{"id":2428,"date":"2014-06-08T01:20:57","date_gmt":"2014-06-07T16:20:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/2014-06-08\/2428"},"modified":"2014-06-08T01:20:57","modified_gmt":"2014-06-07T16:20:57","slug":"my-mt-hiei-climb-challenge-2014-part-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/2014-06-08\/2428","title":{"rendered":"My Mt. Hiei Climb Challenge 2014, Part 2"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>800 sec, f<\/span>\/7.1, ISO 200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nScenic-View Picnic Area<\/span>\nnear the top of Mt. Hiei, Kyoto Japan\n\u6bd4\u53e1\u5c71\u306e\u5c71\u9802\u306e\u8fd1\u304f\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

This post picks up from “<\/span>My Mt. Hiei Climb Challenge 2014, Part 1<\/a>”<\/span>, where I'd ended with having completed the ascent in good time and good form.<\/p>\n\n

It was still early (12:45ish), so I decided<\/span> to check out some of the temples farther into the mountains.<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>2000 sec, f<\/span>\/1.4, ISO 200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nLots to Explore<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>1000 sec, f<\/span>\/1.4, ISO 200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nMust Be an Old Road<\/span>\njudging from how the guardrail posts that line the road are collapsing down the mountain\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>1250 sec, f<\/span>\/1.4, ISO 200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nEven Older<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

Some of the paths in these mountains were laid out thousands of years\nago. I'm sure these<\/span> old guardrail posts aren't that old, but this next\nphoto gives a hint<\/span> to the age because the bigger post, which essentially\nlooks brand new compared to the guardrail posts, is dated April 1936...<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>2000 sec, f<\/span>\/1.4, ISO 200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nBrand New<\/span>\n78 years young\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

Dotted here and there in the mountain are temple buildings of various sizes...<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>1250 sec, f<\/span>\/1.4, ISO 200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nEnrikuji 's Sannoin Temple (\u5ef6\u66a6\u5bfa<\/span>\u306e\u5c71\u738b\u9662)<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

This set of steps, off the main path, looked impressive...<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>250 sec, f<\/span>\/5, ISO 250 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>250 sec, f<\/span>\/5, ISO 500 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nStill Goin' Down<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>8000 sec, f<\/span>\/1.4, ISO 200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nOops<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

I surmised that a big tree must have fallen across the rail. I figured<\/span> that such a thing<\/span> might take out some of the\nstone lanterns along the side, and sure enough the two closest were much newer than the others....<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>250 sec, f<\/span>\/5, ISO 200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

The new ones are dated 2006, while the one in the foreground is dated 1963.<\/p>\n\n

Anyway, continuing on, we come to a more<\/span> substantial building...<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>400 sec, f<\/span>\/5, ISO 200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>2500 sec, f<\/span>\/2.5, ISO 200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nLooks Peaceful<\/span>\nEnrikuji 's Jodoin Temple (\u5ef6\u66a6\u5bfa<\/span>\u306e\u6d44\u571f\u9662)<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

A map nearby indicated that it was a minor<\/span> outlying building for a larger<\/span> group a bit<\/span> farther on, so a bit<\/span> farther on I went.<\/span><\/p>\n

Along the way I came across this little shrine in a flat<\/span> area seemingly carved out of the mountain. I liked<\/span> the grass, which you don't\nsee often in this context...<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>6400 sec, f<\/span>\/2.5, ISO 200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nSmall Grassy Shrine<\/span>\nat the Enrikuji Temple complex (\u5ef6\u66a6\u5bfa)<\/span>\n
Desktop-Background Versions<\/b>\n1280×<\/span>800<\/a>  ·  1680×<\/span>1050<\/a>  ·  1920×<\/span>1200<\/a>  ·  2560×<\/span>1600<\/a>  ·  2880×<\/span>1800<\/a><\/span>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

