A Day in the Mountains

Caldera Wildlife

It is the wild animals that everyone always wants to see and photograph or at least I do. On this trip I got some good photos of a chipmunk that was eating grass at one of the places we pulled over to take some scenic photos.



At another place a pair of these birds were catching bugs on the ground. So far I haven't been able to identify them yet. They had a lot of yellow/green on them and were just larger than a sparrow.







These prairie dogs were in a large village of them on the drive from the paved road to the Visitors Center at the Caldera. We did see a badger run across the road in front of us but I couldn't get the camera up in time. The Center people said there were lots of badgers in the prairie dog villagetrying to catch them. The badgers help keep therodents down. The 'dogs' are cute but leave lots of deep holes in the ground for deer, elk, horses, cows, and even people to step in and get hurt.




From the paved road we saw a herd of about 30 elk but they didn't want to come close to us. We could barely see some smaller ones, probably this years calves running and playing.







There were elk in the trees here.



We also saw some deer but again couldn't get a photo before they were gone.

Sandhill Cranes on the Platte River

Well, I spent a full day and a half photographing the cranes. I was in Nebraska in mid-March last year, and hit the migration during its peak, when there were about 500,000 cranes in the area. There were a lot fewer birds this year, since I'm a couple of weeks later than I was last year, but the numbers were still impressive. I just got in from a guided tour to one of the photo blinds at the Rowe Sanctuary (www.rowesanctuary.org). The guided tours at the sanctuary never disappoint. If you ever come to Nebraska looking for cranes, your first stop should be the Rowe Sanctuary. Sign up for a sunrise or sunset tour to one of the photo blinds, then ask one of the staff where the best places are during the day to look for cranes. The staff are very knowledgeable and helpful.






Aside from the cranes, I saw and heard a lot of red-winged blackbirds as well. They are one of my favorite birds, and each year I eagerly await their return, and long to hear once again their beautiful call. If you do go to Nebraska in March or early April, the best places to look for cranes are anywhere along the Platte River between Grand Island and Kearney. There are numerous farm and county roads that you can drive to look for the birds. But, like I said, you MUST take a tour at the sanctuary! You will be closer to the birds there than anywhere else. The sight and sound of these ancient birds flying in to the river is something everyone should experience at least once in their lifetime. In addition to photos, I shot a few video clips of the birds, which you can see on my website:
http://travisnovitsky.smugmug.com/gallery/4585425_ZKKho
Well, that's it for today... I need to get some rest for the drive to Colorado tomorrow. Next up: Colorado National Monument!

The Estate of Dederick Hoffman :: The Sale Bill

Sale Bill, page 1

Estate of Dederick Hoffman (Packet 805) Columbiana County, Ohio

FHL film 2032459 accessed June 8, ..

The cover page shows that the sale bill was filed July 1st 1826.

A List of the property Sold on the 15th day of May 1826 by the Administrators of the Estate of Detrich Hoffman late of Columbiana County Deceased with the amount that the Articles was Sold for to wit

Samuel Hoffman	one Shue hammer & chisel	- -	20
George Holderreed	a hammer wedge & pinchers	- -	38
Christian Betz	one Square and hog tongs	- -	16
John Beevers	Mull rings and wedge	- -	38
Christian Betz	2 hay forks	- -	58
John Hoffman	Dung fork & Shovel	- -	47
Saml Hoffman	Dung hook	- -	50
Susanah Hoffman	one Spade	- -	12 1/2
Jacob Keckly	one Matick	- -	41
John Hoffman	one axe & Bell	- -	27
Saml Hoffman	one bell	- -	75
Thomas Minor	on Do	01	00
Saml Hoffman	one drawing knife	- -	25
David Gearinger	a lot of Augurs	- -	25 1/2
Christain Betz	one inch Augur	- -	40
Saml Hoffman	one hand Saw	- -	50
Abraham Hoffman	one axe	01	06 1/4
Jacob Stauffer	one mans Saddle	01	01
Saml Hoffman	one flax hackel	- -	39
Christian Myr	a curry comb	- -	06 1/2
Thomas Kitch Jr	one Grind Stone	- -	46
Henry Bricker Jr	one pair of hems [?]	- -	40
Saml Hoffman	one cow chain	- -	14
Do Do	Do Do	- -	28
Do Do	Do Do	- -	25
Thomas Minor	a halter chain & coler	- -	94
Wm Baker	one lot of traces chains	- -	62 1/2

Sale Bill, page 2

Estate of Dederick Hoffman (Packet 805) Columbiana County, Ohio

FHL film 2032459 accessed June 8, ..

