Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Crossing the Spring at Hahatonka

Don and Maxine Kifer crossing Hahatonka spring (circa 1976)

Where the people are standing on the left edge is now the bottom of the stairs at the spring.  In this photo the mouth of the spring is just out of frame on the left.  Before Hahatonka became a state park this was the only way to reach the castle from the south side of the spring lake.  It was a great place to swim and play.  Some of the more adventurous would even jump off the cliff into the mouth of the spring.  A somewhat tricky and dangerous stunt, but quite the experience I can attest.  The spring area has been allowed go feral and the topography has changed dramatically since this photo was taken, but back then it was an easy, albeit breathtakingly cold, crossing.

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Warmer Nights


Friday, December 20, 2013

Bagnell Dam Construction 2

From 1931.  There are some interesting things in this photo.  First, the lake has not yet filled, and what will be Business 54 isn't complete and appears to have a bit of a landslide problem.  In the distance, just to the left of the river in the upper right hand corner, you can see what is probably the town of Bagnell (now Camp Bagnell).

Courtesy of the Missouri State Archive

Thursday, December 19, 2013

The Origin of the name "Hahatonka"

A post office since 1897. Located on the eastern bank of Big Niangua River in the northern part of Warren Township, seven miles south of Linn Creek. Named by Major Kellog when the town was laid out at the beautiful springs at this place. He claimed it was derived from the Indian words, "Iha-ha," to smile, and "tonka," meaning water. It means then "smiling waters." The etymology, as is often the case with such artificial, "made-up" Indian appellations, is a highly dubious one. It is true that there is in the Osage language a verb "i-ha-ha," but it means "to laugh" or "to ridicule" rather than to smile; and the word "tonka" (more correctly "tonga" in the Osage language) means "big," not "water." Major Kellog probably modeled his name on that of Lake Minnetonka in Minnesota, which means "big water;" but it is the first part of that name, "Minne," that means "water," and the second part, "tonka," means "big." The Indian name of these beautiful Missouri Springs means, therefore, if it means anything, rather "Big Laugh" than "Smiling Waters."

Overlay, Fauna R. "Place Names Of Five South Central Counties Of Missouri." M.A. thesis., University of Missouri-Columbia, 1943.

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Origin of "Osage"

The Native Americans that inhabited the area originally called themselves "Ni-U-Kon-Ska", meaning "Children of the Middle Waters", but were known as "Wa-shah-she" by early French explorers.  They soon began pronouncing it "Wa-sa-gee", and being French, used "Ou" when writing the name as "Ousages".  The English later read and pronounced it as "Osage".

Pulaski County Missouri Mountain Lion

Earlier this summer a game camera captured this image.  Apparently there is a big cat in Pulaski County, MO, a county bordering two of the Lake Ozark area counties to the southeast and well within range of Lake Ozark State Park (quick, everyone panic!).  This is the 40th "confirmed" sighting of a cougar in Missouri over the past 19 years, but MDC is still claiming they've all been male and no breeding population exists.  Most of Pulaski County is part of the Mark Twain National Forest and it is likely this photo was taken in an area south of I44.  The owner of the game camera has wisely asked to remain anonymous.

 Pulaski County straddles Interstate 44 and includes Ft. Leonard Wood.




The image below is from June 29th, 2013.


Full story here:  http://mdc.mo.gov/newsroom/mdc-confirms-mountain-lion-sighting-pulaski-county

Update:  May, 2015 a mountain lion was killed along Hwy 44 in Laclede County.

Sunday, December 15, 2013

Here's an Etsy product I like, a laser engraved map of the Lake. It's 33"x20", so no small commitment to your wall space. Price $295.












Etsy PhDs store

Thursday, December 12, 2013

The University of Maryland's Department of Geographical sciences produced this interactive map of world forest changes from 2000 to 2012.  This image shows these changes for the Lake of the Ozarks area.  For data purposes, a "tree" is defined as anything over 5 meters (roughly 16 feet).  Unsurprisingly, major areas of deforestation appear to be focused along roadsides.  Hwy MM down the center of Shawnee Bend can be clearly made out as well as clearing along Hwy 7 north of Camdenton and the new parkway through Osage Beach.

Legend
     Forest Loss 2000–2012
     Forest Gain 2000–2012
     Both Loss and Gain
     Forest Extent


Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Marine Technologies - Phantom Details

One of my favorite boats over the years. This thing is just beautiful. The "Phantom" was built out by Marine Technologies in Wentzville Missouri. More details available in this PDF.  Marine Technologies - Phantom Details





Phantom at the Lake

From Aug 22, 2012.  Named "Phantom" and powered by two Mercury Racing 1350 “quad cam, four valve, turbocharged” engines this is an impressive looking boat.  The owner, Kenny Armstrong, themed the boat in Rolls Royce touches and a “Phantom of the Opera” paint job.  A 163mph boat that seats eight.  Awesome.

The flip up "missile launchers" are speakers and access to the cuddy.


1,350HP and could fit in my Ford pickup!



3 flat panel displays and an LED lit cooler.



Tuesday, December 03, 2013

Dock Damage Winter 2007 Part 2

I found another group of pictures.  To be accurate, this event happened November 30th, 2006.




Ariel view of Port Arrowhead


Port Arrowhead again



Monday, December 02, 2013

Dock Damage Winter 2007


These pictures were taken by a dock company in 2007 after a very wet snow.  A lot of docks looked like this that day.

Winter coming in like a lion can make a person nervous.