Rocks of Sharon

Thursday afternoon, with cloudless skies and temperatures near 60F, Nancy and I set out for a hike in the Rocks of Sharon conservation area a few miles from our home.  Rocks of Sharon?  That is strange name for a geologic formation consisting of a collection of boulders capping a 3,600 foot ridgeline on Tower (Krell) Mountain and spanning about two-thirds of a mile.  A bit of local history...

The Rocks of Sharon seemingly gained its name around the early 1900s.  To get away from the city, Spokanites would head out of town on the electric railroad for weekend picnics.  One stop on the railway between Spokane and Pullman was at the Sharon store south of Krell Mountain.   Weekend picnickers would get off at the Sharon store stop and hike up the mountain and into the rocks for a day trip.  The railroad and store are long gone.  The name, Sharon, remains.

From the trailhead on the south end of the conservation area, it is a walk of about two-thirds of a mile to the base of Big Rock.  Big Rock protrudes about 100 feet from the ground and it is big!

With an elevation change of about 800 feet and gradients of up to 34%, the last trek up to the base of Big Rock is steep.  Very steep!  The area is honeycombed with trails so a direct assault upon Big Rock is not necessary.  Less strenuous options to reach the peak are available.

Steep hike to Big Rock

Almost to base of Big Rock

Big Rock

Besides hiking the many trails, Rocks of Sharon offer a number of varied rock climbing challenges too.  With over 60 routed climbs, the area offers much for the climber.  If interested in the climbing on tap at Rocks of Sharon, visit, Mountain Project. 

Nancy and Kona resting after the climb

The Hole in the Wall can just be seen in the background of the photo above.  A close up of this curiosity is shown in detail below. 

Hole in the wall

At an altitude of about 3,600 ft, views from the site are inspiring.  From the summit, the expanse of the Palouse unfolds beneath your feet.

Views of the Palouse looking south

Big Rock with Palouse in the distance

More rock outcroppings

Another view of Big Rock

The hike to Rocks of Sharon was quite enjoyable given the current situation of social distancing.  While there were other groups of hikers in the area, everyone maintained the 'proper' social distancing protocols.  A pleasant afternoon's distraction and a fun adventure.  A short adventure we will tackle again.  The only downside is that my mending ankle was swollen and sore upon our return to town.  This morning, the ankle is stiff.  Hopefully, cycling this afternoon will improve flexibility.

Note: Blogger is playing games with some photos.  Photos may appear as missing when viewed from select platforms.  When I view as a webpage on either pc or iPhone, the images appear.  When viewed from a mobile version (iPhone or iPad), some images are missing.  Google support is aware of the problem and is working on a fix.  See https://support.google.com/blogger/thread/40768994?hl=en. 
Hopefully this will be corrected soon...

Old Glory 15's FRW French Infantry

Off the painting desk today are three battalions of French Line infantry for the 1799 project.  Each battalion has 13 figures.  The mounted colonel is a product of AB.  The foot figures are sourced from Old Glory 15s.  These troops muster out as the 8th Demi-Brigade. 

Old Glory 15s/19th Century Miniatures released a number of packs for their growing French Revolutionary Wars range in summer of 2019.  Without doubt, I ordered a number of packs to expand my 1799 project.  When I received the figures, I was underwhelmed by the sculpting on the infantry but was happy to add more variety to the project.  Still, I put the handful of bags away to paint another day.  

Figures are a bit spindly with thin legs and bayonets.  The infantry give the impression of hard campaigners who have marched too many miles and missed too many meals.  Scrawny little fellows.  Given their condition, I wonder how they might endure the rigors of campaigning on the tabletop.  Although wobbly at the ankles, my basing scheme ought to provide sufficient protection for the unit as a whole. 

At the end of 2019, Old Glory 15s announced that the French infantry would be replaced with new sculpts.  Those purchasing figures of the Mk I variety could request replacements for free.  Without hesitation, I sent off an email requesting replacement of my June order.  I few weeks later, the figures arrived.

As seen from the figures below, the new figures are much more robust than the Mk I releases.  Bayonets and legs are now solidly built.  Sculpting quality is improved as well.

The arrival of replacements provided the motivation needed to try my hand at painting the original sculpts.  The results are satisfactory but somewhat rough.  Will they hold up to the demands of the gaming table?  Time will tell.  For comparison, I ought to push a similar number of the new sculpts into the painting queue although the queue, at present, is quite long.   

Distractions

Distractions.  Many experience the same, I am sure.  A painting plan is set in mind.  A vow is sworn to stick to it.  Spontaneously, attention veers off into another direction.  Rinse.  Repeat.  Sound familiar?

Such is the situation today.  

