MATURANGO, ARGUS, PARKINSON	Oct. 27-28	by BETH HENRY
Dec. 9-10, 1972 : Due to weapons testing, this trip was postponed to Oct. 27-28, 1973. Instead Nelson was climbed by 12 chilled hikers. Temperature at noon in the sun was 0°. On Saturday Oct. 27, 1973, twenty six climbers met in Trona to climb Argus. With the help of Fred Camphausen, our host from Naval Weapons Center, China Lake, and four 4WD's everyone was up the peak, had 1-2 hour siesta and was back to the cars by 2:00 pm. Argus can be climbed from the second canyon after the NWC sign in Crow Canyon. The easiest route is to circle the mountain to the west side and climb to the saddle, then up the ridge to the SE avoiding the interesting summit blocks. The peak is out of sight to the SE and level. After filling up with gasoline, we passed through the Naval Weapons Center main gate at 4:30 pm, caravaned for 40 miles to Junction Ranch. No pipes had broken and Fred had been able to get the key so we enjoyed a rustic cabin, running water, cots, tables, gas stove, heater and fire circle. At the campfire our one non-show was hexed with a tsunami (incidentally our weather was perfect : Thank you, Kurt, for not showing). Sunday morning breakfast was enjoyed inside the warm cabin. The 4WD's took us up to the spring. By 11:00 am 26 climbers were on the summit of Maturango; by 12:30 20 of them were on Parkinson; by 2:00 pm all were back to the cars. The petroglyphs were enjoyed, the ranch cleaned and mopped (thanks to Joe Young, Bob Cates and others). Dinner was at the Two Sisters plus One in Inyokern. A special thanks goes to Fred Camphausen. NWC POLICY: Since testing is being done, permission is required to climb. The base is open to guests of base personnel for recreational purposes. Physically Maturango can be climbed from Panamint Valley. NWC does not give permission to do this, since there are 16 unexploded live missiles missing in the area east of Maturango. Argus is inside the NWC boundary. The retired head of testing reports it is within the testing ranges being used and is not safe without permission. For future trips, Fred Camphausen is the one to contact. His address is; 45 A Stroop, China Lake, Ca., 93555.
POST SCRIPT		LOIS FRACISCO
Since the thermostat to the furnace in the "rustic cabin" was in the reach of Bob Cates, some of us had to unzip our sleeping bags by morning. Joe Young, what was that on your glasses and why were you holding them with a pair of pliers? I won't mention the incident with the boulder, but when Horace Ory kicks them out, he doesn't fool around with little stuff.
PICO RASCO	Jan. 12, 1974	by ROY WARD
In spite of rain along the coast and slightly less than an inch in Calexico, the trip went. The main road across Laguna Salada was wet and muddy. We used the road to the west that just skirts the dry lake. We were told that the road down the center of the lake will no longer be maintained after February. The west road is recommended for all future trips. About 28 miles after leaving Mexico 2 a marked road turns west and terminates at the Canon de Guadalupe. A few minutes after 8:00 AM only four people were present. The assistant leader was a victim of the flu and Barbara Reber consented to act as the assistant. We left the canyon and tried a new route, going higher up the canyon, following the stream until we could see the peak. We then cut up thru a saddle and over a shoulder and crossed the standard route in the canyon. We then went high up under the cliffs of the peak and around to the west where we were again on the standard route. This route is a little longer, but one avoids the huge boulders in the canyon. A little Class 3 and the famous or infamous step across and we were on the summit by 1:30 pm. We ate lunch and started down slowly, arriving at 7:30pm. Heading for the hot baths, we were joined by two late arrivals or rather we joined them in the baths.

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