Soma

Tools of the Path => The Journey, the Adventure [Public] => Topic started by: Taimi on November 08, 2007, 02:01:57 AM

Title: Mountains again
Post by: Taimi on November 08, 2007, 02:01:57 AM
Next summer i'm planning to go to the mountains again. There's a big probability that i will go to Elbrus again. But also i want to go to Lenin, in Middle Asia. The top of this mountain is 7134 m above sea level. I'm not putting thia as a big goal for reaching beacuse it looks like it's quite hard for women. This year a second estonian woman reached the top of this mountain (her name is Tiina Tamm btw. Which is weird because her namesake also climbed that mountain in 1986 and she died there, she got lost in the snow storm and was never found).

Anyway, there is one more peak there, that is not so high and would be a more realistic goal for me to reach. It's 6148 m above sea level.

If everything works out with my work, then i should be able to make these two trips, they take place one right after the other, so from Caucasus i would be flying straight to Middle Asia. And all together the journey would last about seven weeks.  I want to make both trips because seven weeks is quite a long time in a foreign environment and it would surely shake me off. This years journey to Elbrus seemed to pass too quickly.

I will continue later with the thoughts i have about this.




Title: Re: Mountains again
Post by: daphne on November 08, 2007, 02:10:51 AM
sounds like a lovely goal t!   :)
Title: Re: Mountains again
Post by: Jennifer- on November 08, 2007, 11:35:18 PM
Next summer i'm planning to go to the mountains again. There's a big probability that i will go to Elbrus again. But also i want to go to Lenin, in Middle Asia. The top of this mountain is 7134 m above sea level. I'm not putting thia as a big goal for reaching beacuse it looks like it's quite hard for women. This year a second estonian woman reached the top of this mountain (her name is Tiina Tamm btw. Which is weird because her namesake also climbed that mountain in 1986 and she died there, she got lost in the snow storm and was never found).

Anyway, there is one more peak there, that is not so high and would be a more realistic goal for me to reach. It's 6148 m above sea level.

If everything works out with my work, then i should be able to make these two trips, they take place one right after the other, so from Caucasus i would be flying straight to Middle Asia. And all together the journey would last about seven weeks.  I want to make both trips because seven weeks is quite a long time in a foreign environment and it would surely shake me off. This years journey to Elbrus seemed to pass too quickly.

I will continue later with the thoughts i have about this.






OH! I hope you get to do this T.

I'm going to do a photo search of Lenin..

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts as they come, thanks for sharing.

 :-*
Title: Re: Mountains again
Post by: Jennifer- on November 08, 2007, 11:39:15 PM
(http://www.mountain.ru/advertising/aziya-trevel/HP01_s.jpg)
Title: Re: Mountains again
Post by: Taimi on November 08, 2007, 11:49:43 PM
well... i can't really imagine it to be very lovely to be in snow and cold and to be tired and no air...  :D but it will be interesting   :)

i think Elbrus is a piece of cake compared to Lenin. in Elbrus i didn't really get the feeling like I'm far from civilization. also in the snow area was quite small. it's like you can get away from there almost whenever you like (unless there is a storm), it's just a few hours walk. and there were much tourist and skiers. but on Lenin there should be three camps in the snow area. only the base camp is not in snow. and only shepherds live there in yurts (beside the other mountain climbers). but generally Lenin is similar in this behalf, that it doesn't require much technical skills, mostly it's just walking.

this summer it was proven that i don't really care much about reaching to the peak so as a goal in itself it won't work for me.  i should find some other stimulating force. i was thinking it could be just a test of willpower. this time i will have a better idea of how it will be and i'lle be more prepared psychologically.

now i should start training more regularly. i already quit smoking. i actually planned to do it later, but i couldn't wait... the idea of quitting was just so disturbing - i had to quit, so that i could stop thinking about it ;D

Title: Re: Mountains again
Post by: Michael on November 10, 2007, 12:45:39 AM
quit smoking eh?
that's the best news for me
Title: Re: Mountains again
Post by: Taimi on November 20, 2007, 02:14:07 AM
it's been almost two months now. i feel so light (in every sense of that word which the vocabulary gives me  :D ).

i knew all the time, that eventually i would have to quit, that there is no betwixt option. i guess it was the right time now.

