S'up, cave dwellers? It's a glorious spring here in Nagano. Last month I got to Mt. Arafune for the first time. This week I dropped by again from a different trail. It was great.
Location: Straddling the prefectural boundary between Gunma and Nagano. Saku City, Nagano and Shimonita, Gunma.
Starting and stopping point: Minaminomaki Parking Lot
Peaks bagged: Mt. Kumakura (熊倉峰)
Getting there/getting around: There is a parking lot for 4 or 5 cars at Minaminomaki. There is also a large lot at the Arafune Trailhead.
Map: Yama to Kogen Chizu #21 西上州 妙義山・荒船山
Weather Information: Arafune Weather
Total Time: 3:49 Break time: 30 Distance: 9.4km
Elevation: Lowest: 1,063m Highest: 1,342m Total Ascent: 956m Total Descent: 956m
Technical considerations/difficulty: Much of this hike is below the treeline and on a gentle trail. There are some steep spots with chains or ropes, but not too much exposure. The viewpoint at Tomoiwa is not somewhere I would like to fall from--but you'd have to be pretty dumb to get close enough to the edge to fall off!
Facilities: There are portapotties at the Uchiyama Pass Parking lot. There is a waterhole not far from the top. It looks a bit dangerous to access, though. There is an emergency hut at the Tomoiwa.
Thoughts/observations/recommendations: This was my second time to the area. The last time I went from the south, this time from the north. I had hoped to obtain some better views looking up at the Tomoiwa from this side. In fact, I did, but I do wish that there was more to see along the way. The Tomoiwa (the big rock) was only visible from the trail once or twice. The view looking out from that point is spectacular, though. The trail was fairly pleasant but for most of the hike, trees obscured any views.
Here are some pictures:
Today's listening:
Bible in a Year "In The Bible in a Year podcast, Fr. Mike Schmitz walks you through the entire Bible in 365 episodes, providing commentary, reflection, and prayer along the way." Very listenable.
For You The War is Over True WWII POW escape stories.
BBC The People Against J Edgar Hoover 15 minute episodes about Hoover's history.
Well Cave Critters, that's all for today. Have a great spring or summer or winter or fall--whenever it is you happen to be reading this. Subscribe, leave a comment, tell your friends, buy me a coffee, etc. More soon.
