USMM 142 Canyon

TRIP REPORT PHOTOS

The parking area to hike to this obscure major canyon is along Beatty Cutoff Road about 3 miles from the junction with Hwy 190:

The first thing we spotted upon looking over into the drainage was this old rusted truck which has been half-buried. The front seat area is now a flower planter:

This was the drainage filled with Superbloom wildflowers that we followed to the northeast:

Passing by a small pinnacle rising above the wash while staying to the right at junctions:

Eventually, we climbed out of the drainage and looked 3 1/2 air miles across the desert toward the mouth of the canyon we were targeting:

Zooming in a bit gave a better look at where we were headed:

There were two aim spots which we headed for (as noted on our maps). Most of the desert crossing took place on fairly easy terrain like this:

Looking back at Tucki Mountain and our parking area (located to the right of the small hill visible):

Sometimes the terrain was a little bit rougher, but it didn't get much worse than this:

Zooming in on the main ridgeline which we would be scrambling on later in the day. USMM 142 is located close to the high point on the right:

View to the south into central Death Valley:

Looking across to the Panamints and snow-covered Telescope Peak:

Corkscrew Peak was visible to the northwest:

Finally reaching a spot where the canyon mouth was clearly discernable:

Looking back, the small hillside which we parked next to was now just barely visible:

Two pictures which show the final section of fan hiking before we reached the canyon wash:

The next two pictures show beautiful Purple Mat wildflowers which we found along the fan:

Spotting a Pebble Pincushion wildflower:

Reaching the edge of the main canyon wash and looking over into a wide drainage channel:

Charlie spotted an interesting formation not far from the canyon mouth within the main wash:

It was a polished dry fall made of breccia rock, as seen in the next two pictures:

These were the slopes and hillsides above the wash on the left side:

At the canyon mouth, we found this natural wildflower garden off to the right which had a beautiful display of flowers:

Notch-leaf Phacelia and Rock Daisy wildflowers were growing side by side:

A closer look at the small Rock Daisies growing in the natural garden:

Desert Five-Spots were also abundantly growing in the natural garden:

First look into the canyon of what would later be informally known as USMM 142 Canyon:

A look back at the Cottonwood Mountains and northeastern tip of Tucki Mountain:

Zooming way in on the main ridgeline. Once again, USMM 142 is located at the top summit bump seen in this picture:

There was very easy hiking terrain to follow in the wash up the lower canyon:

The lower canyon's views were dominated by this massive block of rock located above the middle canyon:

USMM 142 Canyon makes for a great alternative to Indian Pass Canyon for backpackers who don't mind hauling gallons of water in:

These colorful slopes are located above a couple of minor side canyons:

Looking into a maze of small side canyons below the slopes:

The main canyon continues to the right and then wraps around toward the left:

A contrast of the colorful lower slopes with the darker canyon rock on the higher hillsides:

The main canyon wash remained wide and easy to navigate:

Dodder was covering this plant in the wash:

A canyon wall with odd shapes and designs covering it:

Two pictures showing invasive Tamarisk trees which we spotted near the junction with the main side canyon:

Past the Tamarisk trees, the main wash briefly narrowed down and provided some welcome shade:

The canyon was slowly curving around in a circle as it kept heading to the north:

Looking to the east, this was the main ridgeline leading up to USMM 142, located on the left side of the top right flat area (3,000 feet in elevation above where we were standing):

The canyon wash transitioned into sections of desert pavement:

There were several spots which had Brittlebush plants with yellow flowers at the base of minor dry falls. This is no doubt a perfect watering spot for the plants when it rains:

Charlie standing above a minor dry fall as the canyon narrowed down considerably:

There were some fun, easy climbing sections through the middle canyon:

Much like nearby Indian Pass Canyon, this canyon had narrow stretches with trenches and breccia rock covering the ground:

There was some very nice scenery through the middle canyon as we climbed through these sections:

The next two pictures show samples of the numerous small polished dry falls we kept climbing:

As we approached the upper canyon, the darker solid rock of the high walls and hillsides became more evident:

An enclosed narrow section where we were surrounded by solid rock on all sides:

Charlie being dwarfed by a massive block of rock on the left side canyon wall:

This was the spot where he was climbing up in the previous picture:

Although the area was fairly wide open through here, we had a very narrow wash to walk in:

More Brittlebush plants with flowers in full bloom:

Check out the beautiful polished rock of this minor dry fall:

