Yesterday I climbed one of the 100 Famous Mountains, Mt. Kisokomagatake, Kisokoma for short. Kisokoma is the tallest of the Kiso Mountains which are located in the Chubu region in the prefecture of Nagano.
Location: Central Alps (Kiso Mountains)
Starting and stopping point: Chuo Alps Kisokomagatake Ropeway
Peaks bagged: Mt. Hoken (宝剣岳) ~~ Mt. Naka (中岳) ~~ Mt. Kisokoma (木曽駒ヶ岳) ~~ Mt. Kisomae (木曽前岳)
(First-time-climbed) peaks #801, 802, 803 and 804
Getting there/getting around: See the website for the ropeway. They have comprehensive information about transportation and lodging. https://chuo-alps.com/lang/en/
Map: 山と高原地図４１CENTRAL ALPS KISOKOMA・UTSUGI-DAKE 中央アルプス木曽駒・空木岳 Link
Weather Information:
Total Time: 4:24 Break time: :32 Distance: 6.5km (just over 4 miles)
Elevation: Lowest: 2,612m Highest: 2,956m Total Ascent: 812m Total Descent: 812m
Technical considerations/difficulty: From the ropeway to the main attraction, Mt. Kisokoma, the hike is do-able by people of all shapes and sizes in a couple of hours. Deviating from that well-trodden path to the peaks on the side is where it gets exciting.
Facilities: There are a lot. Around the area where the bus departs for the ropeway, there are hotels, gift shops, onsens . . . At the top of the ropeway, there is a hotel and restaurant. On the mountains, there are about 5 mountain lodges.
Thoughts/observations/recommendations:
I have to go back. I was robbed of long views again because of the weather.
For a few reasons, I took the most popular route to the top, via the ropeway. Doing that cost nearly ¥5,000 (about $50) and ensured that I was hiking around a lot of people. Actually, on the most heavily trafficked parts of the trail I was reminded of pictures of Mt. Everest with the long lines of people waiting to summit. It wasn't actually that bad. It wasn't even as bad as Mt. Fuji looks this year. (It's super-crowded!) Next time I will definitely skip the ropeway and start at a lower elevation. Doing so, I'm sure I'll avoid the crowds. After all, this is my mancave. I go there to get away from people!
There are a few reasons I don't like using ropeways. 1. I'm a cheapskate. 2. I feel like I'm cheating. 3. This is similar to the second point, I don't think you can appreciate how high you are when you are just deposited there from a little capsule that was transported via a metal thread. The change in temperature, vegetation and fauna is less sensible.
Today's listening:
A Short History of . . . the French Resistance
From the ropeway
