Wild, Rocky, Alpine Ridge with Unique Spectacular Views Mummy's Chin Summit Ridge Loop, Nevada Target: Ridge to Left Toward Left (East) Side of Mummy's Nose Cliffs. Mummy's Chin Summit Ridge Loop, Nevada Hug Base of East (Left) Ridge. At Road Split Angle Up Slope to Gully Mummy's Chin Summit Ridge Loop, Nevada Find Gully, Then Ascend It to the Eastern Ridgeline. Mummy's Chin Summit Ridge Loop, Nevada Take a Right Along the Eastern Ridgeline Summit. Mummy's Chin Summit Ridge Loop, Nevada Take Eastern Ridgeline to 9,400ft, Then Angle Left Along Cliff Base. Mummy's Chin Summit Ridge Loop, Nevada Ascend 200ft Beyond Limestone Pillar to 9,400ft Elevation. Mummy's Chin Summit Ridge Loop, Nevada 200ft Beyond This Pillar Angle Left Along Base of Eastern Cliffs. Mummy's Chin Summit Ridge Loop, Nevada Here's the 9,400ft Point on Eastern Ridgeline. Leave Ridgeline Here. Mummy's Chin Summit Ridge Loop, Nevada Now Skirting the Base of Mummy's Nose Eastern Cliffs at 9,400ft Mummy's Chin Summit Ridge Loop, Nevada Looking Back Across Limestone Rocky Sections Easy to Navigate. Mummy's Chin Summit Ridge Loop, Nevada View Back Across Cliff Base Path Near the Summit Approach Gully Mummy's Chin Summit Ridge Loop, Nevada Enter Mummy's Forehead/Chin Summit Approach Gully at 9,400ft. Mummy's Chin Summit Ridge Loop, Nevada Ascend Summit Approach Gully Left-Bypassing Brush and Boulders Mummy's Chin Summit Ridge Loop, Nevada Approaching Major Dry Fall Barrier, Bypass Via Slope to the Right. Mummy's Chin Summit Ridge Loop, Nevada If You See This Barrier, Backtrack to Bypass Above to Right Mummy's Chin Summit Ridge Loop, Nevada Re-Enter Gully Above Dry Fall Barrier. You'll Pass This Beautiful Pillar. Mummy's Chin Summit Ridge Loop, Nevada Gully Brush/Boulders Disappear, But Incline Angle Sharply Increases Mummy's Chin Summit Ridge Loop, Nevada Looking Back Down Gully Gives Greater Perspective on Steep Incline. Mummy's Chin Summit Ridge Loop, Nevada Leave Gully at Upper Cliff Line Base. Turn Left Along Slope Mummy's Chin Summit Ridge Loop, Nevada Soon You'll See Mummy's Chin/Forehead Ridgeline on Horizon Ahead. Mummy's Chin Summit Ridge Loop, Nevada Spectacular Views Open at Ridgeline. Charleston & Lee Peaks Ahead. Mummy's Chin Summit Ridge Loop, Nevada Look Straight Down to Lee Canyon Ski Area. Mummy's Chin Summit Ridge Loop, Nevada Look Across to Bonanza Trail's Ridgeline, McFarland & Bonanza Peaks. Mummy's Chin Summit Ridge Loop, Nevada Faint Distant High Point is Telescope Peak Above Death Valley. Mummy's Chin Summit Ridge Loop, Nevada Sisters South, North and Macks Peaks in Foreground. Mummy's Chin Summit Ridge Loop, Nevada View East Across Mummy's Chin Ridgeline to Mummy's Chin Summit. Mummy's Chin Summit Ridge Loop, Nevada NW View Down to Angel Peak, La Madre Mts. & Las Vegas Valley Mummy's Chin Summit Ridge Loop, Nevada Mummy's Chin Only a Football Field's Distance. Light Rock Scramble. Mummy's Chin Summit Ridge Loop, Nevada Angel Peak | North Vegas Valley (Centennial Hills) Background Mummy's Chin Summit