the area, was named after the slain Robert Morrison, with its nearby smaller peak named after Mono Jim. 1990 drownings In February 1990, Convict Lake was the site of a major drowning. Twelve teenagers and two counselors from nearby Camp O'Neal, an institution for juvenile delinquents located near Whitmore Hot Springs, California, were there on a holiday outing. At least four teenagers and both adults fell through the thin ice and into the water. By the time the first rescuer arrived on the scene, only one teenager had been able to pull himself out of the water, but the other teenagers were no longer in sight, having apparently already drowned. In all, three teenagers from the camp and four would-be rescuers drowned in the freezing water. Another youth and a volunteer fire chief were rescued. Shortly before their deaths, the youths had been advised that the ice was too thin to support their weight but failed to heed the warning. As a result of the drownings, Camp O'Neal was investigated and subsequently shut down due to findings of abuse and neglect. Recreation Convict Lake is known for its fishing, including rainbow trout, German brown trout, and a species of sucker fish. Due to the high demand of fishing in the lake and stream, the lake is stocked once a week during the summer with rainbow trout, supplied by nearby hatcheries. The biggest fish caught in Convict Lake was a German brown, in 1956. More recently, a brown trout was caught on October 17, 1993, which also was the biggest trout caught in the Eastern Sierra that year. A trail for hiking goes around the lake. Another trail connects the lake to the Sierra Crest. In popular culture The Western film The Secret of Convict Lake (1951) was largely based on the events that occurred at the lake in 1871. The Western movie Nevada Smith (1966) was filmed here. The Western movie The Border Legion (1924) was filmed here. See also List of lakes in California Mammoth Lakes, California References Bibliography External links Topographical map of Lake Convict and surrounding area Lakes of the Sierra Nevada (United States) Lakes of Mono County, California Inyo National Forest Lakes of California Lakes of Northern California