Mostly Japanese Mountains

Greetings cave dwellers. Welcome back to the cave. I was able to dodge the rain drops long enough to take a hike in the Fujigoko (Fuji 5 Lakes) area yesterday. The weather didn't cooperate enough to give me any great views to speak of, but at least I didn't get rained on.

Here are the statistics:

Location: Mountains overlooking Lake Yamanaka from the south side.

Starting and stopping point: Mikuniyama-hiking-course-iriguchi

Mountains climbed: 明神山(Mt. Myoujin) 三国山(Mt. Mikuni) 楢木山(Mt. Naraki)　大洞山(Mt. Obora) 畑尾山(Mt. Hatakeo) 立山(Mt. Tachi)

Getting there/getting around: There are buses running to Kagosaka Pass, where I exited the mountains on the west, and to the Mikuni Hiking Course Iriguchi, where I started.

Map: Yama to Kogen Chizu #32 富士山　御坂・愛鷹山 FUJISAN MISAKA・ASHITAKA

Weather Information: Lake Yamanaka Weather

Distance: 16km/about 10 miles

Elevation: Lowest: 984m Highest: 1,381m Total Ascent: 810m Total Descent: 812m

Technical considerations/difficulty: No ropes or chains. Much of it is flat.

Facilities: There is a public restroom at the panorama dai. That's it.

Thoughts/observations/recommendations: This would make a nice route for a trail run. After getting up to elevation, much of the trail is flat. There are very few tree roots. The trail is mostly composed of volcanic gravel or sand, so traction is great, even where it is wet. I think there probably are amazing views in the area. I'll have to go back on a clear day.

A few years ago I was really spoiled in being able to work at a school that was located near the mountains and that gave me a lot of time off. Often I could go hiking or biking after school or even between classes. The extra days off the school gave me allowed me to take advantage of the chance to hike on weekdays and to really pick and choose the best days for being outdoors. I usually didn't go anywhere on weekends and was able to spend all those days off with Mrs. Caveman. During this time, my friend Bill asked me if I ever went out when the weather was less than perfect. I said no. It seemed like I would never have to settle for less-than-perfect weather. He noted that I would know that I really had caught the bug when I would feel the call of the mountains regardless of the weather.

Well, I guess I've caught the bug. I don't work at that school anymore but I still have a desire to keep hiking at the same pace. If I don't get out at least once a week, I feel a real lack. Now, I often find myself heading to the mountains on weekends like everyone else--the people I used to think of as some kind of peasant. If the weather isn't great on the weekend, I'm out of luck.

I've really caught the bug so I went out yesterday even though it was cloudy again. Actually, I got rained on for most of the two-hour ride down to Yamanashi.

This is a map of where I was. It is not oriented to the north. My hike brought me to a ridge straddling Yamanashi and Shizuoka Prefectures. It overlooks Lake Yamanaka to the north and Oyama and Gotemba to the south. Mt. Fuji is just a few miles to the west.

I saw two large bucks early in the morning. Unfortunately I didn't get a great picture.

Something like sunshine!

I came across a few of these holes. Bears?

Looking down toward Gotemba. I'm sure it would be a spectacular view.

Much of the trail is like this. I found myself running a few times.

Fall is coming!

I saw a lot of deer on this hike. And a LOT of deer tracks--on the mountain and by the lake. I saw a sign cautioning people to watch out for deer hunters. The "season" is every Wednesday all year-round. The deer in this picture are in the yard of someone's mountain villa.

Speaking of mountain villas, I passed many of them after exiting the mountains at Kagosaka Toge ("Basket Hill Pass") and walking down to the lake where my bike was. There are several neighborhoods which have some great vacation homes and company/school retreats around there.

After a few more miles after the Kagosaka Pass, I reached the lake.