At Home in Hole in the Wall

The intention on arriving at the Hole in the Wall Campground in Mojave Preserve was that we would spend a night or two while scouting around for a suitable boondocking spot to finish out the remainder of the Spring Break week/Easter weekend.   However, we are unable to find a signal on our nearby scouting attempts, driving down dusty roads in Jim and Gayle’s Subaru while monitoring our respective devices, me with a Verizon Mifi in one hand and an AT&T iphone in the other, both which indicate “No Service.”   So rather than waste time driving down washboard side roads, we call ourselves lucky to have 4G service in this “no hook-ups” campground in the middle of nowhere, and settle in for the week.

Largest Joshua Tree forest in the world...in bloom!

Largest Joshua Tree forest in the world…in bloom!

Instead of roots, this one has toes. ;-)

Instead of roots, this one has toes. 😉

The hike to Teutonia Peak, 3.5 miles goes through this Joshua Tree forest.

The hike to Teutonia Peak, 3.5 miles goes through this Joshua Tree forest.

The Mojave Preserve, established as part of the National Park system in 1994, contains 1.6 million acres, over half of it wilderness.   There is nothing here yet there is everything here.  Three of the four major North American Deserts come together here to make up 30 different habitats; volcanic fields, lava tubes, cinder cones, sand dunes, etc.   One of these habitats contains the largest Joshua Tree forest in the world, which sits atop Cima Dome, a 1,500 ft symmetrical granite mound that rises up over 70 square miles, giving the simulated impression of curvature of the earth.

The Joshua Trees are a slightly different species than those from the park by the same name.

The Joshua Trees are a slightly different species than those from the park by the same name.

They have more arms, and are a bit more "spindly."

They have more arms, and are a bit more “spindly.”

IMG_9381The “Mojave Road” was a major pathway to the Pacific used by the Mohave Indians, followed by explorers and settlers such as Jeddediah Smith, the first “white man” to reach the California Coast.   Used as a major military wagon road until it was replaced by the railway in  1883, it still exists today as a 4WD track across the preserve.

The sign at the trail head for Teutonia Peak reads, ""While crossing the slope of Cima Dome in its first mile, Teutonia Peak Trail passes through the densest concentration of Joshua trees in the world. After passing the remnants of the old Teutonia Mine, the trail gains 750 feet ascending the rocky peak in the distance."

The sign at the trail head for Teutonia Peak reads, “”While crossing the slope of Cima Dome in its first mile, Teutonia Peak Trail passes through the densest concentration of Joshua trees in the world. After passing the remnants of the old Teutonia Mine, the trail gains 750 feet ascending the rocky peak in the distance.”

I love the staggered arms on the tree on the left.

I love the staggered arms on the tree on the left.

As close to the "summit" as we will get...

As close to the “summit” as we will get…

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I never could get an answer on why I see the name spelled both ways, “Mojave” versus “Mohave.”   But even on the bronze commemorative plaque from where I paraphrased the Mojave Road information, the two spellings are used interchangeably.

An "off trail" hike up around Barber Peak near the Hole in the Wall CG.

An “off trail” hike up around Barber Peak near the Hole in the Wall CG.

Exploring the ridge line as far as it goes...

Exploring the ridge line as far as it goes…

Lots of boondocking down there if you aren't addicted to internet.

Lots of boondocking down there if you aren’t addicted to internet.

There are no services in the Preserve, and when I say “no services,” I mean you had better bring everything you want with you from gasoline to groceries.  There are a few cans of Coke and Snicker Bars at the Visitor Center in case of emergency, but otherwise you had better be well provisioned.  For me, this also means eating my own cooking.  Although I had plenty of frozen items, by the end of the week my fridge was void of anything still living despite a big “shop” at Trader Joes before arriving.  But I rather enjoyed the lack of dining distractions for a week.

Nature Trail links Hole in the Wall Campground with Visitor's Center of same name (not open daily, so check before you go.)

Nature Trail links Hole in the Wall Campground with Visitor’s Center of same name (not open daily, so check before you go.)

View from my campsite

View from my campsite

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We went through the mother of all windstorms here in Hole in the Wall….not once but twice.  There have been few times in the Winnie when I have been too uneasy to sleep, and this was one of them.   Otherwise, the campground was extraordinarily quiet and serene, as I settled into the rhythm of the sun setting on one side of the Winnie and the waning moon setting over the mountain on the other side, with all the brilliant night stars in between.  A perfect place to watch the resurrection of Spring….in the desert.IMG_9473IMG_9470

“For all the toll the desert takes of a man it gives compensations, deep breaths, deep sleep, and the communion of the stars.” ~ Mary Austin, “The Land of Little Rain”

13 thoughts on “At Home in Hole in the Wall

  1. I can’t get over how different the Joshua Trees look in this area. I don’t really care for either version:) But I do love when they bloom. How nice to have so many beautiful wildflowers surrounding your home:)

  2. Like Alex I was interested in the holding tanks for your fresh waterand also the black and grey water tanks. To me a week is long time to be completely self contained like this, but to the experienced RVer it probably nothing new. I think I too would be happier being in cell phone and internet range.

  3. Internet withdrawal was worth it for the boondock we found… so was that washboard road headed north that crosses over to Kelso 🙂 No specific trails but wide sandy washes led us to some of the most amazing and solitary views. It was too early for flowers tho 🙁
    Box Canyon Mark

  4. Alex and Dave — thanks for the question on “self-containment.” The tank capacity in the 2008 View is as follows: Fresh Water = 34gal / Gray Water = 38gal / Black Water = 31gal

    The limiting factor for me is always the fresh water tank, but thankfully that is something that is relatively easy to supplement if needed. I can go a week on a full tank of fresh water with approximately 4 “navy showers” (more if I don’t shampoo my hair.) After that, I have to supplement. For my Lazy Daze friends, this just means pouring water into an inlet, but my model Winnie does not have a straight shot for an intake valve, so I have to use the “winterization method” which involves a small siphon hose. It’s a little more time consuming, but not difficult.

    I also supplement my water supply using refillable 1 gallon jugs for drinking water and filling of the Camelback bladder for hiking. Those are easily refillable at any Walmart, Visitor’s Center, or grocery store. I also keep a 5 gallon collapsible Coleman water jug filled for cooking, heating water to wash dishes, pasta making, etc.

    As for the Black and Gray water tanks, they have never been a limiting factor, as I can go three weeks until they reach the “warning” zone. One of the advantages of being a “solo RVer.” 😉

  5. Maybe on a really windy night drive the Winnie to a spot where if the wind pushes it over you’d end up leaning against a hill or something so it doesn’t tip all the way over! hee hee!

  6. So happy you crossed another one off your “bucket list”. I stopped by there to take a few pictures on my way up a few times. It’s a beautiful place in the spring! Take care my friend!

  7. The difference in the spelling may have been influenced by Spanish. Js sound like Hs. Think of Jesus in Spanish. Doesn’t make much sense as to why they didn’t decide on one or the other though.

  8. I have been ‘back east’ for six months now and your blog is making me miss the west even more. I will spend the rest of this year taking notes and drooling over the wonderful places you are spending your time.

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