Parking stops with chewed ends
We climb an overgrown trail from Rock Creek Road.
Frank and Stella at the Rock Creek Pack Station
We continue climbing above Rock Creek.
Bill marches toward Pointless Peak.
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
Someone has constructed a bridge on a use trail.
Bill looks for an upstream route.
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
Frank and Stella follow below.
Bill and Stella continue on the faint use trail.
Half Moon Pass is at top center of photo. Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
Frank climbs slabs on the lower flank of Pointless Peak.
Rest time on the slopes below Pointless Peak
Bill climbs through stable talus leading to Half Moon Pass.
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
Bill looks for the easiest path to Half Moon Pass.
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
Bill on the rockpile below Half Moon Pass
Rock Creek Lake is in the background. Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
View east from Half Moon Pass
Frank and Stella find themselves on a loose pile of debris below Half Moon Pass.
Bill has spotted the route to Half Moon Pass and looks for the path with least down-climbing.
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
Stella makes her way across the loose slope.
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
Bill waits at the bottom of the Class 3 climb to Half Moon Pass.
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
Stella starts up the Class 3 climb to Half Moon Pass.
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
Frank starts up the Class 3 climb to Half Moon Pass.
Frank and Stella on the Class 3 climb to Half Moon Pass
A backpacker descends the Class 3 section.
Bill pauses on the Class 3 section.
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
Stella and Frank reach Half Moon Pass.
West of Half Moon Pass lies Golden Lake and smoky air.
Bill rests at Half Moon Pass while Stella looks for a place to sit.
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
Panorama at Half Moon Pass
One can see thick smoke blowing up Mono Creek drainage, beyond Golden Lake.
Stella and Bill sit atop the wall on the west side of Half Moon Pass.
I consider the descent down the western wall of Half Moon Pass. Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
Bill decides to venture down the west side of Half Moon Pass.
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
The wall on the west side is steep but not vertical.
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
Frank watches from above.
The rock has many hand and foot holds.
Bill climbs back up the west side of Half Moon Pass.
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
Bill reaches the top of the west approach to Half Moon Pass.
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
Bill leads the way down the east side of Half Moon Pass.
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
Bill starts down the steep use trail on the east side of Half Moon Pass.
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
Bill starts down the steep use trail on the east side of Half Moon Pass.
Rock Creek Lake is in the background. Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
Stella and Frank descend the talus from Half Moon Pass.
Stella and Bill descend slabs.
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
Bill and Stella start over easier terrain.
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
Bill looks for a way down that isn't too steep.
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
Stella arrives at easier terrain.
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
Stella rests next to some willow.
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
Frank and Stella decide they don't want to go my way.
So, we split up for the final mile of the hike.
I descend the Hilton Lakes Trail.
View of Mount Morgan and Little Lakes Valley.
We arrive at the car at the same time.
