Independence Peak 9/28/15

[peaksandpotatoes]

This past weekend, M and I did Mount Gould and Independence Peak out of Onion Valley campgrounds.

For Independence, we started off on the steep Robinson Lake Trail out of Onion Valley’s campsite #8. The aspen were just glowing. It's a short hike, only about 4 miles round trip, but the sand slog will be very very slow. Little bit of class 3 at the end.



We left the trail and began the sand slog around a mile in at an inconspicuous spot. However, once you start walking up, you’ll see that there are lots of use-trails. Very soon, we were out of the trees and faced with this little field of talus.



The talus ended too quickly and we began a very slow and sandy slog. Everything is loose, so be careful not to bash your partner with a flying rock. M stayed right and I stayed left. Pretty soon I gave up staying left, and joined M on the right where the rocks were a tiny bit more sturdy.





Eventually we were greeted by this view:



The boulders on the right of this little 'cirque' will lead you up to the ridge. Follow use-trails down from the ridge a bit and then go back up the class 3 summit block from the back side.

View of University Peak and Robinson Lake from the summit:

[giantbrookie]

Nice report and photos (including the little splash of fall color). I really like the University Peak photo. You also did a vastly better job of route finding than I did when I climbed this peak 43 years ago. Back then we didn't have much info to go on other than the existing guidebook that stated there were class 3 options toward the top. I ended up aiming way too far north and having to finish the thing from north of the summit. This led to a physically easy but airy traverse on this little ledge for which I asked for and got a belay from my dad. The descent went more smoothly along route similar to the one you picked out.

[peaksandpotatoes]

Yes, I've heard of people going up from the north and climbing some class 4 (and 5?) to get there. I heard it minimizes the sand slog. Yes, us newbie peakbaggers are so spoiled! GPS tracks, online reports... all of that. I think it sort of clouds the spirit of the endeavor sometimes.