After paying a $6.50 fee to get past a certain<\/span> point, I came across<\/span> a fairly<\/span> standard gateish kind of building,\nbut the light just seems so nice in the picture so I'll post it:<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>8000 sec, f<\/span>\/2.5, ISO 200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nGate to Enrikuji\u2019s Shakado Temple<\/span>\n\u5ef6\u66a6\u5bfa\u306e\u91c8\u8fe6\u5802\n
Desktop-Background Versions<\/b>\n1280×<\/span>800<\/a>  ·  1680×<\/span>1050<\/a>  ·  1920×<\/span>1200<\/a>  ·  2560×<\/span>1600<\/a>  ·  2880×<\/span>1800<\/a><\/span>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>5000 sec, f<\/span>\/2.5, ISO 200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nEnrikuji\u2019s Shakado Temple (\u5ef6\u66a6\u5bfa<\/span>\u306e\u91c8\u8fe6\u5802)<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

I was feeling good about the hike, but the temple building didn't seem all that interesting from a photographic<\/span> point of view,\nso I didn't<\/span> get any closer than the shot above, taken from a bench<\/span> in the shade.<\/p>\n\n

Just off to the left, though, was a much<\/span> more interesting building, of bare wood:<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>2000 sec, f<\/span>\/2.5, ISO 200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nBeautiful Aged Wood<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

It's not exactly a wheelchair-friendly place, so my first thought about\nthe ramp in front of the doors is that it's for heavy equipment, making the\nbuilding more or less a barn.<\/span> But the windows<\/span> on the left don't look very\nbarnlike, so I'll have to check it out again next time I visit.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

Not being all that interested in what I'd seen so far, I decided<\/span> to head\nback home. In prior<\/span> years I'd taken a train<\/span><\/a> or a bus<\/span><\/a> down —\nthis mountain is convenient that way — because my knees normally have\nsharp pains on any kind of downhill slope. But this year<\/span> my knees felt\nfine, so I thought<\/span> I'd actually hike back down.<\/p>\n\n

Not wanting to retrace my meandering path back to the scenic-view area, I looked<\/span> at the trail markers for a more<\/span> direct route, but the way they\nsent me was clearly the road less traveled...<\/p>\n\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>320 sec, f<\/span>\/2.5, ISO 200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nNot So Well-Worn a Path<\/span><\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>250 sec, f<\/span>\/2.5, ISO 400 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nGetting Worse<\/span>\nmostly overgrown\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>250 sec, f<\/span>\/2.5, ISO 360 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nAh, Civilization!<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

It turns out that “<\/span>civilization”<\/span> was right next to the grassy shrine\nseen above, and that I'd been sent on a round<\/span>-about path through the woods\nto get there. Still hoping for a shortcut<\/span> that might be faster than\nretracing my steps, I plunged<\/span> back into the woods again...<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>250 sec, f<\/span>\/1.4, ISO 320 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nThis<\/i> is a Well<\/span>-Worn Path<\/span>\nbut little traveled these days, apparently\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

This was very different terrain than the path leading up, or at least it seemed so because the path was so insubstantial.<\/p>\n\n

Eventually the path dead-ended into another path, with no sign to indicate what might be where.<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>250 sec, f<\/span>\/7.1, ISO 2000 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nLooking Left<\/span>\nthe path heads up sharply toward the right side\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>250 sec, f<\/span>\/7.1, ISO 1250 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nLooking Right<\/span>\nwith the fallen remnants of some kind of sign that offered no help\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

I decided to try heading right, and soon came across a wall<\/span> to a temple<\/span> that I could<\/span> mostly see over...<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>2500 sec, f<\/span>\/1.4, ISO 200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nLooks Peaceful<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

When I got out to the front, I realized that this was the same one I'd seen before (Enrikuji's Jodoin Temple, \u5ef6\u66a6\u5bfa<\/span>\u306e\u6d44\u571f\u9662),<\/span>\nthe one just after the fallen-tree-bent railing at the base of the super long stairway.<\/p>\n\n

