On April 25-26, 1981 Jim White and I backpacked on a five mile round trip to Bench Lake out of Onion Valley in the John Muir Wilderness.
We left Independence around 8 a.m. and drove to Onion Valley where we hit the trail about 9 a.m. In about half a mile or so we hit snow but it was pretty firm and got better as we climbed toward Gilbert Lake. Gilbert was frozen solid as we climbed the ridge on the south. Met another party who were camped at Gilbert as we neared Bench Lake on the ridge overlooking Matlock Lake.
We made camp at Bench Lake which was frozen and snow covered. It was windy and cool. As evening set in the weather got wilder with drifting clouds and high gusty winds. The tent really got a test for wind worthiness as the heavy gusts alternated directions all night.
In the morning the weather was still cold and windy and it looked like it might snow so we packed up after a leisurely breakfast and headed down the slope to Flower Lake and across it and down and across Gilbert Lake and back to the car about noon or so.
Bench Lake via Onion Valley 1981