Ridge Loop, Nevada La Madre Mts. Foreground. North Vegas Valley Background. Mummy's Chin Summit Ridge Loop, Nevada Las Vegas Strip Visible Beyond La Madre Mts. Mummy's Chin Summit Ridge Loop, Nevada Enlarged View of Vegas Strip. Mummy's Chin Summit Ridge Loop, Nevada Right to Left Beyond Vegas Valley: Frenchman, Sunrise & Muddy Mts. Mummy's Chin Summit Ridge Loop, Nevada Larger View of North Vegas Valley & Terrain Beyond. Mummy's Chin Summit Ridge Loop, Nevada View Down Upper Gully Toward Angel Peak During Return Descent. Mummy's Chin Summit Ridge Loop, Nevada 400ft Too Early Turn Out of Gully Brings Me Up to Lee Canyon Saddle. Mummy's Chin Summit Ridge Loop, Nevada This is Upper Saddle on Lee Canyon's Mummy's Nose Approach Route. Mummy's Chin Summit Ridge Loop, Nevada Descend to Lee Canyon Rd > Deer Creek Rd > Catch Pen Trailhead Mummy's Chin Summit Ridge Loop, Nevada Mummy's Chin is Only a Football Field's Distance. Terrain a Light Rock Scramble. | Mummy's Chin Summit Ridge Loop | Mt. Charleston Wilderness, Nevada 1st Target: Ridge to Your Left Toward Left (East) Side of Mummy's Nose Cliffs. | Mummy's Chin Summit Ridge Loop | Mt. Charleston Wilderness, Nevada Hug Base of East (Left) Ridge. When Road Splits Angle Up Slope to Gully | Mummy's Chin Summit Ridge Loop | Mt. Charleston Wilderness, Nevada Find Gully, Then Ascend It to the Eastern Ridgeline. | Mummy's Chin Summit Ridge Loop | Mt. Charleston Wilderness, Nevada Take a Right Along the Eastern Ridgeline Summit. | Mummy's Chin Summit Ridge Loop | Mt. Charleston Wilderness, Nevada Now Take the Eastern Ridgeline Summit to 9,400ft, Then Angle Left Along Cliff Base. | Mummy's Chin Summit Ridge Loop | Mt. Charleston Wilderness, Nevada Ascend 200ft Beyond Limestone Pillar to 9,400ft Elevation. | Mummy's Chin Summit Ridge Loop | Mt. Charleston Wilderness, Nevada 200ft Beyond This Pillar Angle Left Along Base of Eastern Cliffs. | Mummy's Chin Summit Ridge Loop | Mt. Charleston Wilderness, Nevada Here's the 9,400ft Point on Eastern Ridgeline. Leave Ridgeline Here. | Mummy's Chin Summit Ridge Loop | Mt. Charleston Wilderness, Nevada Now Skirting the Base of Mummy's Nose Eastern Cliffs at 9,400ft Level. | Mummy's Chin Summit Ridge Loop | Mt. Charleston Wilderness, Nevada Looking Back Across a Few Limestone Rocky Sections Easy to Navigate. | Mummy's Chin Summit Ridge Loop | Mt. Charleston Wilderness, Nevada View Back Across Cliff Base Path Near the Summit Approach Gully | Mummy's Chin Summit Ridge Loop | Mt. Charleston Wilderness, Nevada Enter Mummy's Forehead/Chin Summit Approach Gully Still at 9,400ft Elevation. | Mummy's Chin Summit Ridge Loop | Mt. Charleston Wilderness, Nevada Begin Ascending Summit Approach Gully Left-Bypassing Brush and Boulders | Mummy's Chin Summit Ridge Loop | Mt. Charleston Wilderness, Nevada Approaching Major Dry Fall Barrier, Bypass Via Slope to the Right. | Mummy's Chin Summit Ridge Loop | Mt. Charleston Wilderness, Nevada Mid-Gully Barrier Dry Fall At About 9,700ft | Mummy Mountain Forehead Summit Approach