Sigh, I'd again been sent on a wild goose chase looking for a shortcut.<\/span> Had I had<\/span> any brains I would<\/span> have just cut my losses and backtracked\non the known path I came<\/span> in on. Or heck, had I just<\/span> pulled out my iPhone to check the map I would<\/span> have realized that I was<\/span> going in the wrong\ndirection for any kind of shortcut. But no, instead I returned<\/span> to where the path had T'd a bit<\/span> earlier, and went left.<\/p>\n\n

The path got very tenuous, but eventually wound its way up to a small<\/span> building of some sort...<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>800 sec, f<\/span>\/1.4, ISO 200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nSmall Building of Some Sort<\/span>\nin the middle of nowhere\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

The path beyond that seemed to evaporate into nothingness...<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>250 sec, f<\/span>\/3.5, ISO 1100 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nEnd of the Line<\/span>\nat least for me\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

In looking at the satellite view for\nthis location<\/a>, I see that<\/span> I was<\/span> about 100 yards from a huge<\/span> parking\nlot. I had no<\/span> idea. I realize<\/span> now that the bus from the top stops there on\nthe way home to Kyoto, so perhaps good info for the future.<\/p>\n\n

In any case, I retraced my steps back past the T junction to the “<\/span>Looks Peaceful”<\/span> temple for the third time,\nto start retracing the whole path back.<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>250 sec, f<\/span>\/3.2, ISO 250 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nHeading Back Up<\/span>\nI lost count of the steps\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

It took about 20 minutes to get back to the “<\/span>Scenic-View Picnic Area”<\/span> that I use<\/span> as the goal of my hike up, so I considered<\/span> it the start of my hike down.<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>250 sec, f<\/span>\/13, ISO 360 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nHazy View<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

Drank the last of the 2L of drink I'd brought with me, and headed down.<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>250 sec, f<\/span>\/4.5, ISO 1000 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nDiving In<\/span>\nthere's no turning back now\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

Though my knees hadn't hurt all day, I've suffered the\npainful-knee-on-downhills problem all my adult life, so I was<\/span> stressed at\nthe thought that it might hit halfway down the mountain.<\/p>\n\n

Indeed, it started to flare up almost right away, but looking at the path from a different<\/span> view (from the top looking down)\nbrought new discoveries, and I found<\/span> a side<\/span>-path that lead to near where the cable-car goes down, and I earned<\/span> a nice<\/span> view\n(or, at least, a view<\/span> that would have been nice had the air been clear).<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>250 sec, f<\/span>\/11, ISO 280 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nNorthern Kyoto<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

I did take the opportunity to buy another liter of sports drink at the cable-car station. I didn't<\/span> think I'd really need it,\nbut turned out to appreciate it over the next hour and fifteen minutes of knee-shredding ankle-twisting pain it took me to go down.<\/p>\n\n

The knee pain didn't surprise me, but the number of times I twisted<\/span> my ankle did. I had at<\/span> least half a dozen<\/span> big scares, including\ntwice when I went<\/span> crashing to the ground. What was up with me.... had I suddenly<\/span> forgotten how to walk?<\/p>\n\n

The path is anything but smooth, but on the way up the angle of the mountain puts the path right in front of your face, so my gaze is naturally\njust a yard<\/span> or two in front of my feet, and it's easy to avoid the rocks and roots and random bumps that lie in wait for your ankle. In fact,\none uses the bumps and such as footholds to get a better<\/span> grip. On the way<\/span> up. On the way<\/span> down, though, your gaze is way off in the distance at the\npretty vista always unfolding before you.<\/p>\n\n

Combine all that with the fact that my knee pain was worse the slower I went,<\/span> so as odd as it sounds, it hurt less if I ran<\/span> down the mountain. But running<\/span> down the mountain doesn't bode well if you're trying not to twist your ankle.<\/p>\n\n

