Caveman hikes Kurumazaka Pass to Mt. Kurofu. Spies a volcano.

Location:  Asama, Komoro City, Nagano

Starting and stopping point:  Takamine Kogen Visitor's Center

Peaks bagged: Kurumazaka Yarigasaya Tominokashira Kurofu

Getting there/getting around:  There is a large parking lot behind the visitor's center.  There is also bus service to Komoro, Sakudaira, and even Shinjuku.  JRBusKanto runs a bus from the Shinjuku Bus Terminal.  It takes 4 hours and costs ¥3,400.  I think there is one departing Shinjuku around 10:30 and a return bus at 16:20.

Map:  Yama to Kogen Chizu 19 浅間山軽井沢・長野原の山々ASAMA-YAMA KARUIZAWA-NAGANOHARA-MOUNTAINS

Weather Information: Asama Weather

Total Time: 2:16  Break time: 11  Distance:  5.3km

Elevation:  Lowest: 1,966m  Highest: 2,404m Total Ascent: 493  Total Descent: 493

Technical considerations/difficulty:  This is a fairly straightforward hike.  It's not very long.  The trailhead is at a mountain pass so you're already as high up as a car can take you.  Most of the hike is below the treeline but when you pop out onto the peaks on the edge of the valley facing Mt. Asama it is a bit dizzying.  There are no chains or ladders, but you do need to scramble over some boulders.  I really wouldn't want to slip off of one of those rocks.  Alltrails calls this hike "hard".  YAMAP gives it 3 out of 5 for "strength".  I don't know if I'd call it hard...Perhaps if you only put on your hiking boots once in a while.  

At the visitor's center, there are the ubiquitous warnings about bears.  I'm starting to pay a little more attention to them because there do seem to be more bear encounters in  this corner or Nagano and Gunma than I'm accustomed to in other areas.  That said, I am still not getting a bear bell.  Wow, I find them obnoxious.

Facilities:  The visitor's center is remarkably clean and large.  There's a snack bar, rental helmets, poles, gaiters, brochures, some items of clothing for sale, vending machines, and restrooms.  It's a happening place.  Next to that is the Takamine Kogen Hotel which has a commanding view of the valley below and Yatsugatake beyond.  Behind the hotel, there are more restrooms open 24 hours a day.  There is no water on the trail.  There is a very rudimentary emergency shelter on the trail.  It's basically just a big tube open on both ends.  I assume this is purposed more for protection from eruption than for anything else.

Thoughts/observations/recommendations:  This hike was a bit of daytime reconnaissance for doing the same trail in the dark later this summer.  When I was doing some trail research the other day, I came across an ad for a tour to see "Diamond Asama" at sunrise:  Diamond Asama tour .  That sounds like fun!  I learned about the diamond effect from Mt. Fuji.  As the sun sets or rises directly behind the mountain, rays of light get super bright.  Now, I think it's nice that these people are giving a tour to see the effect--but they are charging money.  One of the things the caveman dislikes--almost as much as he dislikes pretentious jerks who refer to themselves in the third person--is spending money.  Armed with the date and place when the diamond effect is likely to occur, I decided to check out the trail in daylight ahead of time.  It was a great excuse to go for a short hike after work on a Thursday afternoon!  

Thankfully, there was another brief window of nice weather in this rainy season so that I could do it!  We have had a few days of real torrential downpours recently so yesterday's clear weather was just the bees knees.  It was almost as good as sliced bread.

And, hiking at that time of day, on a weekday no less, meant that I had the trail and peaks all to myself.

Today's listening:  Bible in a Year

There's another trek around Asama here Kurofu, etc.

The actual sunrise hike is here.

Here are the stats and some pictures:

I saw this guy on my way up the road to the trailhead.  I call him Fred.  Fred the animal.

Inside the visitor's center

Looking down toward Komoro and Saku cities.

Much of the trail is like this.  At spots, there are rhododendrons, too.

The Shelter.  This is not your usual mountain shelter.  I assume it's to shelter during an eruption.  I've seen similar ones on the other side of Mt. Asama, too.

That is Mt. Asama.  The air quality level is still such that we can't go near the crater.  I can't wait until we can.  

I live down there.  Can't you see my house?

Heading back down

The hotel is on the left side.

The Bus Stop

Looking west

That's all for today.  Thanks for dropping by my cave.  Come back again.  Subscribe if you feel like it.  Leave a comment if you are of a mind to.

Check out this 100 Famous Mountain, Mt. Kobushi.

Caveman out

I'm not Shipping Up to Boston, but I do love that Dirty Water. Mt. Sekison. June, 2023

That's not toxic waste.  That is what a river near a volcano looks like.