Title: Re: Mountains again
Post by: Jahn on November 20, 2007, 03:48:42 AM


Great plans there T!

These plans (structure) and exercise - life style related - are very good to use for your growth purpose.
Title: Re: Mountains again
Post by: Taimyr on April 22, 2008, 10:47:57 PM
Life has been smoothly rolling towards the completion of these plans. I have such a wonderful job, that i don't have to work in summer, so no problem with vacation. Also my job is physically relatively hard (carrying hard equipment and mostly staying on foot during the work time) , so i think i have become stronger. This is all good, especially for the knees and legs, it will be easier to walk for a long time. I should add a little more something to train heart and lungs. More bicycling or walking or running or swimming. It's a little bit boring to do these things alone.

The only thing that doesn't look so good, is that probably i will have to give away my photo equipment for the summer. So, no good camera...
Title: Re: Mountains again
Post by: Michael on April 23, 2008, 08:59:54 AM
still not smoking?
Title: Re: Mountains again
Post by: Taimyr on April 24, 2008, 12:14:02 AM
yep, mostly i don't even remember that i used to smoke.
Title: Re: Mountains again
Post by: Michael on April 24, 2008, 07:19:32 AM
music to my ears
Title: Re: Mountains again
Post by: erik on July 23, 2008, 05:45:56 PM
I wonder where Taimi went to climb - another expedition of her climbing club returned from Elbrus, lately. Majority made it,  some did not. Hopefully, she had more success this time.
Title: Re: Mountains again
Post by: Jennifer- on July 24, 2008, 10:00:54 AM
I'm also looking forward to hearing what she will share upon return... and perhaps some photos too :)
Title: Re: Mountains again
Post by: Taimyr on August 21, 2008, 01:23:30 AM
Hello everyone!

My aim was not to necesserily make it to the summit and i didn't. Othervise it was all interesting. Nothing much to say right now, must let it sink. Pixies soon.

Nice to be home and piss in the toilet bowl  ;D
Title: Re: Mountains again
Post by: Jennifer- on August 21, 2008, 01:35:17 AM
:D :D There really is nothing quite like returning to society after a long retreat..toilets and all...Ive always found it rather humbling and a bit amusing.

Welcome home!!
Title: Re: Mountains again
Post by: nichi on August 21, 2008, 01:44:54 AM
Hooray, T! We missed you. Welcome back.
Title: Re: Mountains again
Post by: daphne on August 21, 2008, 02:41:44 AM

Nice to be home and piss in the toilet bowl  ;D

Looking forward to seeing your pics!

Yes, nothing quite like a flushing toilet AND hot water!!

Welcome back, t!   :)
Title: Re: Mountains again
Post by: Michael on August 21, 2008, 08:40:18 AM
at last, the hero returns...
Title: Re: Mountains again
Post by: Taimyr on August 21, 2008, 04:29:46 PM
right, the hero...  ;D

this year at Elbrus was much more interesting because of the different weathers. for an example we got a really cool snow storm at 4200. the tent was almost about to fly away and we were inside a thunder cloud. the lightning was too light to watch even with closed eyes. and the thunder...  8) . electricity was even in the tent, someone said his hair on the arm got up, when he pulled his arm out of the sleeping bag..

I wanted to save strenght for the other trip so i didn't push myself too much. i only ascended to about 4700 m.

Climbing Lenin was quite hard, the distances were long. and with a big rucksack all the time of course. from base camp (3600 m) to the first camp (4200 m) about 10 hours walk. then back down to rest. then again to the first camp. then to the second camp (5300) also about 10 hours and then after two nights there we should have gone to the third camp (6100 m), but the weather was bad and most of us came down. that was a mistake because we didn't get the acclimation we needed to go to the top. i didn't really care about that because i wanted to go down and not to come up again, i didn't feel so good. and i didn't want to make that discusting endless abrupt ascent to the second camp again  :-X. i had had enough. so i stayed at the base while most of the others went again to the final ascent. two people made it to the top, one man and one woman. even though she didn't have the needed acclimation and some said it is impossible to go like that.