Gully | Mt Charleston Wilderness, Nevada Re-Enter Gully Above Dry Fall Barrier. You'll Pass This Beautiful Pillar. | Mummy's Chin Summit Ridge Loop | Mt. Charleston Wilderness, Nevada Gully Brush/Boulders Disappear, But Incline Angle Sharply Increases | Mummy's Chin Summit Ridge Loop | Mt. Charleston Wilderness, Nevada Looking Back Down Gully Gives Greater Perspective on Steep Incline. | Mummy's Chin Summit Ridge Loop | Mt. Charleston Wilderness, Nevada Where Limestone Cliff Line Begins Further Up Gully, Turn Left Along Slope. | Mummy's Chin Summit Ridge Loop | Mt. Charleston Wilderness, Nevada Soon You'll See Mummy's Chin/Forehead Ridgeline on Horizon Ahead. | Mummy's Chin Summit Ridge Loop | Mt. Charleston Wilderness, Nevada New Spectacular Views Open from Ridgeline. Charleston & Lee Peaks Ahead. | Mummy's Chin Summit Ridge Loop | Mt. Charleston Wilderness, Nevada Look Straight Down to Lee Canyon Ski Area. | Mummy's Chin Summit Ridge Loop | Mt. Charleston Wilderness, Nevada Look Across to Bonanza Trail's Ridgeline, McFarland & Bonanza Peaks. | Mummy's Chin Summit Ridge Loop | Mt. Charleston Wilderness, Nevada Faint Distant High Point is Telescope Peak in Panamint Range Above Death Valley. | Mummy's Chin Summit Ridge Loop | Mt. Charleston Wilderness, Nevada View South Along Spring Mts. Sisters South, North and Macks Peaks in Foreground. | Mummy's Chin Summit Ridge Loop | Mt. Charleston Wilderness, Nevada View East Across Mummy's Chin Ridgeline to Mummy's Chin Summit. | Mummy's Chin Summit Ridge Loop | Mt. Charleston Wilderness, Nevada Northwest View Down to Angel Peak, La Madre Mts. & Las Vegas Valley | Mummy's Chin Summit Ridge Loop | Mt. Charleston Wilderness, Nevada Angel Peak Foreground. North Vegas Valley (Centennial Hills Area) Background | Mummy's Chin Summit Ridge Loop | Mt. Charleston Wilderness, Nevada La Madre Mts. Foreground. North Vegas Valley Background. | Mummy's Chin Summit Ridge Loop | Mt. Charleston Wilderness, Nevada Las Vegas Strip Visible Beyond La Madre Mts. | Mummy's Chin Summit Ridge Loop | Mt. Charleston Wilderness, Nevada Enlarged View of Vegas Strip. | Mummy's Chin Summit Ridge Loop | Mt. Charleston Wilderness, Nevada Right to Left Beyond Vegas Valley (faint): Frenchman, Sunrise & Muddy Mts. | Mummy's Chin Summit Ridge Loop | Mt. Charleston Wilderness, Nevada Larger View of North Vegas Valley & Terrain Beyond. Triangular Clark County Gun Range. | Mummy's Chin Summit Ridge Loop | Mt. Charleston Wilderness, Nevada View Down Upper Gully Toward Angel Peak During Return Descent. | Mummy's Chin Summit Ridge Loop | Mt. Charleston Wilderness, Nevada A 400ft Too Early Turn Out of Gully Brings Me Up to Lee Canyon Saddle. | Mummy's Chin Summit Ridge Loop | Mt. Charleston Wilderness, Nevada This is Upper Saddle on Lee Canyon's Mummy's Nose Approach Route. | Mummy's Chin Summit Ridge Loop | Mt. Charleston Wilderness, Nevada Descend to Lee Canyon Rd > Deer Creek Rd > Catch Pen Trailhead for Large Loop. | Mummy's Chin Summit Ridge Loop | Mt. Charleston Wilderness, Nevada

