TRIP REPORT PHOTOS
From our parking area at the junction of East Minietta Road and East Side Panamint Valley Road, the edge of the Panamints looks quite far away:
It was about a 3 mile hike up to the bottom of the closest ridge on uncomfortable rocky terrain:
In the distance from this spot, we could see a large concentration of unusual plant growth:
We were stunned to walk into a vast cactus garden spread out over a large area:
These were cholla cacti, but completely different than the small Silver Cholla we were used to seeing on Death Valley hikes through the past couple of decades:
Notice how thick and vibrant these cholla cactus plants were:
This cholla cactus, like many others, split off from the trunk into large branches:
In comparing the great height of the larger chollas in the area, we realized many were 5-7 feet tall (and we would find some 8-9 feet tall the next day in a nearby area):
After considering everything and experiencing the painful stings of a cholla "jumping" onto his leg, Charlie informed us that these were likely Teddy Bear Chollas:
A picture of Charlie next to our newly discovered isolated garden of Teddy Bear Chollas:
The Teddy Bear Chollas stretched on for as far as the eye could see:
In this picture of me with the Teddy Bear Chollas, notice how the trunks and lower stems have darkened with age. This is normal and these plants are healthy, as evidenced from the greenery at the top:
Two more pictures of Steve with the Teddy Bear Chollas:
Check out how thick this cholla is with spines and needles:
Take note of the great height of the chollas seen in the next two pictures:
A close-up of the seemingly soft and fuzzy Teddy Bear Cholla spines and stems:
Looking a little closer, it is clear that the spines are sharp and painful. Charlie found that out the hard way on this day, and Tobin and I found out the same thing on the following day:
Once we had spent an hour documenting the Teddy Bear Chollas, we headed into the mouth of the canyon:
Panoramic showing the major junction near the beginning of Teddy Bear Canyon (click to enlarge):
We took the left fork (north fork) first and continued hiking uphill:
We were expecting to find this pinnacle a short distance up the canyon after noticing it on satellite imagery:
Since it was so impressive as seen from the high side, we labeled this as Teddy Bear Pinnacle on the map:
One of the canyon highlights truly was seeing the variety of designs on the fluted conglomerate rock cliffs:
The hiking in the canyon was quite steep most of the way:
Two tall rock pillars that we spotted while hiking:
Beautiful cliffs and ridges on display in the north fork of what was now known as Teddy Bear Canyon:
There continued to be sculpted cliffs created by erosion, wind, and water:
Another rock-topped pillar standing above the canyon:
Dripping mud can be found here, much as it can be seen in many of the conglomerate rock canyons:
A stunning double dry fall on the right side of the canyon wall:
On my route map, I have labeled the four major side slots as Teddy Bear Slots 1-4. This is the entrance to Teddy Bear Slot 1:
After going through an initial short passage of narrows, the true beginning to TB Slot 1 is just ahead:
Notice the sheer height of the walls surrounding TB Slot 1 and also the different type of rock:
A few small boulders must be climbed in order to get into TB Slot 1:
The slot is impressive right from the beginning, with great height and tight narrows:
Early on, the slot branches off into two forks. Charlie is seen here looking into the shorter left fork:
The left fork absolutely dwarfs a hiker walking through:
Sadly, the left fork comes to a quick end at a titanic dry fall:
The right fork of TB Slot 1 starts out with this false natural bridge which is actually a massive broken-off overhanging rock slab:
The coloring of the walls and lighting through the right fork of TB Slot 1 was fantastic:
Also, the way that the walls curved added to the beauty. We were truly immersed in a world of slot narrows:
An impressive passage to walk through that is reminiscent of the best slot sections of Sidewinder Canyon:
Looking straight up and out of the slot to appreciate how massive the walls were:
TB Slot 1 ends at this dry fall which cannot be climbed:
Another view looking up. Note the huge crack in the wall:
The huge crack in the wall extends quite far down toward the wash:
Passing through more sections of beautiful narrows:
Steve looking up in awe at the very impressive walls of TB Slot 1:
Charlie and Steve back near the junction of the two forks of TB Slot 1:
Outside of TB Slot 1, we took note of this large leaning boulder on the hillside:
As the day began heating up, we continued up canyon. Notice here how the guys are hiking in the shade of the undercut:
The terrain through the middle canyon became even more steep:
There were shallow narrows without a lot of interesting formations:
But then we arrived at the entrance to Teddy Bear Slots 2 & 3:
The entrance to these slots was tight and impressive by itself:
In this picture, you can faintly make out the two forks in the slot. TB Slot 2 turns to the left and TB Slot 3 continues ahead and to the right:
We first turned off and checked out TB Slot 2. What an awesome start:
