Independence Peak (11,742 feet) - 8/9/03
University Peak (13,589 feet) - 8/10/03

8/9/03

Climbed Independence Peak from the standard approach below Robinson Lake.  I wasn't
exactly sure where to ascend so I went up to Robinson Lake and then backtracked a short
distance until I could get around the slab that is just East of Robinson Lake.  I arrived
at the ridge to the South of Independence Peak and due East of Robinson Lake.  At this
point I then worked my way North along the ridge staying as high as possible until just
shy of the summit.  At this point I dropped down a bit to the East side and then climbed up
to the summit.

To descend I took the first obvious chute to the South.  It was clear from footprints 
that others have used this chute.  This route had a lot more sand than where I went up
which made descending pretty easy.  I'm glad I didn't ascend this spot though.  
This route can be identified by the slightly redish dirt/sand that doesn't appear anywhere 
else on the mountain.  Note that there is one spot closer to the bottom where the sand gives way
to some steeper rock.  There's a lot of sand that has fallen down onto the rock in
this section which makes it slippery and a bit hazardous.  Be careful!  Other than that, my
descent was pretty quick.  

8/10/03

Climbed University Peak via the class 3 North Face.  This is definitely the BEST
route.  Forget those class 2 routes with endless sand!  Don't be intimidated by
the North Face.  It's mostly class 2 and there's never really any exposure.  It's
easier than it looks.  The class 3 parts are all easy class 3.  There's a lot 
less sand and loose stuff than the class 2 approaches.  The key is to stay on the
the rib all the way up until the rib ends just shy of the summit.

Wondering what University Shoulder was like I decided to descend that way to the 
Kearsarge Lakes.  I'll never do that again.  I thought University Pass was bad.  
This was worse.  This was a descent into hell.  I descended from University Shoulder in what can 
only be called a controlled landslide.  Lots of sand and loose stuff and plenty 
of opportunites to slip and fall.  If you're lucky you'll fall on your butt.  If
you're not you can slide over a rock and really get scraped up or worse.  After that you 
enter the moraine.  Navigating
through this boulder strewn mess is much more difficult than it appears from
above.  And it's huge!  I didn't think I was ever gonna get out of there.  And
after all that I still had to climb back up and over Kearsarge Pass.  I was hoping
to hit Rixford and Gould peaks in the same day, but descending University Shoulder
slowed me down and drained my strength.  Although I still had 5 hours of daylight
left I opted to do those another day.

Notes:

Trail to Robinson Lake begins at campsite #8.

Independence Peak Log:

10:29am - Left Trailhead
11:22am - Reached Robinson Lake
01:13pm - Reached Summit
01:40pm - Left Summit
03:05pm - Arrived back at Trailhead

University Peak Log:

06:43am - Left Trailhead
07:49am - Reached Matlock Lake
08:12am - Reached Bench Lake
08:38am - Reached Lake 11,410
10:59am - Reached University Peak Summit
11:22am - Left Summit
12:14pm - Reached University Shoulder
01:14pm - Reached Upper Kearsarge Lake
03:10pm - Reached Kearsarge Pass
05:08pm - Arrived Back at Trailhead

Time from Trailhead to Independence Peak Summit (including break for lunch): 2 hrs 16 mins
Total Time from Trailhead to Trailhead: 4 hrs 36 mins

Time from Trailhead to University Peak Summit: 4 hrs 16 mins
Time from University Peak Summit back to Trailhead (via Kearsarge Lakes): 5 hrs 52 mins
Total Time from Trailhead to Trailhead: 10 hrs 25 mins

Driving Time:

Time from Independence to Onion Valley: 20-25 mins
Time from Onion Valley to Bakersfield: 3 hrs (2.5 from Bak to Lone Pine)
Time from Lone Pine to Independence: 10-15 mins (15 miles)

Distance from Trailhead to Trailhead (Indep Peak): 5.3 miles RT (< 5 miles if you don't go all the way to Robinson Lake) Note: I parked down the road from the main parking lot (adding .25 mi x 2 = .5 mile RT)
Elevation Gain: 11742 - 9175 = 2,567 feet

Distance from Trailhead to Trailhead (Univ Peak, University Shoulder): 12.73 miles + 2.84 est = 15.5 miles RT
Elevation Gain: 13589 - 9175 = 4414 + (11760-10938=822) = 5,236 feet