Lenin is a really big mountain and every step of the way it was obvious how easy it is to make a mistake and get killed. at times the road went along a steep mountain side and one wrong move would make you slide to the abyss. or then there were big ice cracks we had to cross. i think someone fell in and died during our stay there. all the time we heard some ice cracking and rocks falling from somewhere. or the tracks of avalanches. or then crossing a ferocious mountain river. few years ago someone had slipped there and gone with the flow under the glacier.

also we had time to make a walk in Moscow, that was also interesting.

well, that's a short overview  :P it was a really interesting trip.
Title: Re: Mountains again
Post by: Jennifer- on August 21, 2008, 09:14:03 PM
 :) It all sounds very exciting T.. pleased you are here in Soma to share it! To be on a mnt.. in a thunder cloud.. in a tent.. with the wild lightening and snow.. oh my! AND! Ice cracking and the earth shaking under foot!

Love it.

Did you meet some interesting people that you will remain in contact with?

Any ponderings of what this created within.. what did you gain inward to create outward?
Title: Re: Mountains again
Post by: Michael on August 21, 2008, 09:28:27 PM
what about some pics with a little blurb intersperced...
and some relating of emotional moments
Title: Re: Mountains again
Post by: Taimyr on August 21, 2008, 09:38:32 PM
Did you meet some interesting people that you will remain in contact with?


Most of the people there were local herders, they speak their own language and also russian. my russian is not so good, though it surely impruved. most of our group members i already knew. generally i wasn't oriented on making new contacts.

Any ponderings of what this created within.. what did you gain inward to create outward?

Different places, new experiences and being away hopefully created some new energy to carry on with life here with freshness.


Title: Re: Mountains again
Post by: Taimyr on August 21, 2008, 09:46:42 PM
what about some pics with a little blurb intersperced...
and some relating of emotional moments

Emotionally everything was kind of simple. i felt like switched off, just living a simple life, thinking of simple things, like when to eat, when to go, what to bring with me, how much more to go and so on. most of the time i didn't even think about my life and relations in estonia and didn't miss home. only at the end i started thinking what i would do here. maybe some more reflections will come in time.

pictures soon, it takes time... i'm not very happy with the soap box quality. and i didn't take very many photos either, most of the time it seemed kind of irrelevant.
Title: Re: Mountains again
Post by: Taimyr on August 21, 2008, 09:58:23 PM
M, i didn't get you a furry hat, but if you like, you can have a local traditional hat  ;)
Title: Re: Mountains again
Post by: Taimyr on August 22, 2008, 03:14:17 AM
Here's the gallery, i will comment later

http://www.taimifoto.eu/pamir08/index.html (http://www.taimifoto.eu/pamir08/index.html)
Title: Re: Mountains again
Post by: Jennifer- on August 22, 2008, 03:17:01 AM
 :) Thank you!
Title: Re: Mountains again
Post by: tangerine dream on August 22, 2008, 03:20:17 AM
Wow!

You have an amazing eye!!
   8)
Title: Re: Mountains again
Post by: nichi on August 22, 2008, 03:21:24 AM
Enjoying these tremendously, T! 

(http://www.taimifoto.eu/pamir08/images/pamir08_045.jpg)

(http://www.taimifoto.eu/pamir08/images/pamir08_050.jpg)

(http://www.taimifoto.eu/pamir08/images/pamir08_021.jpg)
Title: Re: Mountains again
Post by: Jennifer- on August 22, 2008, 03:24:29 AM
I agree its great sharing.. again thank you.

Im curious about these people, Im unfamiliar with the area.. if you wouldnt mind pointing me in a culture direction Ill explore some. :)

(http://www.taimifoto.eu/pamir08/images/pamir08_018.jpg)
Title: Re: Mountains again
Post by: daphne on August 22, 2008, 04:10:03 AM
What an adventure! The sheer size of those mountains!

The pictures are wonderful, t!

This one looks like a fire within the mountain!

And the other one.. love the kid in the pouch!!   :D

Title: Re: Mountains again
Post by: Michael on August 22, 2008, 08:39:59 PM
M, i didn't get you a furry hat, but if you like, you can have a local traditional hat  ;)


yummy - love one
Title: Re: Mountains again
Post by: Taimyr on August 22, 2008, 09:48:10 PM
sure? then i need to know how to get it to you
Title: Re: Mountains again
Post by: Michael on August 22, 2008, 10:01:03 PM
does the head come with it?
Title: Re: Mountains again
Post by: Taimyr on August 22, 2008, 10:04:38 PM
does the head come with it?

was that an invitation?  ;D
Title: Re: Mountains again
Post by: Michael on August 22, 2008, 10:37:11 PM
You can come any time :).

here is my postal address:

Michael Maher
P.O.Box 152
Armidale NSW 2350
Australia

I would love to receive that beautiful hat,
and the beautiful head also.
Title: Re: Mountains again
Post by: Taimyr on August 22, 2008, 10:39:08 PM
I'll see what i can do  ;)
Title: Re: Mountains again
Post by: Taimyr on August 26, 2008, 02:12:11 AM
Emotionally everything was kind of simple. i felt like switched off, just living a simple life, thinking of simple things, like when to eat, when to go, what to bring with me, how much more to go and so on. most of the time i didn't even think about my life and relations in estonia and didn't miss home. only at the end i started thinking what i would do here. maybe some more reflections will come in time.

I think that was the best thing about this trip. Even when i had nothing to do, i just sat on a rock and was looking around, mountains, cows, sheep. There were no worries or restlessness.

Only in the second camp i felt restless after two nights and an urgent need to come down. The feeling was very weird. It wasn't like tiredness. And i didn't feel physically sick. It was more like psychical. Like there's nothing there, why i'm i there. Almost like panic.

I didn't notice thatkind of reaction in others, even though some felt physically sick and had headaches. Though i suppose people don't talk about everything and some things are not visible.

Interestingly last year on Elbrus i reached the same hight (5300 m) and felt quite the same - like there's nothing that can make me go further.
Title: Re: Mountains again
Post by: Michael on August 31, 2008, 11:32:52 PM
Finally got to see those photos - now my connection has clicked over into a new month.

Stunning stuff taimi! And dangerous - I can understand why you didn't go on.
Very beautiful landscapes, with the mountains in such easy reach from the fields, or maybe that's just the camera angle.
Title: Re: Mountains again
Post by: Taimyr on September 01, 2008, 08:09:45 PM
I think the photos aren't that great. And when you (and others) say my photos look great, then i think maybe you either want to just please me or don't know much about phorography, sorry. Because my photos are just average, if even that, for other photographers eyes, which has been proven in some photo portals. Or maybe they just don't know what their talking about? Or maybe they are spoilt by the written composition rules and technical perfection, which hasn't been my goal. or maybe poeple are just too influenced in places where they have to rate photos. 
or maybe they search for some deep meaning in a photo, which is not of my interest either. i just try to capture things that seem beaytiful and magical to me. well, never the less my skills should improve in time i suppose.

Finally got to see those photos - now my connection has clicked over into a new month.

Stunning stuff taimi! And dangerous - I can understand why you didn't go on.
Very beautiful landscapes, with the mountains in such easy reach from the fields, or maybe that's just the camera angle.
Title: Re: Mountains again
Post by: xero on September 01, 2008, 09:03:27 PM
..or maybe, Taimi, people actually DO like the photos. :-\
Title: Re: Mountains again
Post by: Michael on September 01, 2008, 09:28:57 PM
With photography, as with movies, you have to distinguish between the level of skill of the photographical technique, and the content.

One problem with focus on technique is that people forget about the value of the content. There is a saying that this generation's content is last generation's context. It is a bad mistake to confuse the framing for the picture.

In your case there are three issues of focus: technique, content, art.

The reason we like your pictures is because of the content, the story line - we are transported to a place we have never been, and looking through the eyes of a person we know.

Technique is something you are developing, and has to do with camera skills. That is  what you will find comments on from others in that profession which the rest of us wouldn't know.