Mummy’s Chin Summit Ridge Loop | Mt. Charleston Wilderness, Nevada

Overview – Mummy’s Chin Summit Ridge Loop | Mt. Charleston Wilderness, Nevada

Spectacular Views from Mummy’s Chin Summit Ridge

There is an isolated, relatively unknown ridgeline in the Mummy Mountain Head area between Mummy’s Chin and Mummy’s Forehead. From this spectacular vantage point at 10,800ft elevation, you have a unique perspective on a huge number of reference points in Southern Nevada and beyond. These include (clockwise):

And this is just a short list!

Close Access to Mummy’s Chin and Forehead Summits

Mummy’s Chin Summit Ridge gives direct, close access along it’s ridgeline to Mummy’s Chin Summit to the East (11,040ft elevation) and Mummy’s Forehead Summit to the West (11,043ft elevation) for those who enjoy engaging in rock climbing. These summits are each approximately 100 yards (a football field length) in either direction.

The Streamlined Route

Over a few previous adventures I’ve streamlined a route to Mummy’s Chin Summit Ridge from the Deer Creek Road Catch Pen Loop trailhead. This, I believe, is the fastest, most streamlined and direct route to Mummy’s Chin, Saddle Ridgeline and Forehead. And the route is entirely at the class 2 climbing level: Basically a walk, though on some steep loose rock slopes in places.

Adventure Route Summary

The entire route is through an incredibly beautiful, pristine, pathless alpine wilderness. The approach route begins at the Deer Creek Road Catch Pen Loop Trailhead. From there, ascend the Eastern ridgeline of Seven-Mile Canyon to 9,400ft. Then, keeping the 9,400ft altitude, skirt the Eastern base of Mummy’s Nose Cliffs until you reach Mummy’s Chin and Forehead Summit Approach Gully, still at the 9,400ft level. Ascend that gully to the base of the cliff line near its summit (about 10,600-700ft). Angel left along a steep slope to reach Mummy’s Chin Summit Ridge. This adventure became a loop when during the return descent, I inadvertently left Mummy’s Forehead Summit Approach Gully at the 9,800ft point rather than the 9,400ft point (I’ll explain below how to miss this mistake, along with some interesting discoveries along the way.). This sent me up a slope to the Lee Canyon approach saddle (10,300ft elevation). From there I descended to Lee Canyon Road, then Deer Creek Road and ultimately ascended that road back to the Catch Pen Loop Trailhead starting point.  

Best Time of Year for This Adventure

The best time of year to reach this spectacular vantage point is during the Summer months. At this time you have the longest span of daylight, comfortable temperatures and absence of snow. However, watch the weather and the skies to avoid thunderstorms! I’ve experienced thunder and lightening along the approach route.

Route Starting Point Directions – Mummy’s Chin Summit Ridge Loop | Mt. Charleston Wilderness, Nevada

To get to this point from Las Vegas head North on I-95 taking a left at one of the last I-95 exits in the Las Vegas area, Kyle Canyon exit. Continue up Kyle Canyon road about 17 miles and a couple miles before Charleston Village take a right on Highway 158 towards Lee Canyon. You’ll wind around the hillside to the left and as the road briefly levels off before descending toward Lee Canyon. Pass the North Loop Trailhead, Deer Creek Picnic Area and the Camp Stimson turnoff. The trailhead is a small parking area on the right just before the Desert View Overlook Parking Area. It’s the trailhead parking for the Deer Creek Catch Pen Loop Trail.

Narrative Guide – Mummy’s Chin Summit Ridge Loop | Mt. Charleston Wilderness, Nevada

Getting Your Initial Bearings

At the Deer Creek Road Catch Pen Loop Trailhead set your sights on the distinctive Mummy’s Toe Cliff across Deer Creek Road and up at the summit of Seven-Mile Canyon. Also note that Seven-Mile Canyon has two ridgelines: A Western ridgeline to the right and an Eastern Ridgeline to the left. With these reference points in mind, you’re going to head up the Eastern Ridgeline, then angle along the Eastern (left) base of Mummy’s Nose Cliffs.

