SECOND ANNUAL ARGUS PEAK CLIMB AND BARBECUE

3/31-4/1/79 Ron Jones

Thirty-three hungry peak baggers showed up for either the climb or the gourmet repast in Crow Canyon this year. There were five repeats from last year back for seconds. Friday night I lit the barbecue fire at the onset of darkness to serve as a beacon for late arriving guests. Bill Bradley served ably as fire feeder and wood gatherer and many tall tales were exchanged by the growing crowd. Midnight it was decided there were enough coals for Saturday's barbecue. That night I marinated the meat of a desert deer in my special sauce, fortified with assorted red wines. Saturday morning the meat was wrapped, placed on the coals and covered with sand in order to cook during the day. About 26 people started for Argus Peak that morning. We hiked directly up Crow Canyon onto a north ridge of Argus Peak overlooking Great Falls basin. All were on top by noon and we had a leisurely lunch. Arriving back at the house about 3 pm I wasn't sure the barbecue was thoroughly cooked so we got out some sauce and waited. After cooking another two hours the meat was uncovered and served to all but four persons- three vegetarians and one who didn't dare to try the meat of the desert deer. Steve Langley showed he was not squeamish and ate at least three servings. Most people thought the meat tasted like well-done pot roast. The usual evening entertainment, and some unusual, was enjoyed. Marlin Clark demonstrated the desert mountaineer's test and fell on a campfire participant (he was observed whispering into her ear later in the evening). Campy went to help a neighbor bring up more firewood. I wanted to clean up the desert and burn more tires but Gordon MacLeod kept objecting. Pat Jump let us autograph the cast on her leg. Adrienne Knute recited her poem for the occasion:      Our four-footed friends with big floppy ears      Have served man well throughout the years.      Their eyes are filled with innocent trust      As they plod along in the desert dust.      They did their part to settle the west--      Now man says they are a pest.      They've multiplied to the nth degree,      All because man set them free.      When man let them loose, things got out of hand.      Now we must curtail their growing band.      They can't stand the pace of modern life--      To keep one in the yard would anger your wife.      So clearly there is just one thing to do--      Let's drink to the burro in the barbecue! After the poem the evening activities started to deteriorate at a faster rate. Sunday morning after breakfast at our house the group got down to the scheduled business-- an exploratory climb of French Madam. We caravaned up the Panamint Valley road to the Minnietta Mine Road about nine miles north of the highway to Wildrose Station. We drove four and one-half miles west to the old Nadeau stage trail road and turned south for about three and one-half miles to an unposted road, passable to passenger cars leading west to Snow Canyon. In one mile, we turned south toward Wood Canyon and followed the road as far as possible (to about 3200 ft elevation). This isn't the way we went but it was the way we should have gone. We left Lu Pettitjean resting in the wash and hiked up the south fork of Wood Canyon and followed the old mining trail found there as far as possible. Another two and one-half miles up an interesting Pinyon and Junipery covered ridge found us on the crest of the Argus Range just north of French Madam Peak. Eight of us persevered and mounted French Madam, 8446 feet. It was unanimously

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