A Hike to the Chinese Wall in the Bob Marshall Wilderness
Part 3 - Larch Hill to Headquarters Pass
Part 1 - Benchmark to Prairie Reef
Part 2 - The Chinese Wall

Part 4 - The South End of the Chinese Wall near Red Butte
Part 5 - The North End of the Chinese Wall near Larch Hill Pass
Part 6 - The Chinese Wall near Cliff Mountain
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Monday September 29
The morning was again clear and cold so I quickly dressed and headed back to the summit of Larch Hill. The same lighting problem of the previous day occurred but I still managed to get some good pics. The best ones seem to be of a little pond called My Lake which was tucked beneath Larch Hill down in the forest. The early morning sun lit up the golden larches around the lake and made for some good pics.
The north end of the Chinese Wall from the summit of Larch Hill.
Looking north from Larch Hill I could see the nearby Ibex Mountain. At least I think that is what it is. Far beyond, over 65 miles away, were many of the high peaks of Glacier National Park including (right to left) flat topped Mount Stimson, Mount St. Nicholas, and Mount Jackson. I was amazed at how clear the air was that morning.
Miles and miles of the Chinese Wall from Larch Hill Pass.
Below Larch Hill down in the forest was a little pond called My Lake. The early morning sun lit up the golden larches around the lake.
I finally headed back to camp, had breakfast and packed up. The warm sun felt great.

By the time I left camp though it was almost 10:30. A pretty late start considering that I had somewhere around 13-14 miles to cover that day.
Fortunately many of those miles were downhill and the trail from Larch Hill, past Spotted Bear Pass and down Rock Creek was in excellent shape.

By early evening I was at Gates Park, a huge area of grasslands and marshes in the valley of the North Fork of the Sun River.

After setting up camp I enjoyed dinner to the accompaniment of bugling elk. Twilight crept over the valley, darkness descended and the elk kept bugling.

My last morning was the coldest. Water bottles were full of ice and the tent was covered in heavy frost. I arose in the dark and had breakfast as the sun began to warm the peaks. By the time I left camp it was already gettng too warm for my jacket.

The trail up Headquarters Creek was in great shape but there was no shade. The sun was rising as was the temperature . Before long it was well up in the 80s under a crystal blue sky.

Soon I was in the high alpine basin below the pass. I got my first look at Rocky Mountain, the highest peak on the Rocky Mountain Front.
By 2:00 PM I was in the high basin west of Headquarters Pass. The trail lead up through the basin and climbed into a saddle west of Rocky Mountain before heading straight for the pass.
I walked the last of the "eyebrow" trail carved out of the cliff and reached the pass. For the first time in almost A week I could see familiar mountains. "Ah the home range," I exclaimed to no one but myself. Three more miles to go. Part way down from Headquarters Pass is a delightful clear spring pool. I stopped there for more water and a snack. Less than an hour later I was at the trail head loading my pack into the truck.

It was a very enjoyable 6 days through mostly new (to me) country. I'm already planning for a return trip next year.