Catch Pen Loop Trailhead to Seven-Mile Canyon’s Eastern Ridgeline

Now cross Deer Creek Road to begin on the unmarked Forest Road 092 which runs along the base of Seven-Mile Canyon’s Eastern ridgeline. Keep along the base of the Eastern Ridgeline to your left. Initially, there are some confusing additional routes to your right. Ignore these.

In about 500ft Forest Road 092 will divide. 092 branches off to the right toward the Western ridgeline. 092A continues along the base of the Eastern Ridgeline. At this branch, begin to angle to your left up the Eastern Ridgeline. As you ascend, search around for a nice wide ridgeline approach gully. You’ll know when you’ve found the gully. See the video for more detailed directions. Once in the gully (it’s pretty steep, but gradual) continue upward to take a right along the summit of the Eastern Ridgeline. Here you have a spectacular view of the ridgeline continuing upward to the Eastern cliffs of Mummy’s Nose, Seven-Mile Canyon below and the Sheep Range in the distance below. Keep these reference points in mind for the return trip.

Seven-Mile Canyon’s Eastern Ridgeline to Mummy’s Nose Eastern Cliffs

Once on Seven-Mile Canyon’s Eastern Ridgeline, just stay on the ridgeline as you ascend toward Mummy’s Nose Eastern Cliffs. There are a few high points along the way with spectacular views, but for the most part its a steady, gradual ascent. It’s important to leave the ridgeline and begin angling along the base of Mummy’s Nose Eastern Cliffs at the ideal altitude point. Fortunately pretty easy to determine. You’ll eventually reach a distinctive limestone pillar on the ridgeline. Continue up the ridgeline beyond the pillar for another 200ft elevation gain. Now you’re at approximately 9,400ft elevation. This is your optimal glide path along Mummy’s Nose Eastern Cliffs. At this elevation angle to the left off of the Eastern ridgeline and begin traversing the base of Mummy’s Nose Eastern Cliffs (actually you’re 2-300ft below the edge of the cliffs).

Traversing the Base of Mummy’s Nose Eastern Cliffs

At this 9,400ft elevation glide path there is a minimum of obstacles (limestone rocky sections, fallen trees, deep intervening canyons and high ridges). The slope angle is also much more navigable than at much steeper angles above. Try to stay at 9,400ft elevation as you cross some low intervening ridges and gullies and avoid obstacles along the way. It’s pretty easy, and always at a class 2 walk. During this traverse, note far below to your left a major canyon gully. This is the canyon, at the base of which is Camp Stimpson. This is also the Mummy’s Forehead Summit Approach Gully. If you keep to 9,400ft you’ll eventually reach the gully at that same altitude without having to do any descent and re-ascent along the way.

Mummy’s Forehead Summit Approach Gully to Mummy’s Chin Summit Ridge 

Once in Mummy’s Forehead Summit Approach Gully, begin to ascend the gully. You may need to navigate to the left above the gully near the beginning to avoid some obstacles. However, ascent in the gully is generally a matter of finding the stairway among the gully boulders. It’s still a class 2 walk.

Around 9,900ft there is an impassible vertical dry fall in the gully. When you see the limestone cliffs ahead in the gully, visible when you’re at 9,800ft, angle to your right up a slope and around a huge limestone cliffy area. At the top of the limestone formation, circle back into the gully. You’re now at about 10,000ft elevation in the gully.

At the 10,000ft elevation point the gully is more open as boulders begin to diminish. However the angle of ascent dramatically increases until the gully has become a very steep loose rock slope. Ahead to your left, around the 10,700ft elevation in the gully there are vertical limestone cliffs. At the base of these cliffs take a left turn out of the gully and begin angling slightly upward along the base of the cliffs through a beautiful bristlecone pine forest to arrive at Mummy’s Chin Summit Ridge at about 10,800ft!

Mummy’s Chin Summit Ridge

Mummy’s Chin Summit Ridge itself is a rocky ridgeline about a half-mile in length. There’s a distinctive high point on either end of the ridgeline. To your left (East) is Mummy’s Chin at 11,040ft elevation. The your right (West) not far some intervening rocky stretches is Mummy’s Forehead at 11,043ft elevation. I did not summit these high points, each only about a quarter mile away on this day. However, it looked as if the rocky limestone stretches to the high points might not exceed class 3 rock scrambling.