Finding a second amazing slot proved that there were some great secrets hiding in the Nova Canyon area, which most all hikers had ignored before us:
Steve enclosed in the tight walls of TB Slot 2:
TB Slot 2 was mostly straight for a long distance:
The next two pictures capture the great height of the walls in TB Slot 2:
We seemed to catch the lighting just right in this slot to make for some nice pictures:
Another picture of Steve looking tiny in comparison to the walls of the slot:
This picture nicely sums up TB Slot 2. A masterpiece of high, tight, undocumented narrows:
The upper portion of TB Slot 2 became quite steep and filled with small boulders:
More nice scenery could be found in the upper portion:
After we had seen the best of TB Slot 2, we turned around and headed back to the junction:
We then started hiking up TB Slot 3 to see what was there:
TB Slot 3 had a different character, as it had steep twists and turns rather than one main long corridor:
The height of the walls in TB Slot 3 was impressive just like the first two slots:
It doesn't get much prettier than this in slot canyons anywhere:
Check out how narrow and long this section of TB Slot 3 was:
Simply amazing lighting as there is a blend of darkness and light within the slot:
One of the many sharp turns contained within the slot:
This unique angle showcases a very steep and sharp turn in the canyon:
Looking up and out of the slot. As in all slot canyons, this is not a good location to be standing during an earthquake:
Looking back at a very enclosed section of tight walls in the next two pictures:
Up ahead, TB Slot 3 became steeper and sunshine filtered into the canyon:
The height of the walls dropped and the canyon opened up slightly:
Looking back down TB Slot 3 from the upper section:
We decided to stop progress at this large wedged boulder and turn around:
Scattered throughout TB Slot 3 were the feathers of a Red-shafted Northern Flicker:
Once back in the main canyon, we continued hiking up the wash while staying to the right at any junctions:
The last section of neat scenery in the north fork of Teddy Bear Canyon contained more fluted cliffs:
Looking back at the fluted cliffs while continuing up canyon:
The upper portion of the northern fork was open and uninteresting with the exception of this view back toward Panamint Valley:
Panoramic of the south fork of Teddy Bear Canyon taken from our high point on the ridge (click to enlarge):
From the ridge, we had this impressive view of a snowy Telescope Peak:
Looking down the other side from the top of our crossover point at a group of formidable hillsides and sharp ridges:
Full view into Panamint Valley from our crossover point:
We decided to take this ridgeline down from the top. I continued straight ahead, while Tobin and Charlie turned off to the right. We didn't know if either of our routes would make it down:
Charlie and Tobin turning off and testing out their route down. Notice they didn't get too close to the edge:
Looking into the lower portions of the south fork of Teddy Bear Canyon from the ridgeline I was hiking down:
This was the view into the upper portion of the canyon:
Off in the distance, I zoomed in on a colorful red section of the upper canyon. Time didn't permit us to check this out in person, but it looks interesting on satellite imagery:
As I got most of the way down my ridgeline, the steep terrain across the way captured my attention:
Without too much trouble, all of us found our way down into the wash of the south fork of Teddy Bear Canyon:
The south fork was less spectacular than the north fork, but still had some impressive high walls:
Teddy Bear Slot 4 was located here, with the entrance visible in this picture:
TB Slot 4 had more of the nice coloring on the walls as seen in the other slots:
TB Slot 4 is definitely the highlight of a hike through the south fork of Teddy Bear Canyon:
This is such an isolated spot in the Panamint Mountains that it is possible nobody has ever hiked through this slot before, especially in recent times:
Much like TB Slot 2, TB Slot 4 also had a long straight section in the middle:
The next three pictures showcase the high walls and small boulders within the walls of TB Slot 4:
TB Slot 4 comes to an end at this curved dry fall:
A picture of Steve and Charlie showing off the length and beauty of TB Slot 4:
With that, our exploration of the Teddy Bear Canyon slots had come to an end and we began hiking down towards the canyon mouth:
There were some wide open sections of canyon, but the walls and background scenery kept things interesting:
Near this area of high cliffs, we checked out another potential slot which did not pan out. But we did get to enjoy the sight of an owl taking flight out of the small side canyon which cuts to the left:
This colorful rock beacon stood tall above the lower canyon:
Final stretch of canyon before reaching the junction and then the mouth:
Upon exiting the canyon, we spent a little bit more time checking out the newly discovered Teddy Bear Chollas:
A couple of months later, a park botanist was studying the Teddy Bear Chollas and took the next two pictures of one of them in bloom:
This is the end of Part 2 of our Nova Canyon area exploration. To continue on and read Part 3, check out the trip report for The Nova Slots:
