The 1st narrows of Tunnel Bridge Canyon start very close to the mouth of the canyon:
When a canyon starts out immediately with a good set of narrows, you know its going to be a great place:
Sunlight and shadows as we round an early bend:
The canyon wash winds its way back and forth through the narrows:
Charlie stopping for a picture in the middle of the 1st narrows:
The walls started growing higher the farther we got into the narrows:
It was easy to lose sight of Charlie hiking through here because there weren't a lot of straight sections:
Charlie standing at the top of the 1st dry fall of the canyon. This was a relatively simple climb, but there are also options for bypassing prior to entering the 1st narrows:
Charlie took this picture of Steve while he was looking back down through the narrows:
A massive chockstone is blocking exit from the 1st narrows:
Charlie up and over the massive wedged boulder with ease:
The next two pictures were taken looking back down different portions of the 1st Narrows:
This giant wall of dried and textured mud-like conglomerate rock was fascinating to look at:
After the first set of narrows, the canyon opens up again for a little while:
Passing by some majestic rock pillars up on the canyon wall:
Check out the different layers of rock on display here:
A landslide of rocks and boulders which has poured out into the canyon wash:
The 2nd dry fall of Tunnel Bridge Canyon is also relatively easy to climb:
Looking back down the narrow stretch of canyon from above the 2nd dry fall:
Another view of the 2nd dry fall which we just climbed:
The next two pictures show a very large pinnacle or spire that we walked by:
Getting close to the mid-canyon point now with more Grapevine minor peaks in the distance:
This stretch of canyon had a lot of small rock steps in the wash, as shown in the next two pictures:
Notice the interesting design of the rock walls or shelves that we were walking by:
A massive overhang sticking out into the middle of the canyon:
We rounded a bend and were absolutely stunned to be looking through a large unexpected natural bridge. Sometimes it pays off to explore new places, instead of just following where others tell you to go:
As we got closer we could see that this was a lengthy natural bridge:
Now inside the tunnel-like natural bridge, this picture is taken looking back out the entrance:
Steve inside of Tunnel Bridge. It was truly an honor to come across this beautiful natural wonder along with Charlie:
Looking up at the ceiling of one portion of Tunnel Bridge:
Looking back through Tunnel Bridge from close to the end of it:
This picture of Charlie shows you how tall the natural bridge is:
One final picture looking through Tunnel Bridge, which is an estimated 100 feet long, before moving on in the canyon:
Up ahead it looked like we were heading into a gorge area. We didn't know how much farther we would be able to get in the canyon:
Sure enough, we soon ran into the 3rd dry fall of the canyon. This one we bypassed on the right side, although it wasn't totally easy. We had to friction climb a smaller fall in order to make it. This is a good spot for hikers to turn around and head back down the canyon:
Once we bypassed it, we hiked back around and took this picture looking over the dry fall and back down canyon:
Looking straight down the 3rd dry fall, which was about 15 feet tall:
Now officially entering the gorge portion of the hike, which we had seen from a distance earlier:
What a thrilling moment it was to make another huge discovery a little while later. Steve standing next to White Slickenside:
Looking up at a portion of the slickenside. Charlie informed me that we had just discovered what may be the largest slickenside ever found in Death Valley:
The beautiful white color is another aspect that makes this slickenside stand out from the others:
Up ahead we would have to climb the 4th dry fall of the canyon. Things certainly were not getting any easier:
Charlie found a route up and around the dry fall which only involved minor climbing:
From where he was standing in the picture above, Charlie took this picture of Steve standing next to White Slickenside:
Two pictures taken looking back down the canyon while climbing the 4th dry fall:
Looking straight down the 4th dry fall at the canyon wash below:
An awesome view of the majestic and unforgettable White Slickenside:
The white rock of the slickenside extends over and above the dry fall for a short distance:
One final wide view of White Slickenside before continuing on this historic journey:
A close-up of the polished white rock. This is where the geology started getting very interesting:
This rock has a very mixed composition, as you can see:
Check out the crystal-like formations growing out of the rock on the canyon wall:
Some very unique and alien shapes along the canyon wall:
The narrows in the gorge area were pretty to an extreme degree:
Walking through places like this makes you wish that a hike could never end:
Two more amazing pictures while passing through this area:
Taking a picture looking farther up canyon while standing under another huge overhang:
Overhanging rocks and walls were a common sight in Tunnel Bridge Canyon:
More interesting rock formations, this time with unique shades of pink:
Twin 18 foot dry falls suddenly blocked further progress in the canyon. This is pretty much the end for all advanced hikers who have made it this far:
This was the dry fall on the right side. Nope, absolutely no way to climb up this one:
And this was the dry fall on the left side. There were virtually no hand holds or foot holds and it was 18 feet tall. Officially, this was the 5th dry fall of the canyon:
With a hand from Charlie, I managed to get up this nearly vertical 18 foot dry fall. Later in the day, when it was time to get back down, I wished that I hadn't. It was a good lesson to never try to climb up something that will end up being scary to go back down:
Continuing up canyon, the narrows continued to be quite interesting:
Charlie heading up the canyon as he passes under an overhang:
We soon encountered the 6th major dry fall of the canyon:
Zooming in on the beautiful rock surrounding the 6th dry fall in the next two pictures:
One more picture highlighting the beauty of the 6th dry fall:
Charlie managed to climb up this dry fall but I didn't want to push things any more so I stayed behind:
While Charlie was checking out the canyon above the dry fall, I headed back down in between the 5th and 6th dry falls to document the canyon better:
The next two pictures were taken at a pretty spot in these narrows:
After that, I surprised myself by actually finding a fairly easy way to bypass the 6th dry fall. This picture shows the view a short distance past the dry fall:
Up ahead, we were stunned to see a massive 75 foot dry fall:
This 75 foot dry fall is the 7th major dry fall of Tunnel Bridge Canyon and is impassable to everyone. In order to get into the upper canyon above this, a major bypass from way down canyon is necessary:
Charlie at the base of the 75 foot dry fall which put an end to our hike:
Time to head back down canyon, and with it a lot of uncomfortable down climbing. I definitely don't recommend trying to climb the 5th major dry fall or any other ones that might make someone uncomfortable:
Pausing to say goodbye to Tunnel Bridge:
