Airplane Gully

Above Big Falls Route Up

1. Starting from the Mary Jane Falls trailhead, head toward Mary Jane Falls.
2. When you get to the part of the trail that turns right and starts the switchbacks up to Mary Jane Falls, continue to the left until you get to the gully.
3. Follow the gully up to the left. There are several routes, just find whatever appeals to you.
4. You will eventually get to a spot where there is a big log up dry or wet, depending on the season, waterfall. You can use the rope or ladder to go up or just prior to this there is a trail that goes up the hill to the left and bypasses this altogether.
5. Just past the log you will move over to the right side of the wash and continue until you reach Big Falls.
6. Once at Big Falls you need to climb up to the left and that's the start of the scramble portion to get to the area above Big Falls.
7. There are several cairned routes, pick the one that appeals to you most.
8. Once at the top you will get to a small creek that flows from the meadow down into the slot that feeds Big Falls. Cross to the other side of that slot and go up and to the right.
9. From here it's fairly complicated but the general idea is that you need to get to the "campsite" and from there go up to the right. That will take you to a ridge line and follow that up and to the left. This will get you to the ice cave gully. Go up that and pick where you want to climb the far side of the gully to get to the top of that ridge.
10. Take that up and to the left until you get to the gully where the airplane parts are at. This area was hit by an avalanche some years back so you will see the tops of the trees broken off. Just keep going up.
11. You will eventually get to a wall that you need to go left up a chute with lots of loose rocks. Once to the top of that, continue up to the right.
12. Eventually you will get to a ledge that has the nose wheel. That's the start. Continue up the chute until you get to a wall. Turn left and follow that wall over to the other side. You will see a large rock leaning against the main wall making a bit of a rabbit hole. Walk through or around to get to the next chute. Go up and then right.
13. There are several routes here but generally go right before you go up. Eventually you will see the south ridge above you. This part is just plain yuck. It's loose and steep and you have a ways to go. Once to the ridge though you can take that the rest of the way to Charleston peak.

Express Route Down

1. Start down the North Loop like you are headed to Trail Canyon. As soon as you are done with the switchbacks from the peak, look for a small tree where the trunk crosses the trail. Just past that is the beginning of a ridgeline down. If you look carefully, you will see some cairns.
2. The long and short of this decent is you need to follow the ridge line down and to the right. Eventually you will get to a gully that feeds above the Big Falls. Follow that down and that will lead you to rigt above Big Falls. Follow that back to the little creek in the meadow above Big Falls. You have completed the loop at this point and you can retrace your setps back to the trailhead.
3. This decent route has lots of loose rocks so be very careful when in a group that you don't send a rock down on top of someone. This goes for the whole route but especially on the route down.