Back into the dragon's 🐉 lair. Mt. Ryugatake to Mt. Kenashi. November 2022. Happy Thanksgiving!


“I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought; and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.”


― G.K. Chesterton

Lake Yamanaka, 7:00 am 11/22/2022
(Lake Yamanaka, 7:00 am 11/22/2022 on the way to Motosu area)

Greetings cavedwellers.
I survived COVID and got out for a dayhike as soon as the authorities let me out of my cage.  I went to the extreme western edge of the Fuji 5 Lakes region for another whack at climbing Ryugatake and Mt. Kenashi* yesterday.

*"Ryugatake" (竜が岳) means "Dragon" 🐲"Peak" ⛰.  "Kenashi" (毛無山) means "Hairless Mountain".  Some mountain names are cooler than others.

Location:  Motosu, Kawaguchiko, Yamanashi~Fujinomiya, Shizuoka

Starting and stopping point:  Ryugatake Trailhead

Mountains climbed: Ryugatake~Amagatake~Takatekki~Oomidake~Kenashi

Getting there/getting around:  

Not so easy.  I took my scooter.  There are buses that run seasonally to the Motosuko Campground.  Public transportation would make a dayhike very difficult.

Map:  Yama to Kogen Chizu 32 富士山 御坂・愛鷹山 FUJI-SAN MISAKA・ASHITAKA-YAMA

Weather Information:  Kenashi weather

Time:  9:39

Distance:  

22.7km

Elevation: 

 Lowest: 820m Highest: 1,964m Total Ascent: 1,714m  Total Descent: 1,719m

Technical considerations/difficulty:  

The climb down to Fumotoppara Campground (or up from it if you are going in the other direction) is a bit steep.  This is the only spot where you encounter many ropes.  On the other end of the climb--up to and over Ryugatake--bamboo grass is the bugaboo.  In spots where it hasn't been trimmed back, it obscures the trail making hiking a bit dangerous as you can't see what you are stepping on.

Facilities:  

Nothing in the way of water, toilets or commerce once you enter the trail.

Thoughts/observations/recommendations: 

This was my second attempt at these mountains.  I had basically the same plan in August by turned back just 90 minutes into the hike because it was cloudy and it just wasn't fun knowing that the views here must be spectacular when it's clear.  Yesterday, the sky was clear until about noon and there were great views until then.  In the afternoon, I felt like I got gypped again.  The sight from Mt. Kenashi must be gorgeous because of it's unobstructed view Fuji.  Alas, I will just have to imagine.

The bamboo grass was trimmed back as far up the trail as the top of Mt. Ryugatake.  After that, it was overgrowing the trail and was waist to chest deep.  The dew on the bamboo grass soaked my lower body and I decided to descend at Kenashi and return on the street rather than retrace my steps through that stuff.  This made the trip a few miles longer and I ended up finishing long after dark.







I'm not going to write that much today.  I'll just show you some pictures.  If you have any questions or feedback, feel free to comment.

This is Lake Motosu.
Lake Motosu

Starting out


You can see the bamboo grass here has been trimmed.



Gorgeous Fuji

Looking west toward the Minami (Southern) Alps




kirei Fuji



"Omidake" 大見岳

Mt. Omidake 大見岳

After crossing the second or third peak of the day, the sun disappeared.



The top of Mt. Kenashi.

Mt. Kenashi


Apparently, this is an emergency helipad!  Their rescue helicopters must be the size of drones.  You'd have to have a heckuva pilot to land here!

Fumotoppara campground.  It looks like Yasgur's farm (where Woodstock was held) to me.
Fumotoppara campground

I was surprised to catch some last glimpses of fall foliage around here.

Fall Foliage in Yamanashi


Dinner on the way home.  Hoto.  It's a local specialty.  What is hoto, you ask?  ほうとう

houtou






By the way, today is a holiday in Japan.  It is Thanksgiving for Labor day.  (How Japanese does that sound?)  Tomorrow is Thanksgiving in the U.S.   There, it's thanks to God.  I like labor--but I think our Thanksgiving is more fitting.  

Have you ever made a gratitude list?  It's a good thing to do.  I find when I start counting my blessings, there is no end to them.

May you/we all reflect on all the uncountable gifts we've received and may we then try to give to others just as profligately.

Don't forget to comment and subscribe if you haven't already.  See you next time.  

Here is more from the Fuji Five Lakes area

Caveman Out


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