The area you need to develop is your artistic eye. This is something you will rarely find from other photographers - you have to learn it from artists and from evolving your own unique voice. It comes with age and imagination - experience and reflection.

I have a friend who is an artistic photographer, and he bemoans the level of artistic sensitivity in the profession, because it is so technique intensive. The same is true of the music profession.

But in the end, I am much more interested in content. 

I was visiting a friend of mine on Sunday who is a very highly acclaimed artist, and we were looking at her latest material - it was stunning. I asked her if she did other things like music and writing. She replied that she feels greatly restricted by painting, because she knows too much about technique, and she can't escape it to get to the value in the content - it's a constant battle for her, so she loves to play the piano, because she doesn't know much about it - finding it thus a faster channel to her inner moods, as the critical mind is absent.

Title: Re: Mountains again
Post by: daphne on September 01, 2008, 10:49:07 PM
I think the photos aren't that great. And when you (and others) say my photos look great, then i think maybe you either want to just please me or don't know much about phorography, sorry.

I just like your photos!!   :D :-*
Title: Re: Mountains again
Post by: Taimyr on September 02, 2008, 01:07:02 AM
Hey, i wasn't that serious, i do believe that people like them when they say so.

Just discovering the differences between.... things  :D

..or maybe, Taimi, people actually DO like the photos. :-\

I just like your photos!!   :D :-*
Title: Re: Mountains again
Post by: Taimyr on September 02, 2008, 01:35:00 AM
First when i started taking photos, i went out like just for a walk and i would take photos of things i saw. i didn't know beforehand, what i want photograph or what i would see. and actually it wasn't even important if i would get to see something interesting. and there was kind of a magic in it.
then later i joined some photo places and for a while thought of how to take photos that would be suitable for these places. for an example, nature photographers know exactly what or who they want to take pictures of. they lay for animals or birds or whatever, they can sit in special tents for days. i think this kind of a thing is not for me.
when i tried to think beforehand, or tried to take photos that would be suitable, i think i felt like losing the magic.
now i will do it my way again  :)
Title: Re: Mountains again
Post by: nichi on September 02, 2008, 01:38:25 AM
Hey, i wasn't that serious, i do believe that people like them when they say so.

Just discovering the differences between.... things  :D

I know what you mean, T. When I receive compliments on this or that, I have to steady myself that I stay true in my desire to continue to grow, to get better and better, rather than to rest on the laurels of the compliment. So your skepticism is a good thing -- just remember that folks don't have to be experts in order to receive the rush of feeling and beauty in pieces of art.
Title: Re: Mountains again
Post by: nichi on September 02, 2008, 02:08:35 AM
when i tried to think beforehand, or tried to take photos that would be suitable, i think i felt like losing the magic.
now i will do it my way again  :)

Yeah!!!
Title: Re: Mountains again
Post by: Taimyr on September 03, 2008, 04:33:53 AM
just remember that folks don't have to be experts in order to receive the rush of feeling and beauty in pieces of art.

maybe being an expert actually impedes it.
Title: Re: Mountains again
Post by: nichi on September 03, 2008, 05:13:16 AM
I think you're right!
Title: Re: Mountains again
Post by: Michael on September 03, 2008, 08:54:57 AM
taimi, apropos my comments on your site today, this is one of the photos our artist friend really liked. (The very thing which I at first thought ruined the photo, was what attracted her eye.)

(http://buriedshiva.com.au/assets/kolkata_backstreets3.jpg)
Title: Re: Mountains again
Post by: Michael on September 27, 2008, 01:16:41 AM
I'll see what i can do  ;)

Taimi, it arrived today!

It is absolutely fabulous! Fits me perfectly.

Julie can't stop laughing - she wants to know if I'm going to wear it to town.

Thank you muchly   :-* :-*
Title: Re: Mountains again
Post by: nichi on September 27, 2008, 02:23:32 AM
I wanna see! Picture, please...   :)
Title: Re: Mountains again
Post by: Michael on September 27, 2008, 02:39:08 AM
well I just had a look at my pic in the lappy's webcam, but I looked so old and decrepit, that you'll have to wait till someone draws out their proper camera. I'm sure I don't look that bad in the right light.
Title: Re: Mountains again
Post by: nichi on September 27, 2008, 02:44:49 AM
well I just had a look at my pic in the lappy's webcam, but I looked so old and decrepit, that you'll have to wait till someone draws out their proper camera. I'm sure I don't look that bad in the right light.

