HISTORY OF THE ARGUS PEAK CLIMBS & BURRO BARBEQUES by Ron Jones

In January of 1978 while I was living in Crow Canyon in the Argus Range a friend and I were returning home at dusk from a climb of Telescope Peek I slowed for a herd of burros on the highway, then picked up speed and hit a straggler--my first burro reduction. But he did his 1st and last VW van reduction, totalling it, breaking my friend's ankle & causing 27 stitches on hand and knee. On April 15-16 we held the 1st Annual Argus Peak Climb and Barbecue. Not having learnt the fine points of pit barbequeing "desert deer" (as the old time miners called the culinary burro), folks brought beef steak. We climbed Argus from the usual starting point in Homewood Canyon, a great climb but with rain on the down-climb. Henry Heusinkveld got lost in the rain, we organized a search party but he showed up before it started out. 22 enjoyed the campfire and nearly all slept on various floors of my home. Bill Bradley played the guitar, the one & only time in memory, & Cuno recited Rindercella. Sunday the largest sober contingent climbed Tucki. The 2nd annual event, 3/31-4/l/79, featured "desert deer" marinated in a special sauce fortified with assorted red wines. We climbed Argus directly from my Crow Canyon home, 26 making the peak with snow flurries on top, and 33 showing up for the gourmet repast. Pat Jump had her leg in a cast, Marlin Clark led the Desert Rat test for the 1st time, Gordon McLeod objected to the tire fire, & Adrienne Knute won the poetry contest. Sunday 10 of us climbed French Madam and unanimously endorsed this 5,450' gain 12 mile route climb for the DPS list. The 3rd annual event, 4/12-13/80, had 30 participants who again climbed Argus directly from my home. Jack Koshear attained DPS emblem status and Sherry Harsh won the poetry contest and Marlin led the Desert Rat test again. Sunday we did Zinc Hill, 5584' at the north end of the Argus Range and then caravanned to Darwin Canyon & hiked to Darwin Falls for a really notable time bathing, sunning, and relaxing. The 4th annual event was Easter Weekend, 81. 35 climbers ascended from the house again, 6 of them 4 time repeaters (Bill Bradley, Jon & Betsy Lutz, Eric Shumacher, Owen Maloy, & Marlin Clark. My 4 time assistant Marlin led the descent in the wrong direction, south into Great Falls Basin, but we caught him before much damage was done. Snow flurries on the summit & descent, & many high scorers in the poetry context (Lou Brecheen, Rick Fowler, Christopher Rinn, Ed Treacy, Adrienne Knute). The Easter Bunny orchestrated an Easter Egg Hunt Sunday with colored eggs found in boots, sleeping begs, and empty beer carts. 25 of us drove to Towne Pass & climbed Pinto Peak, 7510'. The 5th annual event, 4/l6-17/83, was written up in the Desert Rage for July/Aug 1983. Norm Rohn took over as Assistant Leader and we camped in Great Falls Basin, the best site ever with 5 waterfalls above us. Friday night Norm and Emil Pfiefer in 4W drives pulled 10 or 12 cars out of the deep sand at the road end. 43 people made the 11 mile 2500' climb to the summit through the granite grandeur of the Basin. Sue Wyman, Terry Rivera, & Randy Danta played some dueling guitar trios. Norm Rohn dressed as St. Peter interviewed the spirits of Phil Bruce, May Heishi, and the Argus burro for admission into heaven. Betty McCosker in burro costume sang, and Ski & Campy appeared in a 2 person burro costume. Bill Bradley got an Angeles Chapter service award. Joe McCosker sang that when he was young & his boots were new he could run up peaks the whole day through. Roy Ward recited the Ice worm Cocktail but Sherry Harsh & Adrienne Krtute tied for the poetry award. Steve Langley sang Schiller's "Ode to Joy" from Beethoven's 9th, Gene Clinger did a magic act & Rose Certini came from Modesto to take pictures. Sunday 13 people drove up to Towne Pegs and climbed Towne Peak, finding arrowheads.

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