Having made a pledge to myself to lay down a dozen element Hittite Army for 2020, the first quarter of the year saw no progress on that task.  Elements from a number of projects have crossed the painting desk during the first quarter of 2020 but no such Hittites.  Until last week, that is.  I finally set to work on two handfuls of archers for this new army.  Only just started, I was almost immediately distracted by a series of Chain of Command games presented on a couple of very good blogs.  The Tactical Painter's blog is a wealth of CoC information and engaging battle reports.   One can learn a lot about employing proper tactics by reviewing these battle reports.  Similarly, Musings on Wargaming and Life, has been focusing, of late, on CoC and Bolt Action solo actions.  Great stuff all!  My distractions are justified, I think.

WWII CoC is not the only recent distraction.  Blunders on the Danube has been parading a seemingly never-ending stream of 28mm Napoleonics from his workbench.  Sigh.  Yet again distracted.  Why not push a battalion of 28mm French legere into the painting queue?  Yeah, that's what I need!  Coupled with the reorganization and rebasing of all of the skirmishers for my 28mm Peninsular War project, Hittites are pushed farther back into the queue.           

To satisfy the CoC urge, a WWII gun and crew jumped into the painting queue ahead of the Hittites.  Off the painting desk today is a German 75mm Infantry Gun by Black Tree Design.  The 75mm IG is a nice model characteristic of BTD's WWII range.  Will this piece ever see action on the gaming table?  I don't know.  If needed, there it will be.  OK.  Back to some Hittite work.

What is your latest hobby distraction?

Cycling the Palouse - Springtime!

Having survived a long winter, a face damaging fall in December, a broken leg in January, and in the midst of negotiating the throes of a pandemic, I finally tempted fate and took to the roads of the Palouse for a 25 mile spin.  Confined first to indoor cycling at the gym until closed by the virus and then to the turbo trainer in the garage, mild temperatures and plenty of sun were finally too much to resist.  With midday temperatures in the low 50s F, a cloudless horizon, and a left foot that I could now almost painlessly unclip from the pedal, I set off for the first ride of the year.  

Even though temperatures were in the mid 50's, the sun beating down upon my back and face made the air temperature seem warmer than expected.  Once I warmed up, the ride was most pleasant.  Riding through shade covered roads was still a bit chilly but only momentarily.  Back into the sunlight, all was right again.

The first ride of the season is always a test of fitness for both man and machine.  Did I train sufficiently over the winter such that I was not enveloped in pain and gasping for air upon outdoor exertion?  Indeed, I passed that test.  Still a bit heavier than I prefer and recovering from an injury, effort was easier than expected.

Climbing at gradients above 8% put pressure on the still swollen ankle.  Standing up, out of the saddle while climbing gave the sensation of some pain and less power than normal.  All seemed to be working satisfactorily for both man and machine, though.  Good enough for the first ride outdoors and a still healing leg.

Today was a great pleasure to be back outside on the bike once again.  Spring has arrived on the Palouse!  

Given a shelter-in-place order (solo exercise excluded), traffic was heavier than expected although these photos show no traffic.  Clearly, either some are ignoring the mandate or many work in jobs that are deemed essential.  My work, while not essential, continues unchanged but remotely.  No holiday for me but today seems a fitting reward.

Telamon Not

Having pushed a dozen Celtic warbands through the painting queue in 2019, my goal was to field enough forces to recreate the Battle of Telamon.  The fielding of forces goal was accomplished.  I even deployed the armies onto the gaming table.  What happened then we all can see unfolding before our eyes.  Quarantine, lockdown, and shelter-in-place are now commonplace and almost universal. 

Celts back-to-back

Elements of Regulus' Roman army

Given the current situation, I decided to clear the table of the Telamon armies and consider a tabletop game more conducive to solo play.  Could I have fought Telamon solo?  Sure.  With the large battle size and To the Strongest! the rules of choice, I decided to save Telamon for a day when my comrades could gather around the table once again.

Cavalry clash on Poggio Ospedaletto

Aemilius' army looks upon the Celtic hordes to its north

Elements of Aemilius' army

As a taste of what might have been, below are the deployments of the troops for battle.  I take the position that the cavalry battle was fought on the western side of the battlefield upon the Poggio Ospedaletto.  Some hold the cavalry clash took place on the right.  The Celts find themselves sandwiched between two Roman armies.  At least each Celtic force has its rear covered!  Still, the Celts fight to prevent extermination.

Telamon Battlefield

But Telamon is for a another day when the world returns toward normalcy.  While I await that day, perhaps the Telamon armies could be augmented?  A couple of additional Celtic chariots would be nice and I have two lingering in The Lead Pile.  An increase in the Roman armies might be useful too.  Unfortunately, no Roman heavy infantry remain in inventory.  Perhaps, an Aventine restock is in order?  While some UK manufacturers are still shipping to the USA, not all are during the current crisis.

What will replace Telamon?  How about something more tropical and topical since two elements of Spanish infantry for the Spanish-American War recently mustered from the painting desk?

