since I've been on vacation, this has generally not been updated. This blog post was originally published on facebook (13th Jan 2009) - where all the interesting comments were generated.
Anyway, since "the more human side of things" was originally meant to be the main blog, I've copied the whole post here.
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I'm not sure what i did. Perhaps i made the matter too light, and wrote it in a fun way, such that there are people who mistook the "lost in the snow episode" for a fun adventure.
It wasn't that fun. while I eventually made it back into civilization, there were quite abit of walking through terrains such as this (top)
Adventure? hah!
Well. Lets not make a big ado out of it. That was last Saturday - it was foolish and I was frozen to bits.
What I'd like to know is - what made me do it again?
Yes. Again. No. Not in the same forest, but somewhere more dire.
It was a warmer day (2 degrees, as compared to -6) and it felt remotely like Spring. Since I had already had aching muscles, I thought it would be a nice change of pace to do something simpler. Just a gentle walk through the nature reserve near my town...
The reckless me was happy of course. "wheee!" and the cautious side was tugging at my sleeves in abrupt alarm.
"*Ahem!!! Didn't he almost get us Lost?*"
"WET BLANKET! WET BLANKET!"
Recklessness and stupidity are often just a line away from each other. In fact, most people who advocate "live for now" are really advocating stupidity in practice. (now that really sounds like I'm picking a fight, but its true)
Having dressed up warmly and worn the appropriate footgear (boots. snow proof stuff), I took the next train to the next town. I've been there before and I know the woods like the back of my hand. or so I thought.
The walk was brisk and fun. It was good to see old sights being covered with snow - even if the snow was starting to turn into slush. Soon, I came to the point-where-I-should-have-turned-back.
Having come to another bend in the road, I had the clear choice of going back, or to go to where no cher-pings has ever been before.
And having looked as far as each path would lead me and being convinced of the full daylight, I decided to go the unexplored path...
It started out fine - and I made doubly sure of my bearings by chatting up every local person I could find, just to get directions, etc. The fact that most of them were old ladies was lost on me - I hadn't come to the conclusion that german old grannies were tough as nails yet. But I was told that if I continued on and followed the road, I would eventually find a way to come back to this place without backtracking - it would take all of 30 minutes, and should be alright.
30 minutes? hm. no biggie. or so i thought.
.. it might have taken 30 minutes - I'm not sure. however, the way back was through a very hilly area of forest, with inclines of about 60-70 degrees, from a height of 30 meters or more. That would be like descending very steep stairs from the fifth floor...
Have I already mentioned that it was 2 degrees? For those who have yet to see the full picture, imagine this - a beautiful forest path in the hills. and you're up there.. and the path is covered with snow - that is currently melting into slippery slush.. Since i was wearing boots (those designed to keep cold out, not with spikes), my traction was greatly reduced. uhhhh! :(
.. It was fun, I suppose, to be able to descend the slopes in that fashion. Its not that I can't enjoy a good slide as well as the next person. Its just that it would be more fun, had I been assured of my continual survival down the slopes. It wasn't the kind of slopes which you go "WHEEEEEEEEE" down. Its not even the type which you go "GEROMINO!!!!!" It was more like "AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH-YIIIIIIIIIII - *THUD*!", that loud thud being the tree that broke your almost-free-fall.
I tried everything: I dug my soles into the slush. I tried grabbing at bits of trees. I tried to improvise something that could help me to slide safely. I prayed.
It took all of my dignity not to scream out like a terrified coward. Whimpering was allowed though. And the occasional "MUMMY!!!!!". Since there were no one to laugh at me (even the squirrels were asleep) - I suppose it was alright.
There were moments where I was able to put on a very impressive pose - like a surfer, except that I was stricken with utter terror (and that destroyed the coolness factor). And I was in constant danger of performing splits - courtesy of the melting slush and gravity. It was like going on a ski slope except that there wasn't much snow and I wasn't on skis. And of course, I don't know how to ski.
After quite a while of sliding, I managed to make it to the bottom (or some rather flat area). Spotting some people at last, I waddled shakily to them - "do you know how I can get to Herzogenrath?"
"Oh. You're going in the wrong direction. .. You need to go back up these slopes and head the other way..."
My face must have turned a couple of shades of pale. Go back? Up there???? Even that reckless side of me was rather subdued - or at least, smart enough not to volunteer for more adventures.
Thankfully, there was another way around. A longer way. It took me through more woods, more slopes, but none the likes of the mini Mt Everest I just went through.
This is really a playground in comparison. Taken from "on the way back". My hands were too shaky to take pictures while on the initial slopes
The two adventures taught me something - Jungle boy I'm not. Neither am I Tarzen. If I should go exploring, I'll try to bring someone along. Hopefully the person will have enough sense not to let me get lost!!!!
I also noted that the cold seem to have added a lot of condensation to my camera sensor. I have now quite a bit of dirt on the sensor of my new camera. hm... this is going to get expensive..
nightmare on elm-street special!
