The Precipice

Played hooky today and was glad I did. Needed a bit of a mental health day and got what I needed.

Spent part of the day at the base of the Precipice. I wouldn't have climbed it even if it was open. As my wife said, "I'm glad we hiked it, but I don't need to do it again." It's not I hike I recommend to anybody. I don't want to feel responsible if something goes wrong. Most videos and commentary on the trail really annoy me, but this one was acceptable and gives a good impression.

I hung out for awhile because it was a beautiful day, nobody was around,  and the peregrines were quite active - flying around, calling out, and appearing to take turns on their scrape up in the cliff face. That's why the trail is closed until late summer. Good thing I don't have a telephoto, otherwise I'd have a neat picture of the falcon up on the cliff face. You'll just have to trust me that it's there.



Here is a symbol in which
Many high tragic thoughts
Watch their own eyes.

This gray rock, standing tall
On the headland, where the seawind
Lets no tree grow,

Earthquake-proved, and signatured
By ages of storms: on its peak
A falcon has perched.

I think, here is your emblem
To hang in the future sky;
Not the cross, not the hive,

But this; bright power, dark peace;
Fierce consciousness joined with final
Disinterestedness;

Life with calm death; the falcon's 
Realist eyes and act
Married to the massive

Mysticism of stone,
Which failure cannot cast down
Nor success make proud.


Rock and Hawk, by Robinson Jeffers