Charlie posing in the distance as the canyon narrows down even more:

This is the dry fall which he was standing on:

This canyon probably has a magnificent flow of water down these dry cascades after rainy weather:

Charlie pressing on ahead as the canyon had fully turned toward the east:

Very colorful slopes were visible on the hillsides above the canyon once again:

The next three pictures showcase some samples of the alien-looking rock on dry falls we passed by:

The middle canyon became progressively steeper as we kept climbing minor dry falls:

Charlie at the top of yet another steep dry cascade:

This is a curious spot in the canyon where the main canyon turns left and what looks like a possible bypass route heads to the right:

View of the main canyon as it forks to the left and enters a slot-like area:

The 1st of two major dry falls soon becomes visible. This is a fairly easy climb:

Just beyond the 1st major dry fall is the 2nd major dry fall:

A Costa's hummingbird landed on a branch long enough for me to capture a good photograph:

The climbing through this area is definitely challenging and some hiking groups probably would call it quits back at the previous junction:

Heading back down the main canyon to look over the top of the 2nd major dry fall:

An intimidating view looking back down the slot-like area of the main canyon below the 2nd major dry fall:

Up ahead, the canyon continued to be passable so we kept hiking:

Charlie looking around at the deep gorge we were entering. He mentioned around this time that he expected the canyon to be impassable shortly:

It looked like another major dry fall was waiting for us in the distance:

Sure enough, we walked up to the 3rd major dry fall, which didn't look passable from a distance:

But a closer look revealed that it was sloped just enough to allow us to climb up it in sections:

One more angle showing the 3rd major dry fall of the canyon:

Looking back down from the top, you can see that it was quite high, perhaps 75 feet in height:

Above the 3rd major dry fall, we walked into a completely enclosed area:

Directly in front of us was the clearly evident 4th major dry fall, about 100 feet in height:

High up on the canyon wall, we spotted this raven's nest:

The only picture of me in USMM 142 Canyon was taken at the base of the 4th major dry fall:

Looking to the right of the 4th major dry fall, I spotted a potential very challenging bypass route. While we used this bypass successfullly, I can't recommend it as it got progressively scarier the higher we got:

The main wash in between the dry falls was covered by Desert holly and Brittlebush plants:

What we didn't realize until later was that there are actually two major dry falls which pour over into this enclosed area. But the only dry fall we could clearly see at the time was this one:

Upon completing the challenging bypass, we had a view looking back down from above the canyon rim:

Looking back across the canyon to the other side from the rim trail revealed a second hidden canyon which pours over into the area below. You can see the pour-over spot in this picture:

Having successfully bypassed the 4th major dry fall, we could have dropped back into the upper canyon here. But we chose not to:

This view shows the sheep rim trail above the upper canyon and the top of the 4th major dry fall where it pours over:

The hidden canyon is completely obscured from view because the rock all blends together. But it is very obvious on satellite imagery:

We decided to climb up and attain the main ridgeline above the canyon. This was the scrambling route up:

High above the canyon now with a view over the northern ridgeline:

The upper canyon heads way off into the distance. It appeared as if we had already seen the best parts of the canyon, but who knows what we really missed:

The hidden canyon is a little bit more discernable in this picture if you look closely:

Boundary BM is slightly out of view but would be located on the very left side of this picture:

Zooming in on the canyon head and multiple forks which divide out of the main wash:

Finally reaching the main ridgeline above the canyon. This view shows what the climb up to USMM 142 and the mining prospects would be like:

View in the opposite direction looking down from an elevation of 3,300 feet:

There's nothing quite like a great view of Tucki Mountain and the Trellis Canyon fan:

The Cottonwood Mountains and Mesquite Flat, as seen looking to the west:

Zooming in on the Mesquite Sand Dunes from this very unique angle:

Charlie beginning the challenging descent down the ridgeline:

Looking back up the ridgeline from time to time to see what challenges would await somebody attempting this in the opposite direction:

This was the towering hillside which rose up above the main side canyon to the east:

In the next two pictures, you can see Charlie navigating through two tricky areas to stay on the proper ridge:

Looking back once again and wondering how we made it down the area behind us:

A clearly-defined trail became visible which Charlie identified as an old mining trail:

In this photo of the main side canyon, you can see a major dry fall at the bottom center:

One final picture as we scrambled down the ridge, hiked back down canyon, and returned to our vehicle after an epic day of hiking in a forgotten part of the Funeral Mountains: