Mummy’s Forehead Lower Camp Stimpson Gully Exploration | Mt Charleston Wilderness, Nevada

Overview | Mummy’s Forehead Lower Camp Stimpson Gully Exploration | Mt Charleston Wilderness, Nevada

This was my first adventure in this area when I didn’t know where anything was! Now I know that the route began in the lower Deer Creek North Fork Gully where Camp Stimpson is located. I parked at a large parking area just off Deer Creek Road. Later discovered that parking area doubles as a Search and Rescue staging area with enough room to land a helicopter. There is an old, beaten up “Escape Route” trail sign below in a gully just West of the parking area.

From the parking area, the route begins on Forest Road 078, then soon takes a ridge to the right to skirt the East edge of Camp Stimpson about 200ft above the camp. After bypassing the camp the route continues for about 100 yards in the Deer Creek North Fork Gully. When I realized there was an active children’s/youth camp in the lower Deer Creek North Fork Gully, I wanted to respect that property and so bypassed the Camp Stimpson in order to reach the wilderness above.

It was in the gully directly above the upper edge of the camp that I noticed a “Red Rock Stake Super Hero Girl’s Camp Trail” sign which I later discovered had been quite an impressive program at the camp. I’ve documented some information about that program in the narrative below and added some historic photos in the Slide Guide above.

I later realized that the high point of this adventure was the Mummy’s Nose Eastern cliff base. In future adventures, I would begin at the Deer Creek Catch Pen Trailhead at Seven-Mile Canyon. Then I’d ascended the ridge above the West side of the Deer Creek North Fork Gully, then continue along the Mummy’s Nose Eastern cliff base at about 9,400ft. Those adventures descend again into the Deer Creek North Fork Gully at about 9,400ft then continue up the gully to it’s summit ridgeline saddle. This upper ridgeline is the saddle between Mummy’s Forehead and Mummy’s Chin. See this adventure in the Mummy’s Chin Summit Ridge Loop.

By those later adventures I had discovered the lay of the land, but in this initial adventure below, I knew nothing. Still, it was a fun exploration laying the foundation for future adventures. You could use this route as an alternate ascent route up Deer Creek North Fork Gully instead of the route beginning at the Deer Creek Catch Pen Loop Trailhead. However, I prefer the route beginning at the Deer Creek Catch Pen Loop Trailhead because it totally bypasses the Camp Stimpson complex, respecting the camp’s privacy.

Original Documentation | Mummy’s Forehead Lower Camp Stimpson Gully Exploration | Mt Charleston Wilderness, Nevada

This begins what I wrote when I didn’t know where anything was…including surrounding wilderness reference points and connections!

Thus far, the summit of Mummy Mountain’s Forehead has been illusive. On the East side it is surrounded by sheer cliffs. I have not yet checked out the South, North and West sides. Even so, the Eastern approach described in this article offers unique and spectacular views of the entire East side of Mummy Mountain from Mummy’s Forehead to Mummy’s Toe, along with Cougar Ridge and the North Loop Trail Ridge including Fletcher Peak in the background. La Madre Mountain, the Air Force Radar Station on Angel Peak and the Sheep Range are clearly seen along with glimpses of Centennial Hills. And, further exploration may uncover an approach to the summit by skirting the base of the cliffs until an opening is found. No promises!

Directions to Start Point | Mummy’s Forehead Lower Camp Stimpson Gully Exploration | Mt Charleston Wilderness, Nevada

As you’re traveling Deer Creek Road, about half way between the North Loop Trailhead and the intersection of Lee Canyon Road, there is an obscure, unmarked unpaved road on the left. Just because it was there, I decided to take it. Woo-hoo!! Within about 100 feet and around a corner hidden from Deer Creek Road there is a huge parking area that could fit 50-100 vehicles! That parking area serves multiple purposes. It’s a lower parking area for Camp Stimpson, a parking access for Forest Road 078 and a Search and Rescue staging area. As such, it’s very well graded and well kept. There are no trailheads, but this turns out to be a great jumping off point to Mummy Mountain’s Head area and the Northern Rim of Mummy Mountain’s Mid-section.

↓ Narrative Guide ↓

Narrative Guide | Mummy’s Forehead Lower Camp Stimpson Gully Exploration | Mt Charleston Wilderness, Nevada

Parking Lot to Camp Stimpson or Left Canyon Ridge

At the end of the parking area, the well graded unpaved Forest Road 078 continues upward. Within about 200 feet there is a split to the left. I did not take that road this time around, but stuck to the better graded right fork. I was on foot. The road continues to wind upward, definitely one of the best graded roads in all of the Spring Mountains. Just before it dips downward, you have a choice. You can head down, or leave the road and head up the ridge (no trails…just wilderness) to your left. In the future, I will choose the left ridge. Here’s why:

Camp Stimpson LDS Youth Camp

On this day, I continued on the excellent road. Shortly after dipping down, the road ends at the entrance to probably one of the most, if not the most elaborate, modern camps anywhere on the planet. It is Camp Stimpson, an LDS youth camp. I estimate the sleeping quarters, stadium and other facilities could accommodate hundreds of youth…at least 200. The camp is often active, which is why I would select the wilderness ridge beginning at the Deer Creek Catch Pen Trailhead instead so as not to disturb camp activities by being a stranger wandering through a youth camp!

However, on this day, I passed through the entrance arch and headed up a stairway on the left that ended in a platform and a trailhead. I took the trailhead, passing above the 1/4-1/2 mile long camp complex winding its way up the canyon.

Mid-Avalanche Slope Trail on Left Canyon Wall

The trail, obviously roughed out across an avalanche slope by a crew of volunteers with picks and shovels, continued skirting the mid-section of the left ridge of the canyon until it eventually landed just beyond and above the camp complex. As a note, on the return trip I took the top of the ridge, which it is best to summit about mid-way down the avalanche slope trail, after dipping down into a wash and re-ascending to the next ridge…this is a ridge you could use in order to avoid the camp complex.

Red Rock Stake Super Hero Girls Camp Trail

Okay, back at the place where I left off, above the summit of the camp complex. There are wilderness signs here and a very very faint, old, unused trail continuing up the right side of the canyon wash…you really have to be piecing this together through the forest using your best trail detective skills. There were still a few ribbons on trees marking the route, but don’t count on the ribbons or on following the trail. Use your best deductive reasoning to imagine where a trail should be, and you’ll stay on track.

Along the faint trail there are some curious 1-foot-high green markers. One says “Pine”…whatever that means. Another says, “Red Rock Stake Super Hero Girl’s Camp Trail“. That spiked my curiosity. I pictured a bunch of camp kids wearing superhero PJs and pretending to be super heroes. Wrong!!! When I did an internet search on the label, images of Olympic level athletic women appeared scaling sheer cliffs in the Red Rock area. Pretty amazing if the internet pictures refer to the, “Red Rock Stake Super Hero Girl’s Camp Trail” on the trail sign! Some of the images are on the slide show on this page.

Approach Ridge to Mummy’s Head

Eventually, after another 1/2 – 1 mile, you’ll see a slope on your right that looks like a welcoming enough ridge pointed toward Mummy’s Nose. Take this slope and welcome to the familiar Mummy Mountain. avalanche slope world between 9-11,000 feet on all sides of Mummy Mountain! This ridge continues upward, sometimes being a relentless avalanche slope, other times being a nice walking ridge. The views open up below and are increasingly spectacular. Bristlecone Pine trees begin to appear around 8,800ft and gradually take over. There is no exposure along the way. Lots of wildlife…deer, sounds of birds. A few very steep spots require scrambling on all fours, but only brief sections that are more annoying than dangerous.

Arrival at Mummy’s Head Cliffs, and Return Trip

Eventually you will be rewarded by reaching the base of the cliffs on the East side of Mummy’s Nose. Here you can rest, then retrace your way down the avalanche slope or skirt the base of the cliffs (I suggest to the right) in search of potential summit routes.

As you return down the avalanche slope, use the rather elaborate home on the ridge to the East as your point of reference. Realize that there are 2 ridges. Do not stay on the ridge that arrived at the base of the cliffs, but navigate to the next ridge to the East. That ridge will take you back to your point of origin. Just head straight toward the elaborate mountain home.