We arrived in Mojave before the wind and rain started, and barely got in a short hike on the Rings Loop Trail before the rain started. It started raining just as we got to the climbing part of the trail, so the rocks weren’t too wet, and the rings made the steep climbs relatively easy. The rock formations were beautiful, and we got an up close look at the namesakes of the Hole In The Wall Campground, although the rain started in earnest just as we got to the top so we were soaked by the time we returned to the camper. We changed into dry clothes, had dinner, and by the time we went to bed the camper was rocking from the winds.
The next day was still breezy but clear, so we did the six plus mile hike around the mountain behind the campground. A ranger had warned us that the trail could be hard to follow because it wasn’t really a trail, just a series of washes, but in the open desert going around a mountain we didn’t have too many turning options and found the route fairly easy, whether or not we were on the actual trail. We were amazed at how the landscape and rock formations changed as we did the loop, and my biggest challenge was watching where I put my feet since I was more interested in ogling the scenery. We saw only one other couple hiking until we were within the last mile back to the Visitor Center, and heard nothing but the wind and occasional raven call.
We got up and on the road early the next morning, heading for Joshua Tree National Park.