Mummy's Toe v Deer Creek - 8/8/24

Kay, another year on Mummy's Toe (10, 928')

Jerry and Cheryl on Mummy's Toe

Peak approach Trail (Traction Benchmark in Background)

Deer Creek next to Cougar Ridge Trail

On a cool Thursday morning, three club members drove up Deer Creek Road to park at the Cougar Ridge Trailhead. This is a large turnout across the road from where the Cougar Ridge Trail (Road) turns off of Deer Creek Road. Our hike began by climbing up the dirt road passing around the gate and eventually reaching a 90 degree turn to the right. The cabin resort follows up to the right but the Deer Creek Trail continues straight off the dirt road. This is a very pretty trail next to Deer Creek. It climbs up and eventually comes to an obvious turn to the right in the vicinity of a large boulder sitting in the forest. Here, the trail begins the Deer Creek Ridge portion of the climb.

Jerry and Cheryl lead the way up Deer Creek Trail

Jerry and Cheryl lead the way up Deer Creek Ridge (Mummy's Toe in Background)

View back down Deer Creek Canyon from Ridge

Junction from Ridge to Mummy's Toe Switchbacks

We were doing a lot of talking as we hiked so when we reached the T-junction of the Mummy's Toe Trail, we were pleasantly surprised that the climb was not as laborious as it sometimes can be. At the junction, we turned to the right. This begins the switchbacks that takes hikers up near the cliff bands above. At the cliff bands, the climbing gets really steep with smaller switchbacks. There are at least a couple of trails to follow. The usual one climbs up a crack that is fairly well worn at this point. After the crack, we turned left onto a cross trail. Another trail is offered that leads straight up. This takes you to Mummy's Knee. The cross trail traverses on a very steep slope dipping from right to left. There are a few fallen trees to climb over.

Tackling the Mummy's Toe Switchbacks

Climbing the cliff Bands

One more cliff Band

Starting across the traverse Trail

This cross trail comes up to meet a trail that leads from the Knee to the Toe and we turned left. The next part is the steepest and, therefore, the most difficult climb of the hike. Slowly, we ascended to the peak where a beautiful very old bristlecone tree beckons at its base. On top of Mummy's Toe, there is very little room to spare. It is best not to get too playful here! The summit sits right in the middle of some of the highest peaks on the Kyle Canyon side of Charleston Peak. There were cliffs all around us. We sat for a break and took photos lingering with our thoughts. Next, the hard part! Down is a very slow process from the Toe. We were deliberate with our choice of steps.

Still traversing Up

View down the final steep Climb

The old Bristlecone crowns the Peak

Mummy's Knee in front of
Mummy's Tummy from Peak

Down the cross trail. Down the chute on the cliff band. Down the rest of the cliff band area. Down the switchbacks. After a left turn onto the Deer Creek Ridge Trail, we carefully made our way down and off the ridge. As we got to this transition, a loud thunderclap filled the sky! The noise let it be known that we were being stalked by a monsoon. We looked over our shoulder and saw that the thunderstorm and rain was hanging over Lee Canyon ... not really that far away. Not stopping, we continued maybe a little faster. The thunder continued and, once in a while, we saw a flash of lightning surround us. We started counting. The storm was approximately 3-4 miles away. In other words, Lee Canyon! Yikes!

Kay arrives at the peak while Jerry signs us In

Group photo on Mummy's Toe Summit

The view as we begin down the steep Incline

Kay follows Jerry down the Chute

The storm stayed there for most of the remaining hike as its rumblings stalked us down Deer Creek Trail then up and down Cougar Ridge Trail. We actually ran when we reached the downhill part of the dirt road! Don't tell anyone! Just as we reached the cars and loaded up, the first sprinkle came upon us. Driving out of the trailhead, big drops of water poured down making a splat design on my windshield. Pretty good timing! What a great day! Our annual trip to the Toe was very rewarding. It gets easier every year.

P.S. Jerry and Cheryl are fantastic leaders!!

Stats: 6 miles; 2450' gain; 5.5 hours

Cheryl follows Kay down the Chute

Finally, something that is still there!

Thunder clouds over Lee Canyon as we make our Descent

This hike's elevation graph.

Previous track using two different routes at the peak. Upper route is Mummy's Knee.

South Loop Saddle - 8/5/24

Charleston Peak from South Loop 2nd Overlook

Harris Peak and Echo Cliffs from South Loop Switchbacks

Mummy Mountain from first mile of South Loop

Sunrise on the South Loop

We've been putzing around the easier hikes due to various reasons this summer. However, today, we ventured into the upper elevations of the South Loop Trail. Five and a half of us started at the trailhead on what would be a warm day ... yes, even in the mountains. We established a nice slow steady pace and didn't deviate from it throughout the climb. There were very few hikers already on the trail but we saw our first hiker company at the Echo Overlook. After a very short breather, we continued up to tackle the longer switchbacks. This would be our first effort at the higher section of the trail this year. We had already become accustomed to the higher altitudes and there was no problem with the thinner air. Our group stayed together fairly well until the 3rd Overlook. Then we started to spread out. There were three goals in mind and we each hiked according to our goal. My goal was the "campsite" where there is a nice overlook of Griffith Peak. Well, this is no longer such a nice pace to stop unless you hike away from the corner. There are large trees down everywhere. The wilderness volunteers have cut a trail through the mess but there is no longer a decent place to sit and contemplate life!