Hello Cavedwellers.  It's been a while since I've hiked anywhere blogworthy.  How are you doin'?  I'm grateful to be alive, as always.

We had a window of nice weather yesterday.  That's so nice.  Some years the rainy season never allows for a sunny weekend day.  This year it is working in reverse and it's been raining on weekdays.  Hooray!

I went to a peak just to the south of Mt. Asama.  It was great.  (Any mountain is great, providing you get home alive.)

Here are the details:

Location:  Mt. Sekison.  Nagano Prefecture, Karuizawa

Starting and stopping point:  Oiwake

Peaks bagged: Mt. Sekison

Getting there/getting around:  I drove and parked on a dirt road.  No bus stops in evidence.  You could just walk from Shinano Oiwake Station.  It would be about an extra hour or two.

Map:  Yama to Kogen Chizu 19 浅間山軽井沢・長野原の山々ASAMA-YAMA KARUIZAWA-NAGANOHARA-MOUNTAINS

Weather: Asama Weather 

Total Time:   3:54  Break time: 0  Distance: 14.1km 

Elevation:  Lowest: 1,051m  Highest: 1,677m Total Ascent: 761m  Total Descent: 761m

Technical considerations/difficulty:  

A GPS device is a good idea here.  Most of the way is very easy to discern, but at one or two points, you could get twisted around.   

Most of this was just a very pleasant walk in the woods.  As I was driving to the trailhead, I entered a long stretch of un-paved rugged road and decided to start walking ahead of time in order to save my car the wear and tear.  Since I did not start at a regular trailhead I did need to do some bushwhacking to get to the trail, but with my smartphone in hand, it wasn't too hard to find.  I did cut across some private property on the way but nobody caught me so no harm, no foul.  (This reminds me...If a B and E is done in the woods, has a felony been committed?)  

From the trail entrance for most of the way, it was just a nice path through the woods.  

There was only one place I encountered any ropes.  If you notice from my track, there is a bit of a detour before going to the peak.  That trail leads to a cave (evidently for zazen meditation).  Getting up to the cave, there is one steep part with a rope.  It's not challenging or dangerous, though.

This hike is on the side of the volcano and there are safety considerations.  Below are the notes I included for my hike on the mountains to the west of Mt. Asama in May:

First and foremost, it's important to remember that this is an active volcano and there are usually restrictions on where you can go.  Depending on the air quality, you may not even be able to climb it at all.  The authorities have 5 levels of caution.  1=no restriction, 2=the fewest restrictions, 3=climbing nearby allowed with more restrictions, 4=local residences are in danger and should prepare for evacuation, 5, Run you fools!

You can check the current levels on this page from Komoro City's web page.  It's in Japanese but you can figure out the level by finding something that looks like this near the top of the page: 

火口周辺警報（レベル2：火口周辺規制）（令和5年3月23日）

火口周辺警報=caldera area warning

(レベル2:火口周辺規制)=Level 2: restrictions around the caldera

(令和５年３月２３日)=Reiwa Year 5, May 23

Here are some pictures for your perusal:

Where I parked.  Next to where I parked, there was a sign noting the time and date of a bear sighting just 2 weeks before.  (Let's not divulge that factoid to Mrs. Caveman.)

The Nigori River.  (濁川)  Nigori means something like pollution or clouded.  I don't think the water is dirty, however.

I am curious about whether it is potable or not, though.  I wouldn't hesitate to drink out of most mountain streams around here.  This, however . . . I wonder if this water needs purification to be drinkable or if it's beyond hope.  Does anyone have any input on this?

The Chinotaki ("Blood" "Falls")

Around here is the only place I smelled sulfur on this hike.  On the other side of Asama, the sulfur smell was quite strong.

On the way to the cave . . .

Inside the cave, there are human and animal footprints.  I wonder what goes on in there at night.

After dropping by the cave, I headed toward the peak and got my first views of the day.

Kengamine on the left, Mt. Asama on the right.

That post marks the top of Mt. Sekison.

Looking east toward Gunma and beyond.  Mt. Myogi is in the picture.  So it Ryokami and Toridani.

Facilities:  Nothing

Thoughts/observations/recommendations:  One thing I liked about this hike was that it was pretty secluded.  Karuizawa is a happening place but I only bumped into two groups of people on my hike.  I had the peak to myself.

Bring bug spray.  I had planned to pick some up at 7-11 but they didn't have any.  There weren't mosquitoes but there were giant bugs with swept-back wings.  I am pretty sure they were horseflies.  If you stand still they'll land on you and give you a painful bite.  