Descending Mummy’s Forehead Summit Approach Gully to 9,800ft

I thought the descent would be pretty straight forward with an arrival back at the Catch Pen Loop Trailhead on Deer Creek Road in about 2 and a half hours. I’d descended the gully from the 10,300ft level back to the trailhead previously in less than 2 hours. However, when I saw the magic 9,400ft elevation mark on my altimeter watch and began angling up along the Eastern base of Mummy’s Nose Cliffs as planned, I failed to remember my altimeter watch was 400ft off!! I was actually at 9,800ft when I thought I was at 9,400ft. This sent me angling along Mummy’s Nose Eastern Cliffs too soon. I soon found I was facing a perpendicular out-jutting limestone cliff blocking what I’d thought would be an easy traverse.

I could have descended again into the lower gully, but now I was curious. What would the terrain above look like?  What new points of interest would I find. So I continued to ascend the increasingly steep loose rock slope. So steep was it, that once, when I slipped and found myself sitting on the slope, one trekking pole about 10 feet below, it took me about 5 minutes of maneuvering to recover the pole and then succeed in achieving a standing position again! Still I continued upward because the terrain above was beginning to look familiar!

Lee Canyon Summit Approach Saddle

There was an opening in the limestone cliff line above. Yes! That opening was the familiar Lee Canyon Approach Saddle from this previous Mummy’s Nose Summit Adventure. Only now, I could see the limestone cliff base below the saddle and it’s potential alternate route to Mummy’s Forehead! Great discovery for a future adventure! I continued to ascend to the saddle above at 10,300ft. By now I knew I didn’t want to descend back to the Mummy’s Forehead Summit Approach Gully, which by the way might have been a shorter route to the trailhead. Instead I descended to Lee Canyon Road, just for the enjoyable memory of a previous adventure.

Making This Adventure a Loop and Solving a Puzzle

Yes, this meant a very steep and long descent to Lee Canyon Road, then a right turn on that road to Deer Creek Road, then ascending Deer Creek Road all the way to the Catch Pen Loop Trailhead. I knew this, but by now was into the momentum of continuing on what had now become a huge loop adventure, looping completely around Mummy’s Nose. Besides, I love the feeling of connecting the dots: Mummy’s Chin and Forehead, Deer Creek Road, Lee Canyon. All these are now one huge unbroken spectacular wilderness area in my mind. And, much of the mystery of the features of Mummy’s Head (Nose, Forehead, Chin): Where they are located and routes to their summits, has now become more clear. The puzzle pieces are falling into place! Set me blindfolded into any part of the wilderness in this area and I’ll know where I am and how to navigate in a its now familiar terrain without a compass or GPS.

Disclaimer

Before you set out to navigate the wilderness without compass or GPS and wander off course in the joy of discovery, realize that my total pathless wilderness navigation experience includes the Pacific Northwest Cascade Mountains, the Northeast Hudson River Valley and the vast wilderness area surrounding Las Vegas. My total lifetime wilderness miles at this point exceed 30,000 reaching back to childhood. Still, as you can see, I occasionally get off-course and end up redirecting. And finally, I always plan my adventures to begin and end in daylight on clear days with lots of visibility. I’ve pushed my experience gradually forward level by level by very small increments, seldom exceeding my previous limit by more than the slightest stretch during any particular adventure. However, the sum total is pretty huge. You can do the same over time.

Summary
Mummy's Chin Summit Ridge Loop | Mt Charleston Wilderness, Nevada
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Mummy's Chin Summit Ridge Loop | Mt Charleston Wilderness, Nevada
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Approach this wild, fairly untouched and unknown rocky alpine ridgeline from Deer Creek Road, enjoy spectacular views, then return via the Lee Canyon Mummy's Nose approach saddle for an incredible loop of the Mummy's Head region.
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LasVegasAreaTrails.com
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