		D	C
Henry Bricker Jr	Skillet & lid	- -	74
Saml Hoffman	one Griddle	- -	30
David Gochaneur	one pot	- -	90
John Hoffman	one Dutch oven	01	00
Frederic Betz	one Dough tray	- -	06 1/4
Abraham Mumert	one churn	- -	32
John Fry	one barrel	00	04
David Gocheneur	one Spinning wheel	- -	79
Do Do	two chairs	- -	35
Saml Boots	a lot of upper leather	01	02
Wm Baker	one chest	01	50
Jacob Stauffer Jr	one feed trough	- -	26
Henry Miller	2 tow [?] bags	- -	63
Saml Hoffman	2 turilled [?] bags	- -	56
Abraham Mumertt	Do Do	- -	72
Frederic Betz	one Jack Screw	03	50
Saml Hoffman	one half Bushel	- -	18 3/4
Jacob Roller	one Riddle	- -	25
John Hoffman	one 12 gallon Kettle	03	12 1/2
Saml Hoffman	Do Do Do	02	65
David Gocheneur	one meet tub	- -	57
George Holterreed	one log chain	02	00
Henry Miller	a lot of tin ware	- -	06 1/4
David Gearinger	a lot of Spoons	- -	20
Henry Miller	a coffee pot dish	- -	14
Abraham Mumert	one pair of Sheep Shears	- -	37 1/2
Abraham Hoffmann	a German Sermon book	- -	25
Abraham Mumert	a pewter Dish	- -	22 1/2
Abraham Hoffman	2 German books	- -	27
Saml Hoffman	a German Bible	- -	75

Sale Bill, page 3

Estate of Dederick Hoffman (Packet 805) Columbiana County, Ohio

FHL film 2032459 accessed June 8, ..

		D	C
Jacob Roller	8 knives	- -	30
Henry Miller	a tea Kettle	- -	27
Christian Meese	cups and Saucers	- -	12 1/2
Do Do	a lot of plates	- -	12 1/2
Do Do	a tin pan	- -	18 3/4
Andrew Altman	a lot of pewter	- -	59
Henry Bricker Sr	7 yds of Shirting linnen	01	57 1/2
Henry Miller	Do Do Do	01	82
Abraham Hoffman	8 Do Do Do	02	40
Isaac Baughman	10 yards of tow	01	82 1/2
John Hoffman	4 yds of Woollen cloth	03	00
Abraham Hoffman	one coggshell	- -	38
Saml Hoffman	one Steelgavel	01	04
Abraham Hoffman	one Rifle gun and exutrmer [?]	09	25
John Hoffman	a clock and case	05	80
Micheal Frederic	a Dresser	02	87 1/2
Saml Hoffman	a pot tramel		62 1/2
Abraham Hoffman	one mare	40	37 1/2
Christian Halderman	one Sow and pigs	03	07
Henry Bricker Sr	one Barrow	01	92
David Gocheneur	one ew and lamb	01	94
Do Do	one Do	01	31
Do Do	DoDo	01	45
Samuel Hoffman	one cuting Box	- -	75
Jacob Keckly	one windmill	05	15
George Holterreed	one pidea [?] Steer	05	03
Do Do	one black Do	05	00
Johnathan Tyler	on Cow	10	14
John Hoffman	one heiffer calf	03	25
Wm Betz	two crocks	00	14

Sale Bill, page 4

Estate of Dederick Hoffman (Packet 805) Columbiana County, Ohio

FHL film 2032459 accessed June 8, ..

