Getting there/getting around: Car. There are 5 free spaces near the Miharashidai. There are a few paid parking lots also. Many people go to the area by taxi.
Elevation:Lowest: 1,189 m Highest: 1,655 m Total Ascent: 1,106 m Total Descent: 1,106 m
Technical considerations/difficulty: The trail has a fair amount of ups and downs but isn't terribly difficult. There are no ropes, chains or ladders. The trail isn't marked very well but isn't too difficult to follow as most of it is on a ridge.
Facilities: Nothing on the trail to Hanamagari. The trail that passes the Miharashidai is popular with trail runners. There are a public restroom, a few (seasonal) restaurants, vending machines and parking lots in that area.
Thoughts/observations/recommendations: The hike to Hanamagari is not the main attraction around here. The shrine and the Miharashidai are more popular.
S'up, cavers?
I got to connect the dots on my map a bit the other day. About 4 months ago I first hiked in this area--to Mt. Asama Kakushi. This most recent trek was my 3rd one and enabled me to connect the dots from that mountain in the north to the Miharashidai of Usui Pass in the south. In a straight line, that's only about 9km.
On my last hike, I realized there was something scandalous going on in the naming of these mountains. On that trek, I climbed Mt. Hizuma--"Frozen Wife" and Mt. Hanamagari--"Nose Bent". It gave me pause for thought. What could those names mean? This time, the mystery deepened. As I was heading back to Hanamagari, this time from the other direction, I realized the mountain next to it on the other side from the frozen wife was Mt. Tomebu. That name that means something about a husband. I haven't found a definitive answer for what exactly the compound of the characters in the name means but it is something like "at home" or "faithful" "husband."
Poor guy. He's got a frigid wife who's nose is bent out of shape but he seems to be hanging on. I hope he gets a break some time in life.
I didn't think I would get much in the way of scenery today. It was a bit hazy and there are not many unobstructed views on the way. I was pleasantly surprised to see two kamoshika ("serow" in English.)
This is obviously kamoshika area. I saw one just a few kilometers away on Asama Kakushi when I was there in December.
Anyway, here are some pictures and videos.
First is some wildlife.
This video contains an amusing anecdote. Don't miss it.
Starting and stopping point: Kannari Trailhead Parking Lot (神成登山口駐車場) by the Shinbori Shrine (新堀神社) in Tomioka, Gunma.
Peaks bagged: Mt. Azuma 吾妻山 ~ Mt. Ryuou 竜王山
(First-time) peaks # 876 and 877
Getting there/getting around: I drove. The nearest train station is Nanjaieki (南蛇井駅) (19 min. walk). Alternatively, you could get off at Kanohara (神農原駅) and start the hike from the other end, by the Miyazaki Park (宮崎公園).
Weather Information: Look for a weather report for Tomioka City. These hills aren't high enough to rate a mountain forecast.
Total Time: 2:22 Break time: :19 Distance: 5.9
Elevation:Lowest: 204 m Highest: 320 m Total Ascent: 477 m Total Descent: 477 m
Technical considerations/difficulty: None
Facilities: Benches here and there at nice viewpoints. One spot has picture books with pics of the area in each season. There is also a display case of some bits of nature--snail shells, a stuffed martin. That was neat.
Thoughts/observations/recommendations: This was just a quick walk. I wanted to get in a little more time in the woods before I go back to work in a few days. It was quite a difference from my slog through the snow the day before. This place is very low in elevation and it was really warm. I saw butterflies and bees and all the flowers seemed to have bloomed overnight. I was hiking in a t-shirt.
I'm not going to put up many pictures, dear cavedweller. This was pretty minor as treks go. I am making this post merely for my own memory. ☺
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.
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.
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.
