These are 1. Mt. Kisokomagatake (木曾駒ケ岳2956m), 2. Mt. Nantai in Nikko (日光・男体山2484m), and 3. Mt. Bandai in Aizu (会津磐梯山1819m).
1. Kisokomagatake (木曽駒ケ岳2956m) in the Central Alps, Japan's 100 Famous Mountains, Two days and One night, group climbing with a guide.
(1) Day 1: July 11th (Tuesday) Cloudy. Wake up at 3:30 in the morning. I got prepared for Maitabi trip. I made a bento box with freshly cooked brown rice. The side dish was two pieces of grilled salmon and “okara.” Two pickled plums I bought last week. I put my extra-clothes to wear in a plastic bag, and also put my helmet in my main bag. I didn't bring the thermospot that I always bring with me. Instead, I put a small pot and a bottle of tea. I refilled a small pot of water at the mountain hut. The only thing I forgot was my head-light, but it wasn't a big problem. It would be better if I had a map, but as long as I don't stray too far from the guide, it won't be a problem. The newly purchased trekking booths are comfortable. Two pairs of socks, tabi-type and regular, are just right.
Depart Ofuna at 5:09 and change to the Chuo Line at Tokyo, arriving at Shinjuku at 6:18. The gathering place was in front of the west exit, the former Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance Building (under construction), near exit 9, which was very easy to find. I arrived first, but my seat was at the back. It seemed to be on a first-come, first-served basis for the registration, and the man sitting next to me said he was the last applicant. I later learned that he lived in Fujisawa. The bus departed at 7:05, took one break on the way, changed buses at Komagane(駒ヶ根), and headed for Shirabidaira(しらび平). Arrived at Shirabidaira around 11 o'clock.
The ropeway left at 11:30 and arrived at Senjojiki (千畳敷) at 11:40. We had a quick lunch and departed at 12:00. Arrived at Hoken Sanso (宝剣山荘) in Jodo Norikoshi (浄土乗越) at 1:00 p.m. With a light backpack and no helmet, we headed for the summit of Mt. Kisokomagatake Nakadake (木曽駒ケ岳 中岳).
My backpack was light, so I felt comfortable, but the fog was so thick that I couldn't find the path without the guide. There is a wooden sign at the top of the mountain, but the letters have faded due to the wind and snow, so I can faintly read ``2,956 meters above sea level''. The foundation of the stone direction board had been scraped away and entry was prohibited. Returned to Hoken Sanso (2860m) at 3 o'clock.
Our group's lodging was on the third floor, or rather in the attic, divided into half-male and half-female quarters. This personal position was also in the order of the registration: I was second from the last, and the person at the back was a large man from Fujisawa. He was really well equipped. He slept with his head facing the window, so he could see Kisokoma Mountain clearly from the window.
After putting my belongings on the bed, I went down to the first floor and chatted with the people around the stove while drinking alcohole. Our local guide, Ms. Taeko Ito, and her fellow tour guide were spreading out their snaks and drinking beers. I was able to watch sumo on the TV in the dining room. I listened to the last match when Terunofuji (照ノ富士) was defeated by Tobizaru(翔猿) on my personal radio.
Dinner started at 5pm, and the pork cutlet was so good that I had to refill the rice. I fell asleep and went to the bathroom just before bedtime at 9am. The toilets are unisex, and of the 5 or 6 private rooms, only one is Western-style. It is a drawer type and the paper is stored separately. There is a faucet in front of the toilet and drinking water is free. Boiling water is 200 yen for 500cc, but I didn't need it.
(2) Day 2: July 12th (Wednesday) The outside temperature was probably 10℃, but the wind speed on the ridge was over 15m/second. When I woke up at 4:30 in the morning, the wind was so strong that clouds often rolled in, and the sky was blue in the morning. Breakfast started at 6am, and it seems that everyone went out in front of Hoken Sanso (宝剣荘) to take photos of Mt. Kisokomagatake (木曽駒ケ岳) and Mt. Houken(宝剣岳). There was a moment when I could clearly see the Senjojiki (千畳敷) area. I also got refill of rice for the breakfast. We left at 6:30 with all our luggage on our backs.
According to the weather forecast, the weather was getting worse as time passed. We all put on helmets and started climbing Mt. Hoken. Guide Taeko Ito lead the way. The first person was a chubby woman who didn't like going downhill (probably the last seat on the bus), and the second person was a short man who was the first to yell ``Slow down!'' the day before at Kisokoma(木曽駒). There were a series of chains along the trail to Mt. Houken. In the thick fog, there were no other climbers except us.
I followed the second person, but when the guide, Ms. Taeko Ito shouted at me for not following the second person near the top, I overreacted and could not say calmly that it seemed safer for me. I regret the way I said.
