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Mt Huntingon loop (Jun 2025)

This backcountry loop with James was nice, with relatively short and easy distances per day, great scenery, and two challenging cross-country sections. We started with a mellow afternoon hike from Rock Creek Road to Hilton Lakes and camped at Lake #3 at 10,300ft (3140m). Next morning we followed the drainage north of Mt Huntington to Huntington Col. Due to steep snowfields in the gully under the col we stuck to the blocky rocks to the right of the low point and scrambled to the top (class 2-3) at ca 11,800ft and descended the easy scree on the west side to the eastern lakes of Pioneer Basin. An easy stroll brought us to the main Lake at 10,862ft where we camped. After a cold and windy night, we strolled down the trail to Fourth Recess Lake for our next camp (10,132ft). In the afternoon we hiked up to Mono Rock, never made it to its rocky top, but enjoyed great views down into Third and Fourth Recess. On the last day we followed the trail to Golden Lake, then over Halfmoon Pass (11,480ft, Class 3) back to our car. Diese Rundwanderung mit James war schön, mit relativ kurzen und einfachen Tagesdistanzen, großartiger Landschaft und zwei anspruchsvollen weglosen Abschnitten. Wir begannen mit einer gemütlichen Nachmittagswanderung von Rock Creek Road zu den Hilton Lakes und schlugen unser Lager an See #3 auf 3.140m auf. Am nächsten Morgen folgten wir dem Abfluss nördlich des Mount Huntington zum Huntington Col. Wegen der steilen Schneefelder in der Rinne unter dem Col blieben wir an den blockigen Felsen rechts vom tiefsten Punkt zur Scharte (I-II) auf ca. 3600m und stiegen über das einfache Geröll auf der Westseite zu den östlichen Seen des Pioneer Basin ab. Eine gemütliche Wanderung brachte uns zum größten See der Basin auf 3310m, wo wir unser Lager aufschlugen. Nach einer kalten und windigen Nacht wanderten wir gemütlich den Weg hinunter zum Fourth Recess Lake zu unserem nächsten Lager (3090m). Am Nachmittag wanderten wir zum Mono Rock hinauf. Wir erreichten zwar nicht den felsigen Gipfel genossen aber die herrliche Aussicht auf die Third und Fourth Recess. Am letzten Tag folgten wir dem Weg zum Golden Lake und dann über den Halfmoon Pass (3500m, I-II) zurück zu unserem Auto.
Looking back at the trailhead and Little Lakes Valley
Looking back at the trailhead and Little Lakes Valley		 Mt Huntington from Hilton Lake #3
Mt Huntington from Hilton Lake #3		 Evening at Hilton Lake #3
Evening at Hilton Lake #3		 Morning in camp
Morning in camp		 Crossing the outlet of Hilton Lake #4
Crossing the outlet of Hilton Lake #4
Above Hilton Lake #4
Above Hilton Lake #4		 First view of Huntington Col
First view of Huntington Col		 Approaching Huntington Col
Approaching Huntington Col		 Pioneer Basin while descending from Huntington Col
Pioneer Basin while descending from Huntington Col		 Afternoon at Lake 10862ft in Pioneer Basin
Afternoon at Lake 10862ft in Pioneer Basin
Wind protected camp
Wind protected camp		 Last light on the Recesses and Mt Abbot
Last light on the Recesses and Mt Abbot		 Morning Frost
Morning Frost		 Fourth Recess Lake
Fourth Recess Lake		 High above Fouth Recess near Mono Rock
High above Fouth Recess near Mono Rock
Hiking along Golden Creek looking down Mono Creek Valley
Hiking along Golden Creek looking down Mono Creek Valley		 Golden Lake and Halfmoon Pass
Golden Lake and Halfmoon Pass		 At Golden Lake
At Golden Lake		 Approaching Halfmoon Pass
Approaching Halfmoon Pass		 Looking back from Halfmoon Pass
Looking back from Halfmoon Pass

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