Today's listening:  

Bible in a Year

Babbling brooks and summering cicadas

Postscript

I had the pleasure of Mrs. Caveman's company for (some of) this trip.  While I was hiking, she was sketching at the Wild Bird Preserve.  Check out her blog here:   Put Out Into The Deep

On the way home, we dropped by the Shiraito ("White" "Thread") Falls and the Ryugaeshi ("Dragon" "turn back") Falls.  

Shiraito Falls

Ryugaeshi Falls

That's all for today.  Stay safe.  Subscribe, blah blah blah.  Or not.  That's OK, too.

Do check out Mrs. Caveman's blog.  It's worth reading.

Caveman hikes another 100 Meizan. Mt. Akadake and 5 other peaks of the Yatsugatake Range

Location:  Mt. Akadake, Yatsugatake

Starting and stopping point:   Somazoeone Tozanshayo Parking Lot Uminokuchi, Minamimaki, Nagano 384-1302

Peaks bagged: 　横岳:（三叉峰）,（無名峰）,（奥ノ院）〜石尊峰 〜　地蔵ノ頭　〜　赤岳(八ヶ岳）

Getting there/getting around:  

You can get to the parking lot by taxi from the Koumi Line.  It's about a 20-minute ride.  There are parking two parking areas near the Somozoe Ridge trail.  When those lots filled, people parked along the street.  There were about 20 cars.  It's a residential area, so be careful not to park in front of any of the brown signs that say 「私有地に付き立ち入り禁止」.  Cars not parked in front of those signs seemed not to bother the locals.

Map:  

 Search for "山と高原地図 八ヶ岳 蓼科・美ヶ原・霧ヶ峰 " on the Mapple Website

Weather Information: 

Akadake Weather (English) Another Report for Akadake (Japanese)

Time

Total Time: 8:02  

Break time: :32  

Distance:  12.7 km

Elevation:  

Lowest:  1,755m Highest: 2,899.4m  Total Ascent:  1,515m Total Descent: 1,515m 

Technical considerations/difficulty:  

I recall meeting someone from the Yatsugatake area on Kumotori-san (Tokyo's highest point) once.  Their comment about their stomping grounds was, "If you can do this, you can hike the Yatsugatake mountains." That said, I'm reminded of a mountain youtuber's video I saw about Kumotori in which he said, "This is the hardest mountain I've ever climbed."  (I'd be lying if I said that didn't boost my ego.)

Everything is relative.

This hike was a bit challenging.  There are lots of steep parts and a lot of chains, ropes and ladders.  I was up and down in less than 8 hours but I do note that afterward my ankles felt like I'd been on a much longer excursion.  

There are several parts where using hands is as necessary as using feet to scramble over boulders but, it is all relative.  I didn't find any part of this trip frightening.

I did note that I encountered no young children or pets on this hike.  There were also far fewer grandmotherly types than usual.

The trail wasn't particularly hard to follow.

Facilities:  

There is a mountain hut below the peak that was open.  There is lodging, pay toilets, etc. there.  No tent area, though.  There's also a hut on top but it was buttoned up tightly.  I don't know if it's still in business.

Thoughts/observations/recommendations:

I'm glad I was there early.  I started just before 5 and my parking lot was already full.  Also, I beat most of the crowds.  I got back to my car around 1 and encountered a lot of people on the last leg. 

I wish it had been a picture-perfect day, but it could have been worse.  As it turns out, I'm glad I got out on this particular day because the rainy season kicked off with a vengeance the very next day.  I live in the area now and plan to hike all of the Yatsugatake mountain range.  There will be great views to be had in the future.

Without further ado, here are some pictures.

Just a few minutes up the trail is a spot called Fujimi Iwa ("Fuji See Boulder").  I call false advertising.  

At least on this particular morning.

I like rocks.  There are a lot of rocks here.  I am happy.

Yokodake Okunoin

石尊峰　Mt. Sekisonho

This pile of rocks looks like hardened lava.

The top of Akadake.

The parking lot at the end of the day was considerably more full than when I started out.

FYI, there are portapotties in this parking lot--and then none more to be seen until the mountain hut.

Today's listening:

Bible in a Year

Fighting Through From Dunkirk to Hamburg  This podcast is a real labor of love by one Brit about his dad's service in WWII and other un-published WWII histories.  It's really amazing. 

Not tired of the 100 Famous Mountains yet?  Try one of these.

Makihata

Kobushi

Another of Akadake in 2024

That's all for now.  Subscribe, comment, etc.

Caveman out