The Caber

In the rugged Cairngorm Mountains of Scotland grow many majestic Scottish Larch trees -- strong and straight. Great conifers, the trunks of these Larch trees have long been hewn into cabers, the unique stars of the Highland Games athletic events all over Scotland. This strange and ancient game of "tossing the caber" has been played by hardy Scots for centuries.

The caber is a long section of tree trunk, tapered so that it is noticeable smaller on one end than the other. The pole is placed vertical, with the smaller end on the ground. The athlete raises it up in his (or her) hands, balancing it against the shoulder, he then runs to gain momentum as the top falls forward and away from him, then at the proper angle, he flips the smaller end up. The object is for the smaller end to flip all the way over and land between 9 and 3 o'clock. The caber is likely to come back toward the athlete.

The best, or "longest" throw, is that which causes the caber to fall straight away from the player, at 12 o'clock. There is probably not a more severe test of muscle and skill.