I just wanted to report that I did in fact run around the outside of Young’s Hill the other day. I was so grateful for all who donated to Missy Games, I felt I owed it to you.
There is a video of it, but it’s frankly pretty boring – just me moving (not nearly as fast as it felt) around the fence in struggled silence. It seemed like it took forever and the uphill was pretty challenging. I tried to go as fast as I could. The video says it took almost exactly 2 minutes. I should have timed it before we hooked up the fence to the raceway, but I’m guessing it would have taken 20 seconds or less to run around the entire building. What I’m trying to impart is that Young’s Hill is enormous. It’s really difficult to capture the size of it in photographs. I tried a few weeks ago from across the river – see the photo below. Just compare the size of the building in that photo to the hill.
Of course the indoor space will always be important for the chimpanzees, particularly in the winter. The design of the building incorporates vertical space, which is crucial to chimpanzees, and has a lot of options. It’s temperature-controlled and stays pretty cool in the summer and nice and warm even when it’s cold outside.
It will be so interesting to see how the chimps use the hill – where they hang out and what they do out there. There’s endless improvements and structures that can be added, but I think it’s a really great start to more freedom than Annie, Jody and Negra have known since their capture in Africa and more freedom than Burrito, Foxie, Jamie and Missy have ever known.
The next birthday that is coming up is Annie’s on September 10th. The hill won’t be complete by then, but it will be closer. Any suggestions for how we should celebrate?
young’s hill looks wonderful … just awaiting it’s chimpy occupants …
Diana, The day we were there for the 3rd anniversary, we walked to the top of the hill and it was a bit of a climb, but the view at the top was fantastic! I can’t imagine how intrigued and happy they will be to wander around in the grass, fresh air, view the sky and clouds. Thanks for everyone’s hard work on this!
cheers, Marcia
Diana, That is a great view of the Hill and gives a very good idea of the enormous size. It is nice to be able to see the Chimp House in the picture. It is so small compared to the Hill and yet we all know the Chimp House is huge!
Wow, thanks for going the extra mile for Missy’s birthday and running around the Hill. I hope you had a nice big ice tea when you finished.
Annie’s birthday make me think of how far she has come and what a friend she is. With that said I was thinking along the lines of “Queen of the Hill” for the day in honor of her many achievements over the last 3 years and in honor of Young’s Hill getting ready to open. Another idea was honoring her friendship and having a friends birthday: dress ups, tea party, monkey chow cookies, green onions, beaded necklaces, etc.
Anyone else want to add on their ideas? Oh I do love birthdays!!!!
I think Jeani’s idea is brilliant. Annie is so elegant, I can’t wait to see how she and Missy hang out on Young’s Hill. In honour of her birthday, her elegance and the impending completion of the lovely Young’s Hill, what about a “Green Tea Party”? Lots of green onions, green grapes, green frozen juices etc and dress up.
It’s so lovely to hear about Annie becoming more confident. She was the first of the Cle Elum chimps I came across and straight away I noticed this Audrey Hepburn quality about her. She will make a fantastic leading lady on her birthday. Negra may be queen of the Cle Elum Seven but Annie is a princess.
Alison, I love the idea of a green tea party! And yes, Annie is elegant isn’t she?!?! And I do stand corrected… there really is only one queen, I apologize Negra. But Annie would make a lovely princess, Alison, you are right.
Wow! Thanks to the photo I now have more perspective on the size of the hill. The chimps are going to love it! I like both ideas for Annie’s birthday. Just give her a lot of what she loves. Green onions, green grass and lots of love! She is indeed a beauty!
I knew you would do it, Diana! 🙂
I concur, a green tea party sounds perfect! I’ll be there Thursday, so I’ll look around this week and see if there’s anything left over from my 18 year old daughter’s younger days that I can bring over. If not then I’ll raid my nieces’ toyboxes. My mom spoils them so terrible they’ll never miss a thing or two. 🙂
fantastic ideas everyone ! Jeani i agree CSNW birthdays are the best ! well done Diana ! and the view and the hill look amazing 🙂