I made two trips to 10,500' Robinson Lake from Onion Valley. The first one on February 1, 1976 was a day hike. There was some snow on the trail - lake frozen - a number of campsites around lake.
The second trip was a 5 mile round trip backpack on May 2-3, 1981 with Jim White, Gil Beilke and Jim Bloome.
Jim Bloome and Gil Beilke came up from San Diego Friday night and we picked up Jim White in Independence about 7:30 a.m. Saturday and hit the trail at Onion Valley about 8:30 or so. The north facing slopes to Robinson Lake were almost solid snow which was very firm and good footing once we got past the lower portion.
We arrived at frozen Robinson Lake about noon and after setting up camp and lunch Gil and Jim Bloome headed up the ridge to the south while Don and Jim White headed up the slopes toward University Pass/Peak. It was quite windy with blowing snow. We got up to a good view point of the Pass route.
We tried glissading down but the snow was mostly too soft. Back at camp we met Gil and Jim Bloome who had just returned. Our tent had blown down - sun had melted (softened) snow and the stakes came out. After putting everything back together we had super and idle conversation.
The next morning Jim White and I did a little glissading on nearby slopes which were now very hard and fast. Gil and Jim Bloome headed down to Onion Valley to go on a day hike up to Gilbert Lake which Jim Bloome had never been to. Jim White and I soon headed down doing some glissading on the steeper slopes, arriving at Onion Valley about noon. Gil and Jim Bloome soon returned and after lunch we headed home.
Route map to Robinson Lake and explored area 1976
