One with Nature

Climbs 5 & 6

Tuesday Sept 6 & Wednesday Sept 7

Time: 30 minutes-ish both days.  Too windy for much lingering.

Weather:  mid fifties, VERY windy, radio reporting "gale force winds."

Number of times I wondered if I could keep this up in the forthcoming unpleasant weather of the late fall and winter ("dreich"):  4

I was hoping for something interesting to report this week and was more than amply rewarded.

After reaching the peak yesterday and trying to select a path down that would not involve being blown to death and dismemberment by the strong wind gusts, I very quickly noticed something I had not yet seen on these hikes.

About 1/4 of the way down from the peak on the Dunsapie Loch side, a gent had selected a sunny grassy knoll on which to engage in some calisthenics.  While I watched he was doing those leg lifts which involve raising the legs in a straight line from the torso, bending the knees, then straightening the legs at a 90 degree angle from the body, then reversing that motion.  This maneuver was performed repeatedly at a very controlled, yoga-like tempo.

Because the grass and heather is rather high, I couldn't see the rest of him, and used the zoom  to take the picture.  I don't think he knew he was being observed.  As I passed below the knoll he was on,  I could only see his legs going up and down, almost as if a modern art installation had been placed in Holyrood Park below Arthur's Seat.

The wind these two days has been invigorating, but as I would like to return in one piece, I'm trying to be very cautious.  One last area near the peak is tricky in the wind, but if I clamber up low using my hands, it seems to be OK.

The wind was crazy just getting out of the car and getting started!

Meet Tom, Intrepid Climber

Climb #4

Monday, September 5, 2011

Weather:  sunny with fluffy clouds, high fifties, mild wind

Time:  30 minutes

Huffing & Puffing breaks:  less than yesterday

Number of times nearly maimed self by falling in trying to get a good photo of a patch of heather near the peak:  at least three times before moving to a safer point.

Meet Tom Grant.  I did yesterday, near the top, on the rockier, less-obvious-path side of Arthur's Seat.  He saw me taking pictures of the heather and commented, "More of that than you can photograph in the highlands."   He then went on to relate how his wife doesn't like him to climb bigger hills (in the Scottish Highlands) alone.  So he climbs Arthur's Seat -- five or six times in a morning! I didn't ask his age, but I'm guessing seventies.   He worked his way right to the top, let me take a photo and promptly began a sure-footed descent while I admired the view (and caught my breath).

Tom at the Peak

Tom on one of the trails that leads past the ruins to St. Margaret's Loch.

Sunshine, mountain bikes and a longer path: Day Three

September 3, 2011 (Saturday)

Weather: warm (68 F), breezy mix of clouds and sun
Perspiration:  heaviest yet
Time: 62 minutes
Amount of time giving skeptical advice to deranged-looking mountain bike dude: 4 minutes
Deep thoughts thought: 1 1/2


Feeling adventurous and loving the warm weather, I tackled a new route to the top, following the path from St. Margaret's Loch past the ruins of St. Anthony's Chapel, winding along the path that climbs above the sharply carved valley.  The trail has a gentle slope, compared with the peak, but is steeper than it looks and I was huffing and puffing sooner than I anticipated.

After about 1/4 mile, the drop offs the valley below become quite steep and I suppressed the urge to tumble myself down them calling "As you wish ...... ooh,  ow, oof, ooch, ouch ....."

As I neared the top and stopped for a break, I was distracted by a chap pushing his mountain bike up the hill, followed by a friend with a tripod and serious camera.  The biker spent several minutes examining a steep slope nearby and I lingered, hoping to see him in action.  He moved on, and I spoke with him as he surveyed another possibility.  


Me:  "Have you picked a spot?"  
Crazy Biker: "Not yet."
Me: "Have you ever done this?"
CB:  "Not yet."
Me:  "Are you going the whole way down the hill?"
CB:  "Hope so."
Me:  "Watch out for the small shrubs with the giant thorns hidden among the tall grasses."
CB:  "Aye.  Wait, what?"