At the top of Mt. Hoken, the guide thought it would be impossible for us to walk on the ridgeline to Mt. Sannosawa, so she decided to return to the lodge, Hoken Sanso, then we followed the previous day's course back to Senjojiki Station(千畳敷駅), and then we switched the plan to an easy round trip to Gokurakudaira (極楽平).
Among 12 participants, three stayed at Senjojiki Station, while the others took part in the Gokurakudaira round trip, a 1.5-hour short trip. The wind was light as we walked in the shadow of the ridge all the way to Gokurakudaira, but once we got to the ridge the wind was extremely strong. After walking a few dozen meters in the direction of Mt. Hoken, we gave up and made a U-turn.
The ropeway going down was full at the scheduled time of 11am, so we took a extra ride 10 minutes later. I bought a 700 yen choccola as a souvenir for Nobuaki Hayashi at Senjojiki Station. We parted ways with our guide Ms. Ito at Komagane Station, took a hot-spring in the nearby Kobushi Onsen, and then headed home. I bought a beer from a vending machine at the hot springs, ate the bento I bought at the mountain lodge on the bus, drank beer, and arrived in Shinjuku just before 5 o'clock. From Shinjuku, I took the Shonan-Shinjuku Line and arrived at Ofuna just before 6am.
2. Nikko/Mt. Nantai (日光・男体山2484m) Japan's 100 Famous Mountains [Piston climbing from Futarasan Chugu Shrine to the 9th station of Mt. Nantai]
September 12th (Tuesday) I cooked two cups of rice using chestnuts I had picked up in the neighborhood the day before. I packed some of it in my lunch box and headed to Mt. Nantai. Board the JR train at Ofuna at 5:09, transfered to the Ginza line at Shinbashi, changed to Tobu at Asakusa, and took the limited express Kegon 1 to arrive at Tobu Nikko Station at 8:25. From the station bus stop 2A, I took the bus bound for Yumoto and arrived at Futara Chugu Shrine at 9:40. Started climbing from Futara Shrine.
Mt. Nantai is the sacred mountain of Futarasan Shrine and is part of the precincts. Therefore, climbing is only possible during the worship climbing period from April 25th to November 11th every year. You can enter the mountain by paying the 1,000 yen fee at the office next to the temple gate.
After passing through the shrine's torii gate, the stone stairs lead directly up to the third station along a trail that is slippery and has exposed bamboo patches here and there. Then I saw the sign for the third station (10:30). From the third station to the fourth station is a leisurely paved road.
After passing through the torii gate from the fourth station, the trail became quite rough. There were many scree areas, especially from the 5th station onwards. I could see some brambles under my feet. It's delicious when you try it. Sometimes the clouds part and Lake Chuzenji can be seen below.
It took about 2 hours from the 4th station to reach the 8th station. At the 8th station, there is a stone monument inscribed with Takio Shrine, and there is also a shelter. After passing the 8th station, the clouds started to look uncertain, so I hurried ahead.
Perhaps it was my fault for rushing ahead, but first my left leg cramped up, and then my right leg cramped up as well, so I sat down on a fallen tree next to the stone marker at the 9th station and ate my bento lunch. Small drops of rain also began to fall. At this point it was 13:30.
I had brought rain gear with separate top and bottom, but I don't like it because it gets stuffy. My legs were starting to cramp up, so I gave up on the summit and started descending (13:38).
When I tred to put my foot down on a scree field, my leg cramped up and hurt. It was a good idea to start the descent there. I went down carefully, but still managed to catch the 16:17 bus from Chuguji.
Arrive at Tobu Nikko Station at 17:10. I made it in time for the express train leaving at 17:24. With the two beers I bought at the kiosk and the two happoshu I brought with me, I sat at the window seat and enjoyed the journey home. It was a good choice to get off at Ueno from Asakusa and transfered to JR. I secured a seat and arrived at Ofuna at 20:40.
4 hours up, 2 hours down, 6 hours in total [walking distance 18.5 km/steps 26,993/32 floors of stairs]
3. Mt. Bandai, Aizu (会津磐梯山1819m) My trekking pal: Mr. Matsumoto, stayed the night before at the pension "Komera" at the foot of the mountain.
On previous night, Mr. Matsumoto and I joined my 2nd son, Ryo's family from Fukushima prefecture. We enjoyed sightseeing around Goshikinuma and stayed at a pension called "Komera."
Friday, November 3rd: Clear skies. We woke up at 6 a.m., and Komera’s landlady made us two “onigiri” for breakfast. I had my second son drive me to the Happodai trailhead, took a commemorative photo in front of the "Beware of Bears" sign, and then started climbing at 7:20. The trail was wide and covered with fallen leaves, making it comfortable.
