Trip Date: May 28-29, 2005
Robinson Mountain Climbing Trip
Beauty Creek Valley
Southeast Robinson Tarn
Robinson Mountain (8726 ft)
Trip Report Summary
Region: Northeastern Washington Cascades
Sub-Region: Pasayten Mountains
Area: Pasayten Wilderness
Starting & Ending Point: Robinson Creek Trailhead at Robinson Creek Campground on Lost River Road (Elev. 2550 feet)
Way Points: Robinson Creek & Beauty Creek & Beauty Creek Valley & Robinson Tarn Bench (trail hike & off-trail hike)
Campsite: Robinson Tarn Bench (Elev. 6400 feet)
Sidetrip: Southeast Robinson Tarn (off-trail hike)
Summit: Robinson Mountain (snow climb & rock scramble via Southeast Cirque—Southeast Ridge)
Approximate Stats: 15 miles traveled; 6400 feet gained & lost.
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Full Trip Report
Suzanne, Janet, and Beth joined me for a Memorial Day weekend trip into the southern Pasayten Wilderness to climb Robinson Mountain. We were prepared for either two or three days out, depending on whim and weather. Since none of us had explored this area before, it would be a good reconnaissance trip for all.
Day 1: Trailhead to Southeast Robinson Tarn
On Saturday, we began hiking up the Robinson Creek Trail in sweltering mid-day heat, not-so-silently lamenting the scarcity of shade. Several miles later, we paused at the bridge over Beauty Creek. The cold, cascading torrent tempted us to jump in.
About 20 yards past this bridge, we left the main trail and headed steeply upward on the abandoned but surprisingly well-defined Beauty Creek Trail. The 90-degree-plus temperature and blazing sun made for slow progress. We took a break at 5200 feet, where the trail crosses a small stream that emanates from a 6700-foot tarn on Robinson Mountain’s southeastern flank.
With the trail portion of our approach behind us, we began the cross-country portion by heading up a steep hillslope along the right (northern) side of the tarn-outflow stream. I had been fearing the worst in terms of today’s cross-country travel, based on an extremely unpleasant bushwhacking experience last year in the evergreen jungle of the northwestern Pasayten. What we actually encountered here was a “jungle” of ankle-high grass interspersed with “thickets” of phlox and other low-growing wildflowers.
- Shootingstars, Phlox, & Parsley (photo by Janet)
In other words, this was cross-country heaven! To make things even better, some afternoon clouds moved overhead to screen the sun. We eventually established camp on a lightly forested bench at 6400 feet (5.3 hours from TH), with a nice view out to the southeast.
Day 2: Robinson Mtn. Summit Climb + Exit
At 6:00am the next morning, we were eating breakfast in the first rays of sun and had already stripped down to shorts and tee-shirts. Obviously, this was going to be another hot day. Shortly after 7:00am, we headed uphill through larch forest, passed the 6700-foot tarn, and continued up steepening snowfields in Robinson’s southern basin.
Our chosen route to the ridge crest above involved zigzagging up a series of snow fingers through scattered bands of slabby rock, ending at an 8000-foot notch.
- Beth Zigzagging Up Snow
- Jim and Silver Star Mountain
This unfolded into a very fun and elegant route, with the crux being a short but fairly steep snow finger leading to the melted-out cornice lip.
- Beth Nearing Ridge Notch
Unfortunately, Janet was feeling a bit out of kilter and decided to turn back below the notch. Beth graciously assisted her down to the lower snowfields, then climbed up again to join Suzanne and me at the notch.
From the 8000-foot notch, Robinson Mountain’s summit looked far away, but the ridge leading over to it seemed pretty straight-forward. We traversed easy talus slopes upward to a saddle, then followed the ridge crest until coming to a col with a steep horn on the other side.
- Traversing Summit Ridge
Although it first appeared steep and difficult, this horn offered a very enjoyable Class 3 scramble route over the top and onward to the easy summit slopes.
- Scrambling On Ridge Crest
We topped out at about 10:15 (3.1 hours from camp) and spent an hour basking in the sun.
- Suzanne and Beth On Summit
As newcomers to this part of the Pasayten, we were intrigued by the perspective it gave us of surrounding peaks. The summit register had been placed by Fay and Walter Pullen in 2002. We were the second party to sign in for 2005; the first recorded ascent of this year was only a week before. Robinson Mountain appears to get about four or five summit parties per year.
- Crater Mountain and Jack Mountain
Our return along the ridge crest went quickly, and we found an easier—but totally inelegant—descent route through the basin headwall. After collecting Janet at the tarn, we all hustled down to our campsite (1.4 hours from summit). It was early afternoon and thunder clouds were starting to build overhead, so we unanimously voted to pack up and hike out rather than spend another night.
Our exit hike was uneventful except for occasional claps of thunder and a short period of heavy rain. Sunshine had returned by the time we reached our car (2.3 hours from camp).
Photo Gallery
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