How's everyone doing? Y'alright? Me? I am A-OK. Firing on all cylinders, cooking with gas and squatting in the tall grass.
When I moved to Nagano in May of 2023, the first thing I did was hop on my bicycle at home (elev. 670 m) and ride 25 km up the Tateshina Skyline to Ogawahara Pass (elev. 2,058m) where I then hiked to the top of Mt. Tateshina (elev. 2531 m).
What a great day that was, and what an auspicious way to start my adventures on the Yatsugatake Range.
Since then, I have hiked all over the Yatsugatake Mountain Range. I can see it from home, and from my office. My colleagues think I am a highly engaged thoughtful employee because they see me so deep in thought about work. What I am most often really doing is scheming about my next adventure on Yatsugatake.
I have ridden my bike from this side of the range to the other and back. Some of the mountains, I've summited 5 or 6 times. I've gone up to Mt. Futago early in the morning to catch the sunrise before work. I've ridden the Skyline on my bike after it's closed for the winter. I have hiked from my home over the range to the other side--and then all the way past Matsumoto Station. (Not all at once, though!)
There were a few peaks in the range that eluded me for the longest time, however. Way on the other side from where I live is Mt. Amigasa. I really wanted to bag that and to knock off the peaks between it and Mt. Akadake to finally consider that I've completed the range.
It was a hard thing to do because it is a longish trek and I needed to overnight. The stars just never seemed to align enough for me to do that hike.
Until last week. I finally got to do it. Hooray.
. . . about Mt. Akadake and the Yatsugatake Range
The Yatsugatake Range is a popular hiking area which runs about 19 miles from Kitasaku, Nagano in the north to Hokuto City, Yamanashi in the south. The highest peak on the northern end is Tateshina (2,531 meters), and the highest peak of the whole range is in the south, Mt. Akadake (2,899 meters). The southern part of the range is higher and is more spicy for hiking.
Although Yatsugatake is beautiful and parts of it are spicy, most of it is accessible year-round and it's possible to enjoy hiking in the snow as well as during the green seasons.
Mt. Tateshina is one of the Hyakumeizan (100 Famous Mountains). Yatsugatake is also on the list. Since Yatsugatake is a whole range, typically, people deem Akadake as being the peak that counts for the Hyakumeizan designation. This was my third time to summit Akadake.
Yatsugatake is home to the country's highest rotenburo (outside hotspring bath). Yatsugatake Honzawa Hotspring . Shirakoma Pond is one of the most beautiful spots in the country to catch fall foliage.
This isn't my video, but I really like it!
Location:
Map: ***If you want a link to the latest Yama to Kogen map, comment and I'll get you a link. This link is to a printable topo map of this area.
The Caveman did it in: Total Time: 13:17 Break time: :35 Distance: 20 km
Elevation:Lowest: 1,330 m Highest: 2,899 m Total Ascent: 2,636 m Total Descent: 2,636 m
Technical considerations/difficulty:
Lots to consider. This is a significant ascent and is physically taxing. I spread this over two days to ensure I'd be able to finish.
There are a lot of chains, ladders, and ropes you need to negotiate. The col (キレット) has a lot of scree, and you must be careful not to slip on the loose rocks.
Make sure you have a map and GPS. There are a few parts where it is easy to get turned around, especially below the treeline.
Facilities:
I stayed at the Seinen Mountain Cabin 青年小屋. It has a tent site as well as rooms for lodging in. Just off the top of Mt. Akadake is the Akadake Tenboso 赤岳展望荘. Between those two huts are two other huts that have closed. 😢
Thoughts/observations/recommendations:
I think that if I were to do this trek again, I would stay at the Akadake Tenboso. I liked the Seinen Cabin, but distance-wise, staying at the top would have made more sense. Also, seeing sunset and sunrise up there would be a big bonus.
(Along with all the regular stuff such as maps, headlamps, boots, feet, and brains, . . .) don't forget:
A helmet. On the col, occasionally a rock with roll down behind a hiker. I'd hate to get whacked on the head by one.
Let's look at some pictures:
Day One:
Day Two:
Day One:
Day Two:
Starting out
The view is of the first peak (Mt. Amigasa), on the right and the last peak (Nishidake), on the left.
The top of Amigasa
From the top of Amigasa
The Seinen Cabin
青年小屋
Amigasa is behind the swing
This is either Nishigiboshi or Higashigiboshi. I forget which.
This is the ladder.
I wish I took more pictures.
I think it's probably the longest ladder I've ever been on in my life.
The top of Akadake
Akadake means red peak. Makes sense.
Catching the sun setting behind Mt. Ontake was pretty special.
I climbed Ontake just a month or so ago. It's a great mountain.
That is looking up.
I counted the rungs when I climbed.
Later that night, I talked to a man about this ladder. I told him how amazing the ladder was and that it had 76 rungs. He said, "No. It's 62. At least, that's how many there were when I put the ladder there."
I guess I have to take his word for it.
Looking toward Hokuto to the east...
...and Lake Suwa to the west.
There is good reason that people study the stars in Nagano.
It's amazing I could take this picture with a phone.
Dinner at the Seinen Koya.
Breakfast
It was foggy on the way down, so I didn't take too many pictures.
Have you kicked in some sheckels? If you people duke me enough ducats, I'll climb the rest of the 100 Famous Mountains and tell you all about it. Click the Buy Me a Coffee button if you're feeling generous.
