Mojave Magnificence

Temperatures in Mojave National Preserve were expected to reach 67 degrees today.
Buckhorn cholla, dagger yucca and Joshua trees dominated the hillsides. "This must be the ideal environment for Joshua trees," said Andy. "I read somewhere that this is the largest concentration in the world." A few miles in and closer to the hills, we drove through a virtual Joshua forest, punctuated by dagger yucca commas and Buckhorn cholla periods.
The only sign that life still existed in Cima was a mailbox stand with about 40 drawers. It stood next to the boarded Cima General Store with closed painted on the door and a Union Pacific refrigerator car, one end covered in raw plywood. "Cima was a railroad town," said Andy. "Just about everything here was tied to the railroad. As we drove across the nearby tracks, he said, "I read that every 90 minutes a train collides with a vehicle. Can you believe it? That's mind boggling!"

Kelso Cima Road, rough and worn in sections, needed repaving. "It's sad the country is broke and can't even maintain the roads," said Andy. "I wouldn't be surprised if parts of this road had not been touched in 30 years. They don't have to contend with ice here though, so pavement lasts longer. No salt, no snow, no heaving."
The museum at Kelso Depot Visitor Center preserves the historical remnants of ranching, mining and railroading, as well as offering an overview of the diverse geological variety of limestone mountains, cinder cone peaks, lava tubes and fields, rhyolite cliffs, desert bajadas and dunes, and sand and clay playas.
"This place was in total ruins when we were here 15 or 16 years ago," said Andy. "It was all boarded up then. They've done a wonderful job of restoration." We heard the dinging, and a freight train came by, four engines pulling flat cars laden with boxes, up the two and a half percent grade.
The movie explained that this area, set aside for protection in 1994, is the third largest national park service preserve in the continental United States, following Death Valley and Yellowstone, which are parks with greater protections. As the government procures the in-holdings from grazing and mining, perhaps this area that protects desert tortoises and Joshua trees will become a park too. "People spent their whole lives here," I said to Andy, as we stopped at abandoned houses. "Just think. People with dreams and goals and hopes and fears invested in this. We are looking at what is left of them-- empty, worthless shells."
Teutonia Peak Trail wove uphill through sand and around boulders to the base of Teutonia Peak. Then it climbed 750 feet with views of Cima Dome and surrounding lava hills to the limestone summit. A beautiful trail among Joshua trees, and higher up among cedars and cactus, the path passed deserted mines and wound steeply to spectacular views on both sides. Three miles round trip, it took us two hours, but the two ladies at Kelso Depot said they had never made it to the top. Andy didn't pick the trail just to challenge me. He said it was the only major hike not off a dirt road, and he refused to drive Little Red on any more dirt roads than absolutely necessary. I'll give him credit. He picked a beautiful trail.