Tuesday, December 30, 2003
I was alone, I took a ride, I didn't know what I would find there...
Hi, sorry for not writing for so long. i know that for some of you this blog is a sign of life from me, to know that i wasn't eaten by a wolf, trampled by a camel or swallowed by a snake. So to keep the reverse order of this blog, I'll start from my last visit to Assafistan and go back in time.
last Friday i got signals from 5 Oryx from an area i haven't been in for a very long time. The road leading there is not an easy one, and is going through a wadi where receiving signal is impossible. The roads leaves the wadi and then descends sharply into a plateau. Going down there was possible, i wasn't sure I'll be able to climb it back with the car, thou. Since i didn't get any signal from the Oryx, and definitely no signal from the south, where that road leads, i decided to leave the car there, and pass the mountain chain a bit north to that spot. The climb up was no problem. And from the summit i could faintly receive a signal from... the south. Going down from the other side was a little tougher, i had to go north and go through a steep wadi full of boulders until i reached a narrow wadi that led back south. This wadi took a few turns and in one of them i met a male Ibex. The ibex seemed very surprised to see a human in this place. I was very surprised to see an Ibex there, as there are not many- if at all -reports of Ibex in this place. The Ibex choose to react in the default way - run away. But ibex is not the issue. For seeing Ibex all i need to do is to walk 3 minutes from my house. Ibex are no excitement. So i kept on, and i start receiving stronger and stronger signals which led me more and more south. Then i met a group of 6 wild ass . The wild ass is a relaxed species. The looked at me for a while, and then started walking in the direction of my path. i kept walking and the stopped to look at me again. Decided to run, then thought about it again and decided not to, that I'm, more interesting to stare at. Then, from a near by wadi, 3 more wild ass joined the 6 and they all stared at me for a while until the 3 felt less safe and returned to the wadi they came from, but climbed a hill to make sure I'm not sneaking back on them.
not far away, chewing shrubs in the late afternoon sun, stood 7 of my most beloved Oryx. As i had to climb a hill to get a better view whether there are more of them , they saw me. Now i was standing on a hill, with 9 wild ass and 7 Oryx looking at me, i tell you, it's been a while since i got so much attention from wild life. i think i blushed.
the time was late. i had a long walk back to where my car was (i hoped, you never know if you'll find your car when you return, one of the professional risks).
but then i did something that i haven't done for a very long time. i tried to receive a transmitter that is was on an Oryx who died more than a year ago, and only once i got the death signal from it's collar, and since then i couldn't receive it. i thought it was lost in the last years flood. I've already gave up hope but in that place, where i never been before, I've decided to try and receive it. Did i mention one needs a good intuition in this job ? Sure enough, i got a very strong signal. Of course, from the other direction that i had to go. But I've found the transmitter about 500m from that place. A short search around and i had it's 2 horns and skull.
now it was definitely a good time to walk back. The way led me just under the legendary Mt. Sinai (some believe) - i had to leave the place before some god leaches on me and give me commandments- i had too much to carry anyway. A long way back, to climb that road i didn't want to go by car. As the last rays of light decayed, I've reached the car, that to my surprise, was still there.
so, i had:
1 Ibex
9 Wild ass,
7 Oryx,
2 horns,
1 skull,
no god at all.
Next morning i went to visit the eastern population.
i received 8 from one spot, 2 from another direction. So i had to see how many in each group. The 8 where in a wadi with dense vegetation. i just couldn't see all at once and count. i went closer and closer, disguised as an Oryx with white clothes and me field telescope as a horn. Walking slowly, from shrub to shrub, i got to about 30 meters from them. They saw me, but couldn't decide what to do. Eventually they all gathered, i could count 10 of them. But the were frequently looking back, as to check with their friends. So i walked away, to the place they came from, to see whether there's another one. Suddenly, 3 Oryx passed by running, and all the group run away eastward. i went back to the car and drove around to find the other 2 Oryx that i received earlier. Apparently, one of them already joined the group of 13.
just when i came to see whether the last one is alone, She run away and joined the big group, now 15. They kept on walking fast eastward, and then 3 turned south. After a while a forth Oryx followed out of the vegetation and after the three. When seeing where they where going, it went back to the big group. The 3 continues south, to a barren place where you cannot find a single plant.
I tell you, this Oryx are mad cows .
The week before...
This delusive beast... walked 4 hours and they were not seen. Got to amazing places though, but my ears froze from the cold wind. No luck Today.
Saturday morning , i met a single male on the road. As expected, he run away.
2 females where in another location, a beautiful dry waterfall and excellent scenery,
but to get there i had to drive through the remaining of an air-force bombing. Beat me but i can't tell how i made without a flat-tier. i took away about 8 parachutes, the local "natural" enemy of the Oryx.
Only 3 Oryx this time.
And a week before that...
