For My Northern Friends :: Spring is on the Way!

Wednesday, March 30th - - Even though the calendar says it is Spring, it seems as though Winter still has a tight grip on parts of our nation. Just this past Monday I awoke to find several inches of snow on the ground – and I was in Springfield, Missouri.



Yesterday I was driving west through Alabama. It was a little cold (in the 50s) and dreary, with cloudy skies and drizzling rain. Eventually, the rain stopped. As I traveled along the Natchez Trace in northeast Mississippi I was greeted by an ever-increasing array of green. Yes, it is true. I do believe that Spring has arrived – at least in parts of the south!











Note to Babs: I made a right turn before reaching Birmingham. Changed my mind about going to Pensacola! Are you surprised?



Note to anyone else: US Route 278 in Alabama (from Cullman to Hamilton) is not a road you want to take if you are in a hurry! Lots of hills and curves on that two-lane highway! I wasn't in a hurry so it was an enjoyable drive.



And, yes, I'm Back on the Road Again!!



Westward Ho!

Spring Snow at Portage Brook

This year, spring in Northern Minnesota has been slow to arrive. This photo, captured the day after a late winter storm dropped 5 inches of snow on the Arrowhead Trail in Cook County, is proof of that fact. Most people that I've talked to recently have had more than their fill of winter. I, on the other had, welcome a late winter/early spring snow storm, especially after the rivers have opened up. The contrast of fresh snow and running water makes for some incredible imagery. This waterfall is a little-known gem not far from the Canadian border. The trail to this falls is not marked, and is a short but rugged hike. Just before you get to the falls, there is an area where blowing snow collects and drifts rather badly. I had to wallow my way through a drift that was almost waist-deep in order to get to this vantage point on the falls. By the time I got back to my vehicle, my pants and shoes were soaked from pushing my way through the wet snow. As is often the case, however, the photos that I got were worth the effort. This image was made using my Canon EF 17-40mm lens, shutter speed was 1/2 second, aperture f22, ISO 50.

Gulf Islands National Seashore

My second sojourn in Florida was nearly at it's end. And, finally, about noon on Sunday the gray clouds disappeared and the sun made it's glorious appearance. I drove the few miles to Gulf Islands National Seashore, just across the bridge on Perdido Key.

It was beautiful. I leisurely walked along the shores of Perdido Key for several hours and though I still needed a light jacket, it was warm! The sunshine on my face never felt so good!

White Sand. Blue Sky. Blessed Sunshine!

Lots of little shells.
The “big” one in the center was about three-quarters of an inch across.

Sand monster.

Abstract art. Courtesy of Mother Nature.

White Sand. Blue Sky. Blessed Sunshine!

Tombstone Tuesday :: Elsie Shuder and Charles Wiseman

Gravesite of my grandparents Elsie Shuder and Charles Wilson Wiseman
North Webster Cemetery, North Webster (Kosciusko County), IndianaWisemanElsie Shuder / 1886-1926Charles W. / 1886-1943
Elsie Shuder was the daughter of Isaac and Nancy Jane (Lavering) Shuder. She was born on August 18, 1885 in Tippecanoe Township, Kosciusko County, Indiana. The inscription shows her year of birth as 1886 but her marriage application and death record both show that she was born in 1885. Elsie perished in a house fire on February 3, 1926 leaving eight children between the ages of 2 and 16. She was 40 years old. My father was the youngest of the children.

Charles Wilson Wiseman was born on September 20, 1885 also in Tippecanoe Township. The inscription shows his year of birth as 1886 but his marriage application, WWI Draft Registration Card, and Certificate of Death all give his year of birth as 1885. He was the son of Samuel Bray and Amanda Minerva (Alexander) Wiseman. It was said that Charlie made the best moonshine and was the best one-armed card shark in the county. (In 1908, his right arm had been amputated below the elbow after an accident with a cement mixer.) Charlie passed away on January 28, 1943 at McDonald Hospital in Warsaw, Indiana.

They've got just a little bling.

The vast majority of my ancestors were not well-to-do folk. They were mostly farmers and their wealth consisted mainly of family and friends, rather than material things. But every once in a while I come across a picture that makes me wonder if some of them really weren't all that poor. Case in point is the photograph below, which depicts my great-grandmother Amanda Minerva Alexander Wiseman. The fancy dress isn't one that a farmer's wife would wear on a daily basis. I wonder, just what was the occasion?

The picture is not dated. Amanda was born on September 25, 1860 and was the first of four children of William and Rachel (Van Curen) Alexander. Amanda was married to Samuel Bray Wiseman on June 7, 1883 (her sister Laura married Sam's brother Henry).

From this other picture and several others of the Alexander siblings from my Dad's collection, I think that the Alexander's were one of the more affluent families in my lineage. Although with a total of 19 children between them (he was married twice and she once before they married each other), I don't see how William and Rachel managed. Of course, all of the children didn't live with them at the same time (the first one was born in 1841 and the last in 1868). Undoubtedly, the later children had it better than the earlier ones.

The photograph below (not a good copy of a copy, but the best I have) was taken earlier. Based on the ages of the children, probably about 1892/3.

Amanda and Sam Wiseman with their children.
Charles (my grandfather, born 1885), Goldie (born 1890), and Smith (born 1888).
Contributed to the "Bling, ancestor Bling" edition of Smile for the Camera.

Tortilla Flat, AZ - Population 6

We leave Lost Dutchman and head to Tortilla Flat - population 6

We pass through Canyon Lake on the way



Sure wish we had that Amphicar!

We arrive at Tortilla Flat

and turn into the campground and find a nice site.

It's all about the view! Bet it's even better at the top of that hill.

Lets find out



Birds eye view of Tortilla Flat



A good place to just sit and contemplate

Apache Trail down below

Looks like Canyon Lake is just over the hill

Worked up an appetite so we head back down to Tortilla Flat for lunch.

Inside the Bar the walls and ceilings are covered with $1 bills, when we were here in 2000 there was $35,000, now there is $200,000. The bar stools are saddles - not very comfy but fun.

And they had fun with the ladies room

The food was great, time to rest up for our trip down Apache Trail tomorrow!



Till Later,

Meanwhile, we keep on Trek'n

Melissa and Gary

Flying High with the 214th

Over the past couple of days, Climbing Rangers had the opportunity to train with the US Army 214th reserve aviation brigade and their CH-47 Chinook helicopter. The 214th and the Rainier climbing rangers have been working closely together for many years and they provide us with an exceptional tool for Search and Rescue missions and we are very proud to have the opportunity to fly with them.




Throughout the climbing season rangers and the Chinook crew train together so when things get "real" everyone is up to speed with what to do. The 214th's Chinook is specially equipped for working on Rainier, with skis that make soft snow landings possible, special flooring which allows rangers to wear crampons inside the helicopter, and special rigging inside that allow rangers and rescue litters to be lowered and raised safely on the cable hoist.






Training with these guys also allows us the chance to do some great early season recon of the climbing routes on Rainier. Yesterday we got that opportunity, so check out the Route Updates page...all the major routes have been updated with aerial photos and conditions all around the mountain are looking great! Access to the more remote routes is difficult at this time, since many of the roads into the park are still being plowed out from the winters snow. The road crew has been working very hard lately and most park roads should be opening soon. If you are feeling adventurous there is nothing stopping anyone from getting to and climbing any route at this time, just plan on an extra day or two for the approach. Spring on Rainier can be some of the best climbing and skiing along with a very real wilderness experience.



See you on the Mountain.