I've lived in Leadville Co for about 14 years. Having some firsthand knowledge about the Halfmoon Gulch area and the layout, I wonder about possible JJ and BCassidy myths/rumors/tall tales. Ive actually been way up there camping, and discovered i was being spied/watched/observed, whilst camping overnight with a small campfire, by an anonymous person in black military fatigues! Needless to say that freaked us out and we split! I've become fascinated by Colorado's lost treasure stories in the recent years, and discovering that Halfmoon Gulch may hold some possible finds. There's tons of area to cover up in there, on the Elbert, and Massive side. I pan recreationally, and can tell ya, even the litter in the easily reached areas has antique value! Lol, vintage logo gas cans and old glass bottles, for starters. If you have the inclination to head on up there, most years you won't get full snowmelt till June. Currently, May 29, 2013, you can't access the upper areas. Soon though. Make absolutely sure you are completely prepared! (possible overnight) If you have a high clearance 4x4 or atv/utv, you may be able to cross the half moon creek at the first crossing. Its a moderately challenging jeep road crossing way up the gulch, if you get there early. VERY IMPORTANT: creek will be crossable early in the day, but rises later in the day as snow melt and subsurface ice melt. By the afternoon at full runoff, the creek becomes uncrossable with almost any vehicle. Many an unplanned overnight trip has occurred this way. Overnight the runoff slows down and half moon creek is crossable again in the morning. I live within a few miles of HMG, and would recommend OHV's for this area. The local law enforcement is pretty tolerant of OHV use on county roads, just stay off the highway.