Each time I twisted my ankle I half expected to see a bone<\/span> sticking out,\nand oft imagined the drama<\/a> that\nwould ensue, but it seems that I dodged<\/span> a bullet<\/span> each time as I appeared<\/span>\nunscathed. Each time I would<\/span> berate myself for a basic<\/span> inability to walk\nand vowed to pay more attention as I continued,<\/span> only to inexplicably repeat\nthe process all too soon.<\/p>\n\n

It became sort of a race, to see which would cripple me first: twisting an ankle, or the knee pain that was now almost unbearable.<\/p>\n\n

But in the end I made it down to the little temple that marks the start of the mountain hike. Another 43<\/span> minutes of city walking and I was<\/span> home.<\/p>\n\n

As I neared home, I snapped this picture:<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>4000 sec, f<\/span>\/2.2, ISO 200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

The people visible near the top of the building in the center are in the\nsame spot where I took<\/span> the “<\/span>Heian Shrine Gate From a New<\/span>\nPerspective<\/a>”<\/span> shots the other day, just outside of the room featured in\n“<\/span>The Lazy\nPhotographer: Exposing for Single-Shot HDR<\/a>”<\/span>.<\/p>\n\n

In the shot above, it's a photographer, likely taking new shots for their web page. How can I<\/span> tell from here? I'd seen them<\/span> when I'd left six hours earlier, taking photos of the building from across the street. You can see<\/span> them in the first\nshot of part 1<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n

I bet their day was more fun than mine, but I bet<\/span> I have<\/span> a better<\/span> feeling of accomplishment (though I shouldn't<\/span> judge until I see<\/span> their shots \ud83d\ude09)<\/span>.<\/p>\n\n

Afterward<\/b><\/p>\n\n

Everything above my knees felt great, but my knees and everything below felt absolutely horrible.<\/p>\n\n

When getting ready for a well-needed shower, I was surprised<\/span> to notice a\nlot<\/span> of blood on one lower leg, coming from a spot<\/span> just at the top of the\nsock line. I didn't<\/span> know what it was from, but two ideas immediately sprang to mind. One is that<\/span> I'd smashed it during one of my ankle-twisting falls, and the other is that\nI'd been bitten by a tick<\/span> or the like. Ewwwww.<\/p>\n\n

I didn't think it was a tick because I'd positively soaked my shoes,\nsocks, and pants (inside and<\/i> out) with permethrin<\/a>, which kills ticks on contact.<\/p>\n\n

Or at least it should. The little-used trails I was<\/span> on gave ample opportunities for a tick<\/span> to hitch a ride,<\/span>\nand if the permethrin wasn't working, the first skin it'd find when crawling up my leg is right were I found<\/span> the blood\nstreaming out. So this is<\/span> the stuff of bad dreams, but a week<\/span> later I'm leaning toward the “<\/span>banged my shin”<\/span> side of things.<\/p>\n\n

Anyway, the day after the hike I was<\/span> in mostly good shape, except my ankles felt like they were essentially fused together,\nand I could<\/span> hobble more than I could<\/span> walk. Nevertheless, I went to<\/span> the gym and did a hard<\/span> session,\nand only later did it dawn on me that I wasn't<\/span> just feeling normal soreness, but that I'd really beaten them up on the way\ndown, especially with all the twisting.<\/p>\n\n

It took several days, but I finally shook it off, and so ends my story.<\/p>\n\n

Mostly.<\/p>\n\n

Continued here...<\/a><\/i><\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This post picks up from \"My Mt. Hiei Climb Challenge 2014, Part 1\", where I'd ended with having completed the ascent in good time and good form.<\/p>

It was still early (12:45ish), so I decided to check out some of the temples farther into the mountains.<\/p>

Some of the paths in these mountains were laid out thousands of years ago. I'm sure these old guardrail posts aren't that old, but this next photo gives a hint to the age because the bigger post, which essentially looks brand new compared to the guardrail posts, is dated April 1936...<\/p>

Dotted here and [...]","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8,1,2,6,10],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2428"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2428"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2428\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2428"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2428"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2428"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}