Journeys for Knowledge

After a long busy summer, I finally submitted my thesis proposal, setting the next phase of my thesis in motion. With the proposal submitted, I need only to await my oral exam to officially start my PhD research. Until that time, I decided to take things easy and enjoy myself, embarking on a hike up Katsuu Dake this weekend. The weather was quite warm and sunny this weekend, so it seemed like a good time to go outside. As fortune would have it, a slight chance of rain turned into an absolute certainty, though I did not know it at the time.

The path up the mountain was quite steep, far steeper than I was led to believe. Most of this climb came from rocks which provided quick shortcuts up the mountain, at least for someone of my height. Within half an hour I had reach the peak of 414 meters, greeted by a wondrous view of Nago and Cape Zanpa to the south. That was when I glanced north and noticed the swiftly approaching rain cloud. Within seconds was upon me, rapidly escalating from light drizzle to pouring rain. Instead of running back down, I decided to wait out the storm and mists until I was sure it had passed. Several minutes later, a heavy mist following the cloud enveloped the mountain, with the sun breaking through overhead. Confident that the rain was gone for good, I headed back down the mountain.

Unfortunately, those rocks that had been such an easy boost up the mountain were now wet from the rain, making them a serious hazard while climbing down. I had several close calls slipping on the rocks, but luckily a nearby tree or ledge was always there to help keep me going. Surprisingly I came down the mountain faster than I climbed, despite being extra careful around the rocks. While this excursion was not the light jaunt I was expecting, it proved to be an exhilarating trek through the elements and back down to civilization.

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