The tale of the crooked nose and the frigid wife. Mt. Hanamagari and Mt. Hizuma.

 

Location: Mt. Hanamagari on the line between Gunma and Nagano

Starting and stopping point:  Scenic Overlook at Nidoage Pass

Peaks bagged: Mt. Hizuma (氷妻山), Mt. Hanamagari (鼻曲山)

(First-time) peaks # 874 and 875

Getting there/getting around:  Car.  There is a parking lot at the Nidoage Pass (二度上峠) that can accommodate 4 or 5 cars in the non-snow seasons.  I had to park at another lot about 500 meters down the street as that parking lot was snowed in.

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:  Mt. Hanamagari Weather

Total Time: 3:47  Break time:  :14 Distance:  7.2 km

Elevation:  Lowest: 1,372 m Highest: 1,655 m Total Ascent: 625 m  Total Descent: 625 m

Technical considerations/difficulty:  The challenge today was snow.  Although there has been a lot of melting, much of this trail is still covered with about a foot (30cm) or more.  Some areas are along or near ridges with steep dropoffs.  I took great care not to slide off the mountain or to start an avalanche.  The pink ribbons marking the trail were sufficient.

Facilities:  Nothing.  

Thoughts/observations/recommendations:  I've wanted to do this mountain since I climbed Asama Kakushi back in December.  I was really tempted to do it that day but decided to wait.  

Today's listening:  For You The War Is Over

Greetings Cavedwellers.

This is my report on the crooked nose and the frigid wife.

I imagine that introduction inspires images of old crones and unhappy married couples.  Nothing could be farther from the truth.  It just happens that the two mountains I feature today have funny names.

One of the mountains is Mt. Hanamagari (鼻曲山).  "Hana" is 'nose' and "magari" could be either 'song' or 'bend.'  I think bend is more likely.  So, crooked nose is a pretty good translation.  The other mountain is Hizuma (氷妻山).  "Hi" means 'ice' ❄️ and "zuma" means 'wife.' 🥶 Shudder.

Not much to say about it.  I just wanted to get out before the snow melts.

Here are some pics.

This is Asama and the adjacent plateaus from the road.

. . .  and Asama again from my starting point, Nidoage Pass.

This was interesting.  The road crews are picking up the signs that say to be careful of the freezing roads.

Maybe it's time to switch out the ol' snow tires.

This is Mt. Frigid Wife.

Mt. Crooked Nose

Mt. Crooked Nose is the bump on the left.

These hills have a lot of bumpy areas and large boulders that make them cool-looking.

Going down, as is often the case, was harder than going up.  It was very easy to start to slip, potentially causing an avalanche.

That's all for today.

Caveman out.