What do you suppose will be happening down there on the table? 

A Few More SAW Spanish Infantry

The second half bag of Old Glory Spanish infantry made it across the painting desk.  These fifteen figures are outfitted in the same slightly faded, blue-grey rayadillo uniform as their recent predecessors.  Pushing the 30-figure bag of 25mm figures into the painting queue was a pleasant change of pace.  The figures are large and carry not much equipment.  The simple uniform allows quick completion of 30 figures.  The standard bearer awaits his standard from the depot. 

Mixing in a few easier to paint figures is an effective way to mitigate painting burn-out.  While I rarely experience such a malady, figure rotation is my method for keeping this lurking monster at bay.

Remaining on topic of the SAW project, on a recent archaeology expedition into The Lead Pile, my efforts brought to the surface a number of unopened bags, half-used bags, and several bags filled with a mish-mash of figures.  New bags included two more bags of Spanish infantry (one in jipijapa hats like today's figures, the other in tropical sun helmet), two bags of US infantry, and a bag of US commanders.  In the leftover bags, I found US artillery and crew, Spanish commanders, US Marines, and a huge ziplock bag of miscellaneous figures.  The latter I picked up secondhand at a bargain price.  I should be able to cobble together at least one more US Marine BMU and one of Cuban rebels.  Included in this secondhand bag are at least two dozen Moros.  While I have no plans to expand this project to the Philippines, these figures may be of use for something else. 

Much variety remains in work at the workbench.  Fielding two units from the same period (as in the SAW project of late), seems a rarity.  Expect more 15mm units coming off the painting desk including WWII vehicles, Feudal Japanese, 1859 artillery, and SYW Bavarians.  Rebasing of the 28mm Napoleonic skirmishers continues.  The skirmishers for all combatants are almost finished.  During the reorg and rebasing, several addition British and French figures need to be painted to round out a battalion or two.  Oh, I began work on a Hittite army in 25mm too!     

Tigers at Minsk - Takes 2-5

Following my first attempt at Tigers at Minsk, (see: Tigers at Minsk - First Play) and having given force placement and plans of attack some thought, I returned to the table.

While the Germans came close to reaching the French baseline, the last-gasp, German section was cut down before it could make a successful exit from the board.  With that close call, I figured the German player might have a good chance of winning the scenario.

With only a handful of units in the game, initial deployments are critical and loss minimization paramount.  Given the small size of the game and lack of covering terrain, few viable options present themselves for force set up.

For the French, I see only one real option for deployment.  The wire must go in the hex on the far left of the French line to block a German section from sneaking to the baseline under the cover of the scrub.  Each village hex gets one HMG and one infantry section.  No other option seems reasonable.  The village provides cover and the infantry sections provide support for the HMGs.  With this deployment, all French troops are in command every turn.

For the Germans, set up must be in and behind the three woods hexes.  How the German forces are deployed is up to the player.  One force could represent a main attack and the other secondary with troops deployed accordingly.  However the Germans deploy, if in two groups centered on the woods, only one group will be in automatic command each turn.  The other group will need initiative to act.

Given the French have the First Turn, the German player cannot afford to stack his troops within LOF at start.   In this game, I deployed the Germans as two and five with the bulk of the Germans on the right.

Initial deployments

German right with two sections in reserve and out of LOS

 On to the game!

French opens up on the German HMG
 pinning the supporting infantry

German HMG provides covering fire as infantry advances
 on the right under the cover of smoke.
French infantry is pinned in the village.

Under cover of smoke,
advance on the German right continues.
  French pour fire into the HMG hex, pinning the gun while
a German section moves up in support.

The smoke clears and French fire opens up.

One German section KIA and a second pinned.

German HMG returns fire into the village
 hoping to weaken the defenders 

The firefight continues as one section in the woods is KIA.
Infantry section advancing under cover of smoke escapes,
 for now.

With smoke gone, the advancing Germans
are cut down in the open.
Coming up to support the HMG,
 another German section is KIA.

With four units destroyed, the German morale breaks and the remnants of this dismal affair withdraw.

This was a quick battle and barely consumed 30 minutes on the game clock.  With the French hunkered down in the two villages and clear lines of supporting fire to the German positions, the German attack seems doomed.

Was it the dice?  Die rolls were average with few extremes.  Given French firepower, almost two hits per turn can be expected even when firing into cover.  I set up the game again with same starting positions.  The result?  The same.  This time, the Germans broke in about 15 minutes.

I tried two more games, all ended in the same result.  I tried putting more force on the German left.  I tried reinforcing the woods hexes at the outset.  All ended in brutal German defeats. 

A different German deployment

With the French commanding the central position, intersecting Lines of Fire, and the First Player turn, this scenario seems very difficult for the Germans.  Perhaps since the Germans are attacking, they should be awarded the First Player turn?   Still, an engaging action. 

Thoughts?