Opening The Door
10th February 2016
10th Feb 16
Opening the door
A wonderful thing about living in the mountains is the variety of weather conditions you can experience. Regardelss on the type of weather, it can have a profound effect on the landscape, where rain turns streams into raging torrent and snows can turn Lakeland Fells into Alpine like giants. The weather also impacts on a human level as it can impact on how we go about our daily lives.
Even though I have moaned about the recent storms, every day did bring something different and I was forced to think about my approach to each day a lot more than I would have when living in the south of England. Each day required more attention and care, this in turn, forced me to give extra focus on the land and see it with greater clariity. The weather forced me to see the land differently and recognise its character more keenly.
However, my enthusiasm is all too often dampened when I look out onto a dull day that will seemingly be an endless, torrential downpour. The wind and rain, as it lashes against the window pains, stirs my primal instincts of seeking warmth and security. It's as if the thought of poor light and the prospect of being soaked through to the skin just makes me want to go back to bed.
However, mainly due to my obssesive character and, as the day progresses, an ever increasing sense of claustrophobia, I will inevitablyventure out. This approach, regardless how bad the weather, never fail to surprise. Whatever the conditions I am always amazed how many wonderful things I experience and how truly beautiful the day can be.
There is always something new to see and more than often enough, the severe weather has created something mind blowing. This might be a river in spate or a stream that has appeared where before there was just a rocky slope. Phenomen that not only astounds but helps to better understand how the mountain landscape 'works'.
The weather can also have effects on the wildlife, allowing you to see them in a different light. Many times, on windy days, I see Ravens chasing each other. It's as if the weather gets into their tail feathers and sets of a sense of play and mischief. They tumble and soar in an airborn dance and their constant croacking echoes around the hills. These aerial acrobatics are show stoppers, especially when the Ravens soar around the side of the hills like jet fighters. They can move at great speed, leaving a swooshing noise in their trail.
When the changing weather meets the mountains it can produce, stunning unique features. In the last few weeks, with the weather constantly changing from unseasonable warm to seasonable cold, with snow followed by rain, the embroidery of crags and buttresses that line the mountain slopes, have often been covered in a gossamer of thin mist. As the moisture, from the melting snow, rises it forms a flotilla of mini clouds that slowly drift over the rocky profile of the mountains. The convoy of clouds creates a 3D effect, that stretches out along the valley, giving perspective that enhances the relative size of the landscape.
The weather, regardless (or bacuase) of creates many stunning phenonemon, just waiting to be experienced. Just like every season has its weather, every 'weather' (however bad) has its character. Therefore, however poor the weather, however wet and windy and however low my motivation to venture forth, I never regret my decision to open the door and get out into the hills.
The Door
Go and open the door.
Maybe outside there’s
a tree, or a wood,
a garden,
or a magic city.
Go and open the door.
Maybe a dog’s rummaging.
Maybe you’ll see a face,
or an eye,
or the picture
of a picture.
Go and open the door.
If there’s a fog
it will clear.
Go and open the door.
Even if there’s only
the darkness ticking,
even if there’s only
the hollow wind,
even if
nothing
is there,
go and open the door.
At least
there’ll be
a draught.
Miroslav Holub
Opening the door
A wonderful thing about living in the mountains is the variety of weather conditions you can experience. Regardelss on the type of weather, it can have a profound effect on the landscape, where rain turns streams into raging torrent and snows can turn Lakeland Fells into Alpine like giants. The weather also impacts on a human level as it can impact on how we go about our daily lives.
Even though I have moaned about the recent storms, every day did bring something different and I was forced to think about my approach to each day a lot more than I would have when living in the south of England. Each day required more attention and care, this in turn, forced me to give extra focus on the land and see it with greater clariity. The weather forced me to see the land differently and recognise its character more keenly.
However, my enthusiasm is all too often dampened when I look out onto a dull day that will seemingly be an endless, torrential downpour. The wind and rain, as it lashes against the window pains, stirs my primal instincts of seeking warmth and security. It's as if the thought of poor light and the prospect of being soaked through to the skin just makes me want to go back to bed.
However, mainly due to my obssesive character and, as the day progresses, an ever increasing sense of claustrophobia, I will inevitablyventure out. This approach, regardless how bad the weather, never fail to surprise. Whatever the conditions I am always amazed how many wonderful things I experience and how truly beautiful the day can be.
There is always something new to see and more than often enough, the severe weather has created something mind blowing. This might be a river in spate or a stream that has appeared where before there was just a rocky slope. Phenomen that not only astounds but helps to better understand how the mountain landscape 'works'.
The weather can also have effects on the wildlife, allowing you to see them in a different light. Many times, on windy days, I see Ravens chasing each other. It's as if the weather gets into their tail feathers and sets of a sense of play and mischief. They tumble and soar in an airborn dance and their constant croacking echoes around the hills. These aerial acrobatics are show stoppers, especially when the Ravens soar around the side of the hills like jet fighters. They can move at great speed, leaving a swooshing noise in their trail.
When the changing weather meets the mountains it can produce, stunning unique features. In the last few weeks, with the weather constantly changing from unseasonable warm to seasonable cold, with snow followed by rain, the embroidery of crags and buttresses that line the mountain slopes, have often been covered in a gossamer of thin mist. As the moisture, from the melting snow, rises it forms a flotilla of mini clouds that slowly drift over the rocky profile of the mountains. The convoy of clouds creates a 3D effect, that stretches out along the valley, giving perspective that enhances the relative size of the landscape.
The weather, regardless (or bacuase) of creates many stunning phenonemon, just waiting to be experienced. Just like every season has its weather, every 'weather' (however bad) has its character. Therefore, however poor the weather, however wet and windy and however low my motivation to venture forth, I never regret my decision to open the door and get out into the hills.
The Door
Go and open the door.
Maybe outside there’s
a tree, or a wood,
a garden,
or a magic city.
Go and open the door.
Maybe a dog’s rummaging.
Maybe you’ll see a face,
or an eye,
or the picture
of a picture.
Go and open the door.
If there’s a fog
it will clear.
Go and open the door.
Even if there’s only
the darkness ticking,
even if there’s only
the hollow wind,
even if
nothing
is there,
go and open the door.
At least
there’ll be
a draught.
Miroslav Holub