My Mt. Hiei Climb Challenge 2013, Part 2

Picking up from yesterday's Part 1 of “My Mt. Hiei Climb Challenge 2013”, where that post ended with a short pause at a clearing half way up...

Transition into Darkness angle of the sun on the engraved writing makes for some hard shadows -- Mt. Hiei (比叡山) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2013 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
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Transition into Darkness
angle of the sun on the engraved writing makes for some hard shadows

From the clearing, the path up actually goes down sharply for a short while...

Looking Down -- Mt. Hiei (比叡山) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2013 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 24mm — 1/200 sec, f/2.8, ISO 2000 — map & image datanearby photos
Looking Down

The trail goes up and down very steeply as it crosses several small river ravines, and this is where I worried that my knees would become debilitatingly painful. To my great relief it turned out fine, either because of the stretching I did (mentioned in Part 1), and/or because I was wearing a pair of knee compression straps that are said to help ease the kind of pain I had.

(A note to my mom: the knee straps are fairly bulky, which is why the self portrait in Part 1 showed me wearing very baggy jeans.)

I'll have to try the hike again without the straps, to test whether they were of material help.

Small Stream the source of the ravine -- Mt. Hiei (比叡山) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2013 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
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Small Stream
the source of the ravine

The trail crosses several tiny streams like this, each entailing five minutes of very steep downhill, a hop across, and five minutes of very steep uphill.

Break for Lunch -- Mt. Hiei (比叡山) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2013 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
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Break for Lunch

This intersection of trails is where Stéphane stops for an energy snack (at least we did last year), so I did so as well, having one of my rice balls.

The other trail that joins here originates near the Shugakuin Imperial Villa, and is apparently The Trail for kids on school trips to use when hiking this mountain. I surmise this because starting from here I came across many junior-high kids before I got to the top....

First Batch of Many -- Mt. Hiei (比叡山) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2013 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
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First Batch of Many

There were many groups from many schools strung along the paths, totaling perhaps 500 kids. All 500, it seems, took the opportunity of my obvious foreignness to spit out a poorly-pronounced “Hello” in English. This may sound polite at first blush, but it's done with the same spirit as yelling “Moooo....” out the window as you pass a field with cows.

Mt. Hiei (比叡山) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2013 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 70mm — 1/200 sec, f/2.8, ISO 1000 — map & image datanearby photos

And just as with the cows, imagine how frozen with shock you'd be if a cow started mooing back, asking how you're doing, where you're from, and such. I got that kind of deer-in-the-headlights look whenever I responded in English. But mostly I just excused myself (in Japanese) as I passed. The kids, understandably, progress pretty slowly.

Hamming it Up the kid with both hands up has his eyes so crossed they've almost switched places -- Mt. Hiei (比叡山) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2013 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 24mm — 1/200 sec, f/10, ISO 1100 — map & image datanearby photos
Hamming it Up
the kid with both hands up has his eyes so crossed they've almost switched places

At one point I came across a photographer that had been asked to document the event for the kids, dressed in street clothes and lugging a large, hard camera case. It looked very uncomfortable...

Seemingly Unprepared yet with a smile on his face -- Mt. Hiei (比叡山) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2013 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 50mm — 1/60 sec, f/10, ISO 6400 — map & image datanearby photos
Seemingly Unprepared
yet with a smile on his face
desktop background image of towering trees on Kyoto -- Mt. Hiei (比叡山) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2013 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 24mm — 1/125 sec, f/10, ISO 6400 — map & image datanearby photos
Desktop-Background Versions
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Up. Up. Up. -- Mt. Hiei (比叡山) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2013 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 24mm — 1/200 sec, f/2.8, ISO 800 — map & image datanearby photos
Up. Up. Up.
The Kids are down there somewhere -- Mt. Hiei (比叡山) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2013 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 24mm — 1/200 sec, f/2.8, ISO 1400 — map & image datanearby photos
The Kids
are down there somewhere
desktop background image of towering trees on Kyoto -- Straight as an Arrow -- Mt. Hiei (比叡山) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2013 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 24mm — 1/200 sec, f/7.1, ISO 2500 — map & image datanearby photos
Straight as an Arrow
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desktop background image of towering trees on Kyoto -- Scale the kids provide a bit -- Mt. Hiei (比叡山) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2013 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
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Scale
the kids provide a bit
Vertical Desktop-Background Versions
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desktop background image of towering trees on Kyoto -- The Path Ahead carved into the side of the steepness -- Mt. Hiei (比叡山) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2013 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 24mm — 1/200 sec, f/2.8, ISO 640 — map & image datanearby photos
The Path Ahead
carved into the side of the steepness
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Finally past the point of much laughing during last year's climb, I reached the tiny abandoned ski run, where groups of school kids were having their bento lunches...

