Taking the high road
September 30, 2015 by Katelyn -
Jamie often likes to meander on her walks around the hill to climb structures, forage, or just check out the happenings in her kingdom. And when she diverts from the path, she expects whomever is accompanying her to wait patiently in the wings until she is ready to resume walking along the perimeter. It’s pretty funny how well she has us conditioned to her expectations, but it’s a joy to be able to watch her enjoy her time as she periodically looks our way to make sure we are still waiting for her.
Since the climbing structure with Carlene’s Tower and Jamie’s Lookout were built for the chimpanzees, this has become one of her favorite detours. She typically leaves us waiting at the top of the hill as she goes to make her way up the ladder to her Lookout, take in the view, cross the shaky bridge to Carlene’s Tower, and then climb back down the other side. She does a quick search in the foliage below and then usually returns to where she left us waiting so we can proceed on the path around Young’s Hill.
Often we walk in silence, occasionally looking across at one another to offer a head nod (or for Jamie to make sure we’re still wearing her boots). When I walk with her I often stop to take photos or look at something, doing my own exploring, and she will wait for me in return. Sometimes the only sound I hear are her footsteps through the grass as we make our way back to the chimp house. It’s a leisurely stroll with a good friend.
As part of Jamie’s routine she now usually picks up a tumbleweed along the way and carries it back to the chimp house with the plan to groom whatever boots we are wearing with her makeshift tool.
And then as long as it’s during the day and there’s no threat of it being time to close off Young’s Hill for the evening, Jamie often gathers her boots and blankets for a quick nap until it’s time to set off for the next walk.
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A walk with a friend, what a joy!
So, does she always require that you wear the boots?
Hi Carla,
Yes, we are pretty much always required to wear boots for our walks. Part of the routine is that she first tells us which boots she wants us to wear and then she usually waits to make sure we put them both on before heading out to meet us on the hill. Occasionally we can carry them, but not usually. 😉
Another great post! Yes, a walk with a trusted friend is always a good thing …
The pictures are so beautiful – especially the last one with the close-up and that adorable expression!
Personally I can’t imagine a finer way to spend time, what a gift to walk with Jamie! I will admit, on my visit to CSNW I shared 2 patrols around the outside of Young’s Hill while Jamie strolled within her fenced in area (one walk with J.B. and one walk with the days hardworking crew!) and I was so excited it was almost a blur to me! Seeing Jamie slowly follow her beaten down path in the grass, strolling at her own comfortable pace, looking around over her very own backyard — it was so magnificent that I could hardly take it all in. And the VIEW is breathtaking. Now that I have stood there, at the top of Young’s Hill and taken in the view of Negra’s Valley below, I could just cry trying to imagine what each chimpanzee experienced in those first days that they explored their enclosure for the very first time. It was an honor to walk with Jamie (even though I was so excited it was hard to take it all in!!). To walk with a companion like Jamie everyday — and hear the sounds of her little footsteps in the grass in the silence of the natural world — WOW! That would be my biggest dream come true! Katelyn, you are so lucky to be a friend to these 7 beautiful chimps.
Thank you for sharing your adventure.
Hi Kathleen,
I’m so glad you had the opportunity to experience a walk with James during your visit! The view is incredible and I know exactly what you mean about thinking of how things must seem from their perspective. They show us another part of themselves every day it seems. Every single walk with Jamie, or any of the chimps, is incredibly special and I am grateful every day. The other day, five of the chimps came along and we were all just walking quietly, occasionally looking at one another, as we moved through the tall, dry grass (on our respective sides of the fence). An amazing moment to experience and so thankful they get to have such time with one another. Thanks for being such a dear friend to them and we hope you get to visit again! 🙂