I saw him again near the peak as I was on the way back down.  He had walked the bike nearly to the top;  I don't know if he found a reasonable way down on the bike or not.  I hope he had band aids with him.  I was quite disappointed not to witness his attempt, but I was running out of time and needed to be back to the barn where Janie was taking a riding lesson.

 This sweet border collie drank from the rain puddles at the peak and

then just plopped down on top of a small one, waiting to roam back down to his supper.

Wind & Rain: Day Two

Date: September 2, 2011
Time: 34 minutes
Weather: 61 F, wild weather: breezy, rainy & gloomy
Number of strangers I spoke to about their dogs: 1
Number of strangers I offered to photograph: 0


As I was parking and putting on my hikers, the most lovely young golden retriever approached from a car parked nearby.  He had that happy, eager look that is so common in dogs in Scotland.  Happy dogs can be found around the world (maybe not so much in countries where they are eaten), but in my opinion Scottish dogs must rank among the happiest.  The golden's owner was not far behind, so of course I began a short conversation (which almost almost always begins the same way):  How old was he?  (six months) What was his name?  (Barley)  He looks so happy to out and about. (yes, we have him so I will get more exercise, he loves his walk.)  The dogs here are rarely on leashes, although most owners carry one and are quick to attach it if someone is appears uncomfortable (I've yet to meet that person in Scotland) or another dog is threatening (very rare).  The dogs either stay close to their people or romp on ahead, circling back to check in frequently.

I think I need to start borrowing neighbors dogs for some of my climbs. 

It's rather otherworldly up here watching the clouds and rain move in against the sun in the distance.  

The sky was low and mildly threatening as I started my way up.  I didn't see many people out, but a few seemed to be at the peak.  The rain started when I was about three quarters of the way up, but only just enough for me to put up my hood.  The rocky bits and stones as you approach the top are so worn that they become very slippery in the rain and I had visions of being carried down  pieces.  The peak was deserted, the first time I've been on Arthur's Seat completely alone, the people I had seen at the top earlier had begun their descents when the rain started.  


Rather boring alone up there in the rain.

100 Climbs

I'm setting myself the goal to climb Arthur's Seat 100 times in the next 12 months.  It's practically on my doorstep, the views are ever-changing and you never know who you will meet at the summit.


Climb Number One:


Wednesday, August 31

Just up the hill from Dunsapie Loch  (Portobello in the distance and the white blank area is the Firth of Forth leading out to the North Sea.)

Weather: warmish day (60 F, which is warmish for Edinburgh), no rain, which always pleasant, light breeze
Time:  31 minutes, up & down
Time spent singing & nattering to myself:  23 minutes
Perspiration:  mild, and I needed to remove my sweater three-quarters of the way up.
Clumsy misstep resulting in possible death: 0
Clumsy misstep resulting in near mud-covering and humiliation: 1




Although Festival has ended the kids are back in school, the hills around and paths to Arthur's Seat are still busy.    I pass & am passed by a variety of climbers: older tourists, students, and those fit outdoorsy types running, not jogging, up the hill.  I'll be taking the "easy way" up until I can get the best of the vertigo that bothers me on the steep, narrow stone steps on the opposite side of the hill.   Not many dogs today.  Maybe I can borrow a neighbors for some of these climbs.


http://walking.visitscotland.com/walks/centralscotland/holyrood_park_arthurs_seat


At the peak I offered to take a photo for a lovely older couple -- he was perfectly posed against the city view and she was taking the picture, so she joined him for a great photo.  I don't think I would carry around the massive camera they had, I was nervous to take it while standing perched on uneven rocks.  But their holiday photos are probably spectacular.  I'll continue to buy postcards and use my small sony.


I'm trying to avoid being "plugged in" during the climbs, other than checking in & photos.  Good time for prayer and contemplation.


Here's to Day Two, I need to leave now to avoid what looks like a big rain shower heading my way.


Cheers.