Mummy’s Forehead Summit Approach Gully | Mt Charleston Wilderness, Nevada
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- Опубликовано: 21 ноя 2024
- Mummy’s Forehead Summit Approach Gully | Mt Charleston Wilderness, Nevada | Visit lasvegasareatr... | There’s a long, wide approach gully that runs from Camp Stimpson on Deer Creek Road to Mummy’s Forehead. The goal of this adventure is to discover a way to that gully that does not involve passing through private property, is a fairly easy and gradual class 2 level walk and does not involve significant altitude loss and regain along the way. That’s a lot to ask!
The benefits of this route are:
Non-stop Alpine wilderness experience
Endless spectacular views along the entire way
Passing through a historic airplane crash gully
Working out a streamlined approach to Mummy’s Forehead from Deer Creek Road
Exploring the lower approach gully back down to the upper end of Camp Stimpson
Finding a year-round spring where it emerges in the lower approach gully
Exploring Discovering a large swath of land including the intervening ridges and gullies between Camp Stimpson and Seven-Mile Canyon
Discovering a hidden “Emergency Evacuation Route”
Finding a large dry lakebed at the base of Deer Creek Road
Practicing identifying your true wilderness position when you find yourself in a different place than expected
Further streamlining a route between Deer Creek Road and Mummy’s Forehead
All of the above unfold during this video.
The Adventure Route
From the Deer Creek Road Catch Pen Loop parking area, cross Deer Creek Road and head about 500ft up Forest Road 092 along the base of Seven-Mile Canyon’s Easter Ridge. At that point, the forest road divides into two branches: 092a (left) and 092 (right). Of course, there are no position identification road or trail signs in this wilderness area!
At the dividing point of road 092, angle to the left up from the base of the Eastern ridgeline where you will soon discover a nice, gradual ascent gully that takes you to up to the Eastern ridgeline.
Now, angle to the right to continue along the Eastern ridgeline toward Mummy’s Nose cliffs, now visible ahead. Soon you’ll find yourself in a beautiful Bristlecone Pine forest. Stay on the ridgeline as you head for the left (East) side of Mummy’s Nose. Note the Sheep Range behind you in the distance. This will be your guiding reference point for times you take the Eastern Ridge back from Mummy’s Nose to the Catch Pen Loop Trailhead parking area.
Near the East base of the Mummy’s Nose cliffs, leave the Eastern ridgeline and angle left to begin skirting the East side of the cliffs toward the Mummy’s Forehead Summit Approach Gully. There’s a limestone pillar marking the spot where you’ll take that left turn off of the Eastern ridgeline.
About 4 intervening gullies and ridges beyond, you’ll notice a couple tires and other airplane parts indicating you’re crossing the airplane crash gully. Earlier, I explored that gully and researched the incident here: lasvegasareatr...
Not long after the gully, begin angling across the slope you are on toward where it connects with the Mummy’s Forehead summit approach gully below. Try to connect with the summit approach gully without losing altitude, so you arrive further up the gully. At this point you will be about 1,500ft below the elevation of Mummy’s Forehead and Chin. I’ll continue that ascent in a later adventure.
On this day I descended the gully in order to see where it emptied out in the Camp Stimpson area. The gully was fairly tame, gradual and descent was easy and fast. Along the way down I noted where the gullies I had earlier crossed at the base of the cliffs above descended to meet the summit approach gully. Each of these gullies and their bordering ridges presented a potential route back up to the Eastern Ridgeline and return to the trailhead parking. But I continued down the gully where a beautiful spring emerged (it had been beneath my feet all the time higher up in the gully). Finally, I arrived at the upper end of Camp Stimpson.
At the upper end of Camp Stimpson there is a trail that runs along each side of the canyon, above the camp. I took the trail to the left, thinking I was ascending the Eastern Ridge of Seven-Mile Canyon. Wrong! That ridge was a few high ridges and low gullies with complicated navigation further to the West. So I began to cross those ridges and gullies, eventually happening upon a Search and Rescue “Emergency Evacuation Route”. In the end, I ended up in a large dry lakebed at the base of Deer Creek Road. A left turn onto Deer Creek Road returned me, in about a half-mile, to my starting point at the Catch Pen Loop trailhead parking area.
This adventure forms the basis for a future adventure further streamlining the route from Deer Creek Road to Mummy’s Forehead and Chin.
So great. Kate and I parked at the same location today. 10.3.24. We ventured out thinking it is very hot in the valley. Perhaps go back to Mummy Head area. We did and decided to head on the Western ridgeline up to Mummy Head/Nose. I did this ridgeline back in the third week of August 2024. I summited the cliffs and then returned back to the lot. A great day. Wife is now back from her holiday so we ventured off. We took that north route to the Western ridge at the parking lot of Cap. Their is a great lookout view at the trailhead we decided to go up. You travel up to that point up that dirt road heading up north and just head East for 5 minutes or so. You overlook the Desert Overlook Area better than most do while they park. That turnaround ridge heading up is the ridge that we took heading West. It heads up to the ridgeline and my wife had puffy hands due to lack of oxygen. We turned around at that point. We did summit the overlook to Lee Canyon. Easy 3 mile and back. 8k to 9.5k elevation gain. 3 hour easy day. Could be done in half the time if you are fast. Will be back and love your videos.
You can't loose in that area. Whatever you do, you're in paradise! Glad you and your wife had a great time and got to see some incredible views from above the Desert Overlook Viewpoint. Way to go earlier when you tackled the Mummy's Nose cliffs. The best route is fun and challenging. Straying from that can get us non-technical climbers in trouble fast. There is no place with better views in all Southern Nevada...and it's so close to Las Vegas! Thanks for your compliments on the videos.
almost died of LVAT deficiency these last two weeks. Love to see the upload! Do you have a personal favorite hike/video from your channel?
Glad you love the videos! Great question. I've given the name "Legendary Adventures" to my all-time favorites and placed links to them all on this page: lasvegasareatrails.com/las-vegas-area-legendary-wilderness-adventures-nevada/ Each Legendary Adventure has its video embedded in the web page so you can click and view. Let me know what you think!
Most streamline route is straight up from Lee Canyon Rd to the notch between Nose and Chin/Forehead. Embrace the steepness!!!😂
Good one John! Yes, to totally embrace the steepness head up to the Notch from Lee Canyon, then at the saddle take a right turn up the cliff. On the other hand, if you go down the other side of the saddle instead of going for the cliff, the Deer Creek Road route map possibly create some competition. Which have you done?
Took another shot at the Deer Creek route yesterday. Further refinements. Made it all the way to the gully beneath the Lee Canyon route saddle. The amazing thing is that the return trip back to Deer Creek Road took less than 2 hours! I'll continue pushing it further until I reach Mummy's Chin and Nose. Then return to the Lee Canyon route. The new approach shoes are making a huge difference. Thanks for your suggestion John!
That’s great Dave. Keep it up!!!!