After two days on Tehachapi it was time to move into the Mojave. Despite growing up in the Northwest I have to admit that one of my favorite places outside of here is the segment of the BNSF from Newberry Springs east to Needles. What attracts me? I think its the rawness. Of course the measure of raw is truly in the eye of the beholder. Like this post title says there are plants and birds, and rocks and things all over the desert, they are just on a scale that fits the environment.
Just west of Needles is a grade that at time reaches 1.5% and takes the railroad from around 500 ft of elevation at the depot to just over 2200 ft. at Goffs. Between Java and Klienfelter the railroad enters a small canyon and parallels the Piute Wash for a time. In this canyon the mighty transcon looks more like something you’d see in the Cascades than something you’d see in the desert. Perfect!
Snaking away from the Colorado River
In the Northwest photographing from a river bed can’t be done without waders or boots. In the desert, no waders are necessary! This trip I wanted to spend more time in washes since they are so dominant in the desert.
Hacienda Wash east of Klienfelter
Robert has done quite a bit of reconnaissance on previous trips which came in handy on this visit. One of the spots he learned about is Bolo hill. Bolo lies between Amboy and Cadiz and provides arguably one of the most interesting deserts views available. From the east side of the summit curve Cadiz is visible along with the track nearly 10 miles to the east where it makes a northward turn towards Danby, Essex, and Fenner. From the west side the view includes Saltus, Amboy, Bagdad, and Siberia.
In the photo below two trains are visible. Following the track behind the stack train a headlight will appear about where the track disappears. This headlight is a second train 12 miles to the west at Bagdad. Not far above the headlight is a silver object and which is the signal bridge at East Siberia, 20 miles to the west. Does it get much better than that in the Mojave?
Bolo Hill
