Sierra Club Desert Peaks Section Sierra Club
John W. Robinson
Active in the DPS: 1957-1983
Active in SPS; DPS; HPS; History Committee; Local Hikes

A founding member of the SPS and former chair John was among the small band of dedicated weekend climbers who ventured into the Sierra in the mid-1950s-long before there were good topo maps or route descriptions. Along with Frank Sanborn he led the first official SPS outing on May 5-6 1956 to Deer Mtn. He also was vice chair and a prolific leader for the DPS and often led for HPS. His SPS and DPS trips attracted groups as large as 60 a number acceptable at the time to the Sierra Club. John became the first editor of the SPS bimonthly newsletter and used this vehicle to describe in words and sketches how climbers could reach the summits of the emblem and other peaks. After the SPS was well established John redirected much of his energy to writing peak guides for Wilderness Press this work all accomplished on a manual typewriter. These guides contained historical as well as route information and this experience prompted John to author three hardback histories of the San Gabriel San Bernardino and San Jacinto ranges.
-Jerry Keating
Photo by Bob Cates
John Robinson researching at the Agamemnon Mine near the San Antonio Ski Hut during a History Committee outing he led on June 8 1986

Robinson displaying
historical artifact at Sturtevant's
summer camp at Twin Peaks
Saddle summer of 1980

Photo by Bob Cates
John W. Robinson Collection
Sierra Club-Angeles Chapter Archives

John W. Robinson (left) and Frank Sanborn
(right) on summit of San Jacinto Peak
c. mid-1950s.

John Robinson on Little Berdoo Pk
November 1977

Dick Worsfold Collection
Sierra Club-Angeles Chapter Archives


S I E R R A   C L U B   C H R O N O L O G Y   T H R U   2 0 0 6

1957 Joined the Desert Peaks Section
1957 DPS Emblem
1958 Alternate Officer - Sierra Peaks Section
1958 Associate Editor - Southern Sierran
1959 Associate Editor - Southern Sierran
1961 Newsletter Editor - Desert Peaks Section
1961 Vice Chairman - Desert Peaks Section
1961 Mountain Records Chairman - Sierra Peaks Section
1962 Newsletter Editor - Desert Peaks Section
1962 Chairman - Desert Peaks Section
1962 Vice Chairman - Orange County Group
1962 Mountain Records Chairman - Sierra Peaks Section
1962 Alternate Officer - Sierra Peaks Section
1962 Associate Editor - Southern Sierran
1963 Executive Committee Member - Orange County Group
1963 Associate Editor - Southern Sierran Associate Editor
1964 Member-at-Large - Desert Peaks Section
1964 Executive Committee Member - Orange County Group
1964 Chairman - Sierra Peaks Section
1964 Associate Editor - Southern Sierran Associate Editor
1965 Associate Editor - Southern Sierran
1966 Associate Editor - Southern Sierran
1967 Member-at-Large - Desert Peaks Section
1968 Newsletter Editor - Desert Peaks Section
1968 Vice Chairman - Sierra Peaks Section
1971 Schedule Chairman - Sierra Peaks Section
1972 Schedule Chairman - Sierra Peaks Section
1975 Advisor - Backpacking Committee
1975 Advisor - Backpacking Committee
1976 Angeles Chapter Special Award: Media
1976 Advisor - Backpacking Committee
1977 Advisor - Backpacking Committee
1978 Advisor - Backpacking Committee
1979 Advisor - Backpacking Committee
1979 Advisor - Youth Section
1980 Advisor - Backpacking Committee
1980 Hundred Peaks Section Special Award - Mountain Historian
1981 Advisor - Backpacking Committee
1981 Member - Chapter History Committee
1982 Advisor - Backpacking Committee
1982 Member - Chapter History Committee
1983 Advisor - Backpacking Committee
1983 Member - Chapter History Committee
1984 Advisor - Backpacking Committee
1984 Member - Chapter History Committee
1985 Member - Chapter History Committee
1985 Member - Trails Committee
1986 Member - History Committee
1986 Member - Trails Committee
1987 Member - Chapter History Committee
1987 Member - Trails Committee
1988 Member - Chapter History Committee
1988 Member - Trails Committee
1989 Member - Chapter History Committee
1990 Angeles Chapter Outings Service Award
1991 Member - Chapter History Committee
1992 Member - Chapter History Committee
1997 Member - Chapter History Committee
1998 Member - Chapter History Committee
1999 Member - Chapter History Committee
2000 Member - Chapter History Committee
2001 Angeles Chapter Elna Bakker Nature Interpretation Award
2001 Member - Chapter History Committee
2002 Member - Chapter History Committee
2003 Member - Chapter History Committee
2004 Member - Chapter History Committee
2005 Member - Chapter History Committee
2005 Member 50 Anniversary Committee - Sierra Peaks Section

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