| FIRST ANNUAL ARGUS PEAK CLIMB & STEAK FRY | 15-16 April Ron Jones/Marlin Clark |
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Saturday morning 15 people followed Marlin Clark in his new 4WD to the practical end of the Homewood Canyon Road about one mile above the Ruth Mine. In getting the cars turned around Louis Brecheen (a new DPS member) said that he heard "something pop in his back" and we had our first injury before we started up the peak. Lou had been pushing a car singlehanded over a rock. After a few minutes Lou said he would try the peak. We hiked along the road over into Crow Canyon and went past a myriad of lupines, phacelias, gilias, brodeias, coreopsis, asters etc. until we came to a small side canyon at about 4300 feet which led up the SE side of the Argus ridge and on to the top of the ridge itself. This is a shorter and easier route than the "standard" route from near a saddle at 4800 feet in Crow Canyon. All 15 persons were on the summit about 11:30 amid gathering clouds. Enroute down it began to rain and everyone was soaked by the time the cars were reached. I had arranged a visit with John Daniels, caretaker of the Ruth Mine, but apparently the rain made him doubt that we would stop and he wasn't there. So we will save a tour of the mine until the Second Annual Argus Peak climb. That afternoon, instead of an outdoor campfire at my house we had 22 people settled in around the living room fireplace and the wine, steaks, climbing stories, jokes, puns (Cuno was in fine form) and popcorn lasted from 3:30 until 2:30 the next morning. That night there were sleeping bags scattered from the garage to the living room to stay out of the rain. At 6:00 am we decided that Straw Peak, highpoint of the Slate Range was probably inaccessible because of the rain in Searles Lake. Cuno, Louis, Don Sparks, Bill Bradley (who the night before learned to play the guitar and lead the group in song but forgot it all the next morning) and I went to Skidoo and climbed Tucki. Marlin, Ann and Lou Cavalleri went to explore Great Falls Basin, a really good rock climbing area near Trona. My thanks to John and Betty Wallin for bringing their two German Shepherds which kept the wild burros away during the night. Watch out for the Second Annual Argus Peak Climb in '79! |
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DPS ADVANCE SCHEDULE
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DPS LEADERS: THE DEADLINE FOR FALL TRIPS IS JULY 17, 1978. Send your fall trip write-ups to Jon Inskeep, 5224 Bubbling Well, La Canada, Ca., 91011. We all should try to put together a fantastic Fall Schedule. |
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