Old and decrepit? Never! Try in the morning in the light of day!
Title: Re: Mountains again
Post by: Taimyr on September 27, 2008, 02:54:13 AM
Cool, did you turn the edge back, as it was on my photo?

Like here: (a little more from the back and less in front)

(http://latestnews.virginmedia.com/public/images/20080509/435x348/B32763171210351817A0.jpg)

Glad you like it
 ;) :-*

Taimi, it arrived today!

It is absolutely fabulous! Fits me perfectly.

Julie can't stop laughing - she wants to know if I'm going to wear it to town.

Thank you muchly   :-* :-*
Title: Re: Mountains again
Post by: Michael on September 27, 2008, 03:01:02 AM
not at first - but I soon realised that was the way it's done, which made a huge difference!

is that you playing the guitar?  ;)
Title: Re: Mountains again
Post by: Taimyr on September 28, 2008, 06:58:13 AM
is that you playing the guitar?  ;)

wow, you recognized me  ;D
Title: Re: Mountains again
Post by: Taimyr on September 28, 2008, 11:37:16 PM
I've been feeling a little different after this trip. Mainly in relation to this thought i have had - to live somewhere else for a while. Earlier i felt more like obligated to stay here, but now some connections seem to have weakened. I feel more free to do whatever i wish.

But i haven't figured out where to go and when.

Title: Re: Mountains again
Post by: Michael on September 29, 2008, 01:03:20 AM
 no idea where you could go to, but I am loving the hat, and the photo you sent also
Title: Re: Mountains again
Post by: Taimyr on September 29, 2008, 01:05:37 AM
I would prefer a big city where there are better options for an interesting work in photography field. Must stalk this more.
Title: Re: Mountains again
Post by: daphne on October 05, 2008, 04:30:11 PM
Cool, did you turn the edge back, as it was on my photo?

Like here: (a little more from the back and less in front)

Glad you like it
 ;) :-*


The Hat is a Hit! Michael looks most spiffy in it!   :D
Title: Re: Mountains again
Post by: Taimyr on October 07, 2008, 02:13:06 AM
Thats cool...but i wonder what spiffy means  :)

The Hat is a Hit! Michael looks most spiffy in it!   :D
Title: Re: Mountains again
Post by: daphne on October 07, 2008, 08:40:39 AM
Thats cool...but i wonder what spiffy means  :)


http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=spiffy (http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=spiffy)  ;)
Title: Re: Mountains again
Post by: Michael on October 11, 2008, 01:26:04 AM
It's very warm also. Good for winter. I do find I have to do a lot of ducking.

For summer, I picked up a new hat at the festival - a sufi cap.
Title: Re: Mountains again
Post by: nichi on October 11, 2008, 01:33:48 AM
Idea for a thread on a rainy day:
a pictorial of all your hats! I bet there are kazillions!  :)
Title: Re: Mountains again
Post by: erik on October 11, 2008, 03:59:05 AM
Michael, fancy a Georgian hat? Something along these lines:
(http://www.goldmoscow.com/pict/21112004153936_C1121.JPG)
(http://weecheng.com/europe/caucasus/ge/hwy/hat-me.jpg)
:)
Title: Re: Mountains again
Post by: Michael on December 10, 2008, 11:27:09 PM
Taimi, finally got hold of some photos that were taken the night of the bonfire:

(http://buriedshiva.com.au/assets/m_hat2.jpg)
Title: Re: Mountains again
Post by: Jennifer- on December 11, 2008, 10:28:28 AM
Ha! Love it, very handsome ;)
Title: Re: Mountains again
Post by: Taimyr on December 11, 2008, 07:23:24 PM
It looks nice on you  :)
Title: Re: Mountains again
Post by: Michael on December 12, 2008, 07:29:14 AM
thanks to you t,
it is very warm - good for winter.