar power controller decided to go beserkus on us while we were there. It was rapidly flipping on and off, making a racket under the couch where it is mounted. At the same time it wasn't consistently charging our batteries. Properly working solar is essential for our boondocking. Greg shoved his torso under the couch, stared at it for a while and apparently scared it enough that it decided to work again. It has had another “attack” since then and is still not fully charging the battery, but we've been able to continue to dry camp as long as we have good sunlight. Finally, on the fifth day we left to relocate to Hole-In-The-Wall campground in the mountains of the Preserve.

Hole-In-The-Wall campground

Local Yucca

Hole-In-The-Wall camp site

After a quick stop at the Kelso Depot, which is the old train depot, and the visitor center, we started up the washboarded gravel road into the mountains. Sixteen jarring miles later we arrived at the campground and easily found a site with a beautiful view of the valley and surrounding mountains. The campground has no hookups, but water and a dump, which we needed after four days boondocking. It was cooler and windier there, but even though generators were allowed, quieter than the cacophony of Katherine Landing. Few campers choose to use them here.

We had several pairs of neighboring jackrabbits

We did one hike on the Rings Trail which runs around the backside of the mesa into Banshee Canyon. We hiked it 5 years ago and the finish of the hike is a climb up metal rings embedded in the canyon walls to exit the canyon. I knew this time I wasn't up for the climb, so Greg went on alone and I retraced my steps back to the trailhead. Good plan, even though he beat me back to the trailer by a half hour! It was a beautiful day and I took my time photographing on the way back!

Hiking the Hole-in-the-Wall Trail

Petroglyphs

The entrance to Hole-in-the-Wall Canyon

Fierce Wildlife

Lichen

So many wildflowers!

Looking up Hole-in-the-Wall Canyon