Caveman hikes another 100 Meizan, Mt. Kirigamine (Mt. Kuruma)

Greetings, cave dwellers.  What a great day this was!  My last two treks were characterized by bad weather and poor visibility but today made up for all that.  It was an absolutely beautiful day to attack one of the 100 Famous Mountains--Mt. Kuruma--and all of the other peaks around it.  

I had planned on only hiking 2 peaks but it was so beautiful and I was making such good time that I hiked each one in the area and didn't even feel like I broke a sweat.

Location:  Mt. Kuruma Suwa, Nagano

Starting and stopping point:  西白樺湖駐車場 Nishi Shirakabako Parking Lot

Peaks bagged: Mt. Kuruma (車山) ~~ Mt. Chochomi (蝶々深山) ~~ Mt. Minaminomimi (南の耳山) ~~ Mt. Kitanomimi (北耳) ~~ Mt. Oozasayama (大笹山) ~~ Mt. Denjo (殿城山)

Getting there/getting around:  I drove.  There is bus service to the area by the Alpico Bus Company, the same bus company that services Kamikochi.  There are numerous bus stops in the area.  If you go to their site, there is an automatic English translation available by clicking a button at the top right side of their page.

Map:  Yama to Kogen Chizu 33 YATSUGA-TAKE TATESHINA・UTSUKUSHIGAHARA・KIRIGAMINE 八ヶ岳蓼科・美ヶ原・霧ヶ峰

Weather Information: 

(Japanese site): Mt. Kuruma area weather   

(English Site):  Mt. Denjo weather 

Total Time:  6:18 Break time: :10  Distance:  19.4

Elevation:  Lowest: 1,416m Highest:  1,925m Total Ascent:  1,040m Total Descent: 1,040m

Technical considerations/difficulty:  This is an extremely pleasant walk.   Except for the trail that I took down from the last mountain to the car, the trails are all relatively level stone paths.  The last trail that I chose was a bit strenuous, but not too bad.  I wouldn't take that trail if you don't have a GPS device and a good sense for finding unmarked trails.  There are no ropes, ladders or chains.  

Facilities:  The parking lot was free.  Here and there are public restrooms.  

Thoughts/observations/recommendations:  What a great set of trails.  There are spectacular views of Mt. Fuji, all of the Alps, Mt. Asama and Yatsugatake.  I want to get back there in other seasons.  Snowshoeing must be fun up there.  There are a lot of ski areas there.  I'm sure that leaf-peeping from the chairlifts and gondolas must be great.

The parking lot is free but I got the last open space.  And that was at 6:30 am!

Today's listening:  Bible in a Year 

Here's what it looked like.

From the parking lot.

Much of the trail was like this.  It was pretty mellow.

Mt. Kitanomimi ("North Ear Mountain")

Lake Shirakaba

This is a hopping place now that summer vacation is here.  Many schools have camps nearby and their sports clubs come up here to train.  There are also several hotels and amusements around the lake.

That's all for today.  See you again, soon.

Caveman out.