A personal record of no. Of Oryx seen in one day was broken. The Eastern group with 16 heads, after about 5 minutes of search. That the way i like it. Enough time to ride west. About an hour later i sneak behind a group of 9 Oryx, scare them and walk away. i didn't mean to scare them, of course. In matter of fact i even left my sandals behind and walked barefoot on the sharp flint and chalk just to be as quite as possible, but in vain. The saw me and went away. But i saw what i wanted and still had enough time to search of some more- and i found. i saw 4 Oryx from a distance, next to a hill. There was a probability that there are more behind the hill, so i climbed a near by mountain to get a better view. The wasn't a better view so i walked on the mountain s to try to get a better angle, but the closer i got, and better angle i gain, the sun got a better angle on me, so after about 2 hours of climbing up and down i find my self staring at the setting sun and trying to identify Oryx. They were still 4. The sun was setting, had to go back before it gets dark and i won't find my way down the mountain.
so in total, 29 Oryx in one day. i call this a harvest.
last Friday i got signals from 5 Oryx from an area i haven't been in for a very long time. The road leading there is not an easy one, and is going through a wadi where receiving signal is impossible. The roads leaves the wadi and then descends sharply into a plateau. Going down there was possible, i wasn't sure I'll be able to climb it back with the car, thou. Since i didn't get any signal from the Oryx, and definitely no signal from the south, where that road leads, i decided to leave the car there, and pass the mountain chain a bit north to that spot. The climb up was no problem. And from the summit i could faintly receive a signal from... the south. Going down from the other side was a little tougher, i had to go north and go through a steep wadi full of boulders until i reached a narrow wadi that led back south. This wadi took a few turns and in one of them i met a male Ibex. The ibex seemed very surprised to see a human in this place. I was very surprised to see an Ibex there, as there are not many- if at all -reports of Ibex in this place. The Ibex choose to react in the default way - run away. But ibex is not the issue. For seeing Ibex all i need to do is to walk 3 minutes from my house. Ibex are no excitement. So i kept on, and i start receiving stronger and stronger signals which led me more and more south. Then i met a group of 6 wild ass . The wild ass is a relaxed species. The looked at me for a while, and then started walking in the direction of my path. i kept walking and the stopped to look at me again. Decided to run, then thought about it again and decided not to, that I'm, more interesting to stare at. Then, from a near by wadi, 3 more wild ass joined the 6 and they all stared at me for a while until the 3 felt less safe and returned to the wadi they came from, but climbed a hill to make sure I'm not sneaking back on them.
not far away, chewing shrubs in the late afternoon sun, stood 7 of my most beloved Oryx. As i had to climb a hill to get a better view whether there are more of them , they saw me. Now i was standing on a hill, with 9 wild ass and 7 Oryx looking at me, i tell you, it's been a while since i got so much attention from wild life. i think i blushed.
the time was late. i had a long walk back to where my car was (i hoped, you never know if you'll find your car when you return, one of the professional risks).
but then i did something that i haven't done for a very long time. i tried to receive a transmitter that is was on an Oryx who died more than a year ago, and only once i got the death signal from it's collar, and since then i couldn't receive it. i thought it was lost in the last years flood. I've already gave up hope but in that place, where i never been before, I've decided to try and receive it. Did i mention one needs a good intuition in this job ? Sure enough, i got a very strong signal. Of course, from the other direction that i had to go. But I've found the transmitter about 500m from that place. A short search around and i had it's 2 horns and skull.
now it was definitely a good time to walk back. The way led me just under the legendary Mt. Sinai (some believe) - i had to leave the place before some god leaches on me and give me commandments- i had too much to carry anyway. A long way back, to climb that road i didn't want to go by car. As the last rays of light decayed, I've reached the car, that to my surprise, was still there.
so, i had:
1 Ibex
9 Wild ass,
7 Oryx,
2 horns,
1 skull,
no god at all.
Next morning i went to visit the eastern population.
i received 8 from one spot, 2 from another direction. So i had to see how many in each group. The 8 where in a wadi with dense vegetation. i just couldn't see all at once and count. i went closer and closer, disguised as an Oryx with white clothes and me field telescope as a horn. Walking slowly, from shrub to shrub, i got to about 30 meters from them. They saw me, but couldn't decide what to do. Eventually they all gathered, i could count 10 of them. But the were frequently looking back, as to check with their friends. So i walked away, to the place they came from, to see whether there's another one. Suddenly, 3 Oryx passed by running, and all the group run away eastward. i went back to the car and drove around to find the other 2 Oryx that i received earlier. Apparently, one of them already joined the group of 13.
just when i came to see whether the last one is alone, She run away and joined the big group, now 15. They kept on walking fast eastward, and then 3 turned south. After a while a forth Oryx followed out of the vegetation and after the three. When seeing where they where going, it went back to the big group. The 3 continues south, to a barren place where you cannot find a single plant.
I tell you, this Oryx are mad cows .
The week before...
This delusive beast... walked 4 hours and they were not seen. Got to amazing places though, but my ears froze from the cold wind. No luck Today.
Saturday morning , i met a single male on the road. As expected, he run away.
2 females where in another location, a beautiful dry waterfall and excellent scenery,
but to get there i had to drive through the remaining of an air-force bombing. Beat me but i can't tell how i made without a flat-tier. i took away about 8 parachutes, the local "natural" enemy of the Oryx.
Only 3 Oryx this time.
And a week before that...
A personal record of no. Of Oryx seen in one day was broken. The Eastern group with 16 heads, after about 5 minutes of search. That the way i like it. Enough time to ride west. About an hour later i sneak behind a group of 9 Oryx, scare them and walk away. i didn't mean to scare them, of course. In matter of fact i even left my sandals behind and walked barefoot on the sharp flint and chalk just to be as quite as possible, but in vain. The saw me and went away. But i saw what i wanted and still had enough time to search of some more- and i found. i saw 4 Oryx from a distance, next to a hill. There was a probability that there are more behind the hill, so i climbed a near by mountain to get a better view. The wasn't a better view so i walked on the mountain s to try to get a better angle, but the closer i got, and better angle i gain, the sun got a better angle on me, so after about 2 hours of climbing up and down i find my self staring at the setting sun and trying to identify Oryx. They were still 4. The sun was setting, had to go back before it gets dark and i won't find my way down the mountain.
so in total, 29 Oryx in one day. i call this a harvest.