Pleasant Day at the top of Kyoto -- Mt. Hiei (比叡山) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2013 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 24mm — 1/640 sec, f/2.8, ISO 100 — map & image datanearby photos
Pleasant Day
at the top of Kyoto

A bit further and I got to つつじヶ丘, the hillside of Azaleas that was past its prime when I went last year, which is why I went a couple of weeks earlier this yet....

Azalea Hill -- Mt. Hiei (比叡山) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2013 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 70mm — 1/200 sec, f/9, ISO 400 — map & image datanearby photos
Azalea Hill
Nice View -- Mt. Hiei (比叡山) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2013 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 70mm — 1/200 sec, f/14, ISO 1600 — map & image datanearby photos
Nice View

And finally I got to the rest/view area that was last year's destination...

Relaxing in Silhouette at the rest area at right -- Mt. Hiei (比叡山) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2013 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 24mm — 1/200 sec, f/14, ISO 720 — map & image datanearby photos
Relaxing in Silhouette
at the rest area at right
Mt. Hiei (比叡山) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2013 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 24mm — 1/200 sec, f/10, ISO 220 — map & image datanearby photos
Mt. Hiei (比叡山) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2013 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 24mm — 1/200 sec, f/7.1, ISO 180 — map & image datanearby photos
Contemplative View -- Mt. Hiei (比叡山) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2013 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 70mm — 1/640 sec, f/2.8, ISO 100 — map & image datanearby photos
Contemplative View

I sat down to have another rice ball, and eventually was joined by Hiroshi (he of hat-saving mountain biking from Part 1), who had already been to the top and was pausing on the return trip before hitting the main descent.

Mt. Hiei (比叡山) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2013 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 24mm — 1/640 sec, f/2.8, ISO 100 — map & image datanearby photos

I said I'd take his portrait, and when I pointed the camera his way I expecting to start directing him to a nice pose, but instead he suddenly made a tremendous leap...

Hiroshi leap -- Mt. Hiei (比叡山) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2013 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/400 sec, f/8, ISO 1000 — map & image datanearby photos
Hiroshi
leap

That was impressive, but I spent the extra few seconds for a quick normal portrait...

Hiroshi pose -- Mt. Hiei (比叡山) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2013 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/400 sec, f/8, ISO 900 — map & image datanearby photos
Hiroshi
pose

He eventually went on his way down the mountain, but I intended to continue my own climb to the top.

Continued here...


All 2 comments so far, oldest first...

The leap shot is pretty impressive. Based on what you’ve written it sounds like you weren’t expecting it, either. Did he plan it with you, did you have to do it multiple times, or did you have your camera in burst mode?

“Azalea Hill” and “Nice View” are spectacular shots. Very nice!

The shot you see is from a third leap. I got a nice shot on the first (when I wasn’t expecting it) and second (when I was), but he wasn’t looking at the camera, and I thought that would be more compelling, so imposed on him for a third. —Jeffrey

— comment by David K on May 27th, 2013 at 11:02pm JST (10 years, 10 months ago) comment permalink

“I’ll have to try the hike again without the straps, to test whether they were of material help.”

Spoken like a true software engineer. 🙂

— comment by Mark Sirota (Philadelphia, PA, USA) on May 28th, 2013 at 1:24am JST (10 years, 10 months ago) comment permalink
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