DWTH Day 42: Distinctly in a Different Desert (Mojave)

Stats

A Quickly De-Layer Kinda Morning

We awoke to a cold morning. It was not actually cold, but it was colder than it had been, making it feel cold. 

I used to start cold and warm up slowly so I didn’t have to stop and de-layer in the first 10 minutes. Lately, on the last 3 thru-hikes, that no longer appeals to me. 

Instead, we kept all our layers on that we wanted to and de-layered after only a 1/4 mile. 

A Steep, Low Pass

We camped where we did because we didn’t feel like scrambling cross country through another low pass. 

This particular one was much easier than the previous one but still steep. 

At the top, I had enough cell service to quickly play Wordle as we enjoyed the view. 

We stayed cool enough by taking a small break there to keep the mellies on as we descended back into the shade. 

The way down ended up being steeper than the ascent. It wasn’t technical, but it did take time. 

A 3-Water Source Day

It’s funny sometimes how sometimes we have 20+ mile gaps and other times 3 sources in one day. 

It was a nice change of pace. It felt good to be completely hydrated all day without having to really ration water. While we’ve never fully dehydrated ourselves, we’ve gone to the partially hydrated stage several times. 

At the last source, the sheer number of bees surrounding it was impressive. Karma had to reach in and dip the dirty bottles while hovering over a line of them. Luckily, he never got stung. 🐝 

The Long, Soft Sand of the Mojave Desert

Today, a lot of the terrain was sandy, whether on “roads,” washes, or cross country (we had a mix of all three today). 

We’ve noticed an increase in sand since crossing the Colorado River, but more specifically in the last two days. 

It seemed to coincide with the drastic change in plant life. 

Creosote persisted across both sides of the river, in the Sonoran Desert and the Mojave Desert. It also seemed to serve as the transition plant. 

Suddenly, yesterday, we got a whole new mix of plants, and I felt ecologically jolted. I haven’t spent as much time in the Mojave, and I hope this hike makes me appreciate it a bit more. 

While I was excited for the California Junipers, we’ve noticed the lack of shade provided by the Mojave Yuccas that now dominate. I found myself missing the palo verdes. 

We’ve found several entertainingly named plants recently: the Paper Bag Bush, the Bladderpod, and the Notch-Leaf Scorpion Weed. 

It’s come with a decrease in wildlife. Most of what we’ve seen recently only includes Phainopeplas, Black-Throated Sparrows, and Lizards. 

Camp

We found a good spot by popping up out of a wash onto a small ridge. Both of us were ready for dinner and our evening podcast.