		D	C
Wm Betz	two crocks	- -	14
Wm Betz	two crocks	- -	12 1/2
Henry Bricker	6 lbs flax yarn	- -	96
Do Do	Do Do	- -	96
Frederic Swarts	one lot of rye	01	80
Jacob Roller	Do Do	01	89
Micheal Frederic	3 yr Bushels of buckwheat	- -	56
Do Do	2 crocks	- -	07
Philip Houtz	10 bushels of wheat	02	60
Joseph Frederic	Do Do Do	02	90
Henry Bricker Jr	Do Do Do	03	20
Frederic Betz	Do Do Do	03	12 1/2
Henry Hoffman	Do Do Do	03	12 1/2
Joseph Frederic	Do Do Do	03	12 1/2
Christian Meess	3 Do more or less	00	90
Frederic Swarts	10 bushels of oats	01	40
Saml Fox	Do Do	01	40
Do Do	Do Do	01	40
Do Do	Do Do	01	40
Henry Bricker Senr	one bed and beding	06	00
Frederic Betz	10 lbs of Sugar	- -	75
John Sheets	Do Do Do	- -	70
Do Do	Do Do Do	- -	75
Do Do	to Sugar	- -	12 1/2
Saml Hoffman	one cag	- -	25
Henry Miller	35 lbs of Becon	01	57 1/2
Do Do	32 lbs Do	01	12 1/2
John Hoffman	22 lbs Do	- -	70
Do Do	13 1/4 lbs Do	- -	67 1/2

Sale Bill, page 5

Estate of Dederick Hoffman (Packet 805) Columbiana County, Ohio

FHL film 2032459 accessed June 8, ..

		D	C
John McConner	one lot of beef	- -	84
Frederic Swarts	one gig	- -	10
Frederic Betz	one Barel	- -	12 1/2
Samuel Butz	one chisel	- -	07
Saml Hoffman	one third of a lot of rye in the ground	06	85
Do Do	one third of a lot of wheat in the grnd	08	00

I do certify that the above is a correct list and amount of property Sold at the sale before mentioned.

Jacob Roller Clk [crossed out]

John Hoffman

Samuel Hoffman

The Black Diamond Crampon report

"A piece of climbing gear you don't trust 100% is probably best retired or simply destroyed. eBay is not a good answer here."




Dane Burns @ Cold Thistle







The full BD report is well worth the effort and the read imo.

QC LAB: Gear Doesn’t Last Forever – CRAMPONS




http://www.blackdiamondequipment.com/en-us/journal/climb/all/qc-lab-gear-doesnt-last-forever--crampons

Bottom line from Black Diamond

• Vertically oriented front points are best for climbing water ice and/or heavy climbers, and tend to do better in cyclic fatigue.
• Horizontal front points are best used for the alpine.
• Flexible center bars can increase the lifespan of your crampons, but at a cost of performance.
• Boots aren’t as rigid as they used to be and break down/wear in quicker.
• Use flexible center bars with truly non-rigid boots.
• Gear doesn’t last forever.




My take from the report is there is still a lot of guess work as to what is really reliable and what is not for boot and crampon combos at BD. I tend to want my own gear to be 100% reliable without having to second guess every little decision. And I'd like to enjoy what I consider the highest performance currently available from both boot and crampon. That combo for my own needs would seem to be labeled as "unreliable" by BD. Anecdotal evidence would seem to back up that conclusion.







A crampon and boot combination I really like on steep water ice. But not a combo either I or BD recommends.






While I don't agree with every conclusion or all the numbers as they have been presented I think the newest BD report does go a long ways in telling us how Black Diamond has decided to answer the problems they have experienced with stainless crampons. Any answer is a good answer imo when it comes to climbing gear.




From BD's own data:

Sabre Pro SS
Average Cycles to failure: 12,312 +/- 3,047

Sabre Pro CrMo
Average Cycles to failure: 15,079 +/- 2454

In summary, the CrMo fails after completing 23% more cycles than the SS.













A rather esoteric boot here in North America, the Scarpa Phantom Ultra.





Previuous masthead photo...dbl click for full effect



Because of this year long discussion, my current crampon choice, with a rigid center bar and this boot is obvious in the masthead photo and below, Petzl Dartwins. While not perfect imo they and the Dart have no significant history of failure that I know of with any boot combo.















" Flexible center bars can increase the lifespan of your crampons, but at a cost of performance" BD QC