Griffith Peak Drainage from Switchbacks

Kyle Canyon from Echo Overlook (South Loop 1st Overlook)

Wilderness Boundary Sign on South Loop

Climbing up the South Loop

Mike and Ralyn had continued up and eventually stopped on the ridge; Ralyn at the saddle and Mike at the high point before the Griffith Peak climb. Jerry and Cheryl delivered word to them that I was back at the campsite and would start back down from there. Jerry and Cheryl continued up to Griffith Peak. Therefore, we all took our break individually and started down at our own pace. On my way down, I passed many other hikers who had gotten a bit of a late start on this warm day. Everyone who has ever hiked the South Loop knows that the lower portion of the trail is in the sun starting mid to late morning. The more experienced hikers had on their long sleeve, hooded sun wear and the less experienced ones were asking about shade.

A Switchback on the South Loop

South Loop 3rd Overlook

Taking a short break at the 3rd Overlook

Climbing up past another Drainage

It was nice to get up into the higher elevations for the views of Charleston Peak and Mummy Mountain. Harris Peak was also a nice view in several places. Above the wilderness sign, the air was a lot cooler and there was a nice breeze. I believe the clouds came in after we left the mountain and might have cooled it down a little bit. I made my way down the mountain slowly passing several of the hikers I had passed on the way up. During the last mile, I passed a very long line of a group of small children and a few adults. They hiked at different speeds and probably should not have decided to do the South Loop. They turned around and decided to take the Little Falls Trail. Good choice.

Harris Peak from last mile before the Saddle

Griffith Peak Overlook among a mess of downed Trees

Griffith Peak at messy Overlook

Ralyn, Mike and Odie at the South Loop Saddle

I sat on a log at the trailhead to wait for Ralyn, Mike and Odie. Poor Odie. He got a little overheated but recovered well when he got home. All three came down within 2 or 3 minutes of when I had settled. Leaving Jerry and Cheryl to their journey to Griffith, we had a nice drive down the mountain. The slow speed of the climb would keep us from getting too sore!

Stats to saddle and back: 8 miles; 2900' gain; 5.25 hours

Heading down the Switchbacks

Woodland Pine-drops next to switchback Trail

Down the treacherous South Loop Steps

Harris Base Exploratory - 8/1/24

Ralyn bushwhacks down the foothills of Harris Peak

Charleston Peak from base of Harris Peak

One of many Harris Peak Drainages

Telephone Line Trail

People staying in the campgrounds of Kyle Canyon probably know these trails better than we do but I have been wondering for years if these trails are interesting and if they go anywhere. So, Ralyn, Mike and I set out to explore. We started with the trail that heads straight up toward the base of Harris Peak across the Kyle Canyon wash from the Fletcher Canyon Trailhead. There is a fence next to the property of the Rangers' residence and just to the left of the fence, there is a trail that I'll call the Carpenter One Trail since that is my best guess as to when the trail appeared. Taking a slow pace, we began our climb. The trail jogged a little to the left when we crossed the Telephone Line Trail. As we climbed, we joked about the steep trail being a Trail Canyon Trail #2! It was surprising how good the trail was and we watched a large deer cross into the brush ahead. The view up was never changing! But, when we turned around to view Mummy Mountain and Fletcher Peak, it made you feel like you were standing in a huge amphitheater.

Climbing the Carpenter One Trail

The Carpenter One Trail

The end of Carpenter One Trail

Finding vague game Trails

At only about 0.6 miles up, the good trail peters out and you are left with game trail sized paths. Pretty soon, the paths disappear as well. Knee-high growth brush covers the area which appears to be a very large alluvial fan with several arroyos spreading out from one end of Harris Peak above to the other. There are trees up until the trail ended but most of the trees after that have been destroyed by fire. They are now laying on the ground or standing defiantly as they proudly sport their burn scars. The Carpenter One Fire burned in the summer of 2013. We made our way up the slope trying to avoid the worst of the brush and fallen trees. About half way up, we decided to try and cross the fan to the right. We found that the drainages were all fairly deep and difficult to cross. Nevertheless, we made our way over using old paths and even followed one of the drainages down a short distance. The brush on the ridges remained thick with very few clear patches. We continued our bushwhack down the hill ending up back at the Carpenter One Trail. We came. We saw.

Mike fighting the Brush

Drainage with Deer Creek Road in Background

Fletcher Canyon and Mummy Mountain from bushwhack Loop

Huge tree to "play" On

We descended the trail to the Telephone Line Trail crossing and turned to the right. This trail seems to be well used and it crosses several deep gulleys. These gulleys are the bottom portions of the gulleys we were encountering on the alluvial fan above. After about 0.2 mile, we came to a gulley with an orange survey tape beckoning. Deciding to go just a little further, we found an interesting small wooded trail on the left that eventually led us to a campsite where a gentleman was sitting looking very relaxed. He was very hospitable and we apologized for hiking through his site. He said we weren't the first and we wouldn't be the last. I guess that little wooded trail traps hikers often. From there, we walked down to the main camp road, turned left onto the Acastus Trail and walked another half mile to our car. It was a fun adventurous morning. Just be sure to wear long pants for the brush!

Stats: 2.6 miles; 925' gain; 2.5 hours

Telephone Line Trail to East

Small trail through forest above Campground

Returning to Fletcher Canyon Trailhead