The width gradually narrowed as we went up the mountain. Gradually we started to smell sulfur. we arrived at “Naka no Yu” around 8 o'clock. It seemed like there used to be a hot spring inn here, but there were some abandoned buildings that looked like the remains of a fire. Here we took a short break and had a breakfast of rice balls.
] From here onwards, the mountain became more serious and the slope got steeper, so I was quite behind Mr. Matsumoto. Not only did my left leg hurt, but my right leg also felt like it's cramping, and my walking pace was getting slower and slower.
The weather was perfect and the wind was not too strong. From the junction where there was a sign saying 1.1 km to "Kobo no Shimizu弘法の清水", the distance to "Kobo no Shimizu弘法の清水" seemed long.
Arrived at Kobo Shimizu at 10:30. This place has a good view and is the confluence of the climbing routes from the Urabandai Kogen climbing entrance. Mr. Matsumoto arrived first and said he saw a Japanese serou (ニホンカモシカ).
He bought coffee and ate bread he brought there. I made an instant coffee and ate snacks I had brought with me. We put our heavy backpacks on the hill next to the teahouse, put water, lunch boxes, and long-sleeved shirts in our light sub-backpacks, and headed for the summit.
Not having a heavy backpack was a lot easier, but it didn't make the climb any faster. The distance from there to the summit was only 500m, but it's quite difficult.
Arrived at the summit at 11 o'clock. The summit offered a 360° view. There was a small shrine on top of the highest hill at the summit, and like Mt. Gassan, there was a portable sign board, so I took a photo with it.
After that, we had lunch in a sunny place out of the wind. On either side of me were two young couples, a man and a woman, taking pictures of each other.
After taking a lunch break for about 30 minutes at the summit, we began our descent. We went down the same road to ``Kobo-no-Shimizu,'' and the descending course from ``Kobo-no-Shimizu'' aimed for the Urabandai exit instead of Happodai, the trail we climbed. This led us to descend down a path that resembled the rim of a crater.
As soon as we started descending, we saw the Japanese serow, probably the same one that Matsumoto had seen when he arrived there, leisurely grazing on the grass. I was able to take a photo of this animal, albeit through the trees. He had nice horns and looked very handsome.
After seeing the Japanese serow, we walked through the bushes of Elaeagus or silverberry and we ate these fruits a lot as we walked through.
On the way, Mr. Matsumoto was exchanging words with a young man who was walking ahead and behind us. The young man's face looked like my grandson Towa had grown into an adult.
At Shimoyamaguchi, the slope leading up to the Urabandai Ski Resort slope was quite steep, and there was a series of unique holds that looked like an upside-down “U”stuck in the ground.
When we got down to the slope, we could smell the sweet smell of plants. After getting off to the slopes, we walked for nearly 30 minutes on an unpaved road to the bus stop.
The autumn leaves are truly spectacular as we approach the bus stop. We arrived at the bus stop while taking pictures of the autumn leaves. We arrived at the bus stop at 3:30.
The bus to Inawashiro Station left on time at 4 o'clock, but there were many private cars of sightseers who were looking to see the autumn leaves, so it took some time to get through the traffic. Arrived at Inawashiro Station at 5 o'clock. We couldn't get on the scheduled train, so we waited until the 5:58 train, arriving in Koriyama around 5:30.
On this day, I could have returned to Ofuna by taking the Shinkansen, but I stayed at the business hotel "Daiwa Roynet Hotels" in Koriyama and returned the next day.
The amount of exercise that day was 4 hours uphill and 3 hours downhill, for a total of 7 hours, walking distance of 18.7 km, number of steps: 27.024, and 27 floors of stairs.
It was my third attempt at the ``100 Famous Mountains'' this year, and for the first time I was blessed with good weather, a good companion, and a good encounter with a natural monument
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KR #12 2023年後半は日本100名山のうちこれまで未踏の3座に登った。1. 木曽駒ケ岳(2956m)、2. 日光・男体山(2484m) 3. 会津・磐梯山(1819m)の3座である。
1. 木曽駒ケ岳(2956m)中央アルプス、日本百名山、一泊二日、まいたびガイド付きグループ登山。
(1) 第1日目：7月11日(火) 曇り。朝3時半起床。まいたび出発準備。炊き立ての玄米で弁当を作った。おかずは鮭2枚を焼いたものとおから。先週買った梅干し2個。帰路温泉後の着替えをビニール袋に入れ、ヘルメットも入れた。いつも持参するサーモスポットは持参せず。代わりに小型ポットとペットボトルのお茶1本で十分足りた。山小屋で小型ポットの水を補給した。忘れ物はヘッドライトだが大して支障なし。地図もあれば越したことはないが、ガイドから離れなければ問題ない。新規購入のトレッキングシューズは履き心地良い。靴下は足袋型と普通の2枚でちょうどよい。
大船発5;09上り東京で中央線に乗り換えると新宿には6;18着。集合場所は西口・旧明治安田生命ビル(工事中)まえで9番出口そばは非常にわかりやすい。私が1番早く到着したが席は一番後ろだった。これは受付順だったようで隣に座った紳士は最後の申し込みだと言っていた。彼はのちに藤沢在住と知った。
バスは7:05出発、途中1回休憩で駒ヶ根でバス乗り換え、しらび平へ向かった。しらび平に11時ごろ到着。 ロープウェイは11:30発に乗り、千畳敷には11:40着。あわただしいランチを食べ、12:00に出発。浄土乗越、宝剣山荘に13:00到着。リュックを軽くしてヘルメットをせずに木曽駒ケ岳中岳山頂を目指した。
リュックが軽い分、体は楽だが霧が深く道はガイドがいなければわからない。山頂には木製の標識があるが、風雪に文字が薄れかすかに「標高二九五六ｍ」が読み取れる。石製の方向盤は基礎部分が削られ立ち入り禁止になっていた。宝剣山荘(2860m)には3時に帰着。
我々一行の宿所は３Ｆというか屋根裏部屋で男女半々に仕切って使った。この個人位置もバス内の順番で、私は奥から2番目、一番奥は藤沢からきた大柄の人。彼は装備が実によかった。窓に頭を向けて寝たので窓から木曽駒がよく見えた。
寝床に荷物を置いてから１Ｆへ下った。彼らはストーブの周りで酒を飲みながら歓談していた。現地ガイドの伊藤妙子と添乗員はつまみを広げてポリポリとやっていた。食堂のＴＶで相撲を見ることができた。結びの照ノ富士が翔猿に敗れるところは山ラジオで聴いた。
夕食は5時からトンカツがうまくてご飯はお代わりした。一寝入りして9時就眠時刻直前にトイレ。トイレは男女兼用で５，６の個室中、洋式は1つだけ。汲み取り式で紙は別収納式。飲用水はトイレの手前に蛇口があり、無料。熱湯は500cc200円だが、自分には不要。
(2) 第2日目：7月12日(水)外気温はおそらく10℃、しかし尾根の風速は15ｍ以上。朝4時半に起床すると風が強いため雲が頻繁に流れ、そして朝のうちは青空がのぞく。
朝食は６時からで、全員、宝剣山荘の前に出て木曽駒ケ岳や宝剣岳の写真撮影をしたようだ。千畳敷方面もよく見える瞬間があった。朝食もご飯お代わり。6:30に全荷物を背負って出発。
天気予報によると天気は時間がたつほど悪化。全員ヘルメットを着用して登山開始。伊藤妙子ガイドが先頭。1番手は下りが苦手というふくよかな女性(多分バス最後席)、2番手が小柄な男性で前日木曽駒ケ岳で最初に「スローダウン！」と叫んだ人だ。
宝剣岳はクサリ場の連続。濃霧の中、我々以外の登山者は皆無。2番手に続いて歩いたが、頂上付近で伊藤妙子ガイドが私が2番手に続かなかったことを叱責した。私はこれ過剰反応して、こちらのほうが自分にとっては安全に思えたという趣旨を穏やかに言うことができなかった。
山岳ガイドは我々が宝剣岳頂上で尾根道を三ノ沢岳ピストンするのは無理と判断した。我々はいったん宝剣山荘へ戻り、前日のコースをロープウェイの千畳敷駅へ戻り、そこから極楽平へのピストンする計画に切り替えた。
12名中、3名は千畳敷駅に残り、他は往復1.5時間の極楽平ピストンに参加した。極楽平までは尾根の影を歩いて風は微風だったが、尾根に出るとものすごい強風だ。宝剣岳方向に数十ｍ歩いただけであきらめ、Ｕターンした。
下りのロープウェイは11時の定刻発が満員で、10分後の臨時便で下った。
伊藤ガイドとは駒ケ根駅で別れ、近くの「こぶし温泉」に入ってから帰路についた。
温泉の自動販売機でビールを買い、バスの中で山荘で購入した弁当を食べ、ビールを飲み、新宿には5時前に着いた。新宿からは湘南新宿ラインで大船に6時前に到着した。
2. 日光・男体山(2484m) 日本百名山[二荒山神社中宮祠から男体山九合目までピストン登山]
9月12日(火) 前日近所で拾った栗でご飯を2合炊いた。一部を弁当に詰め男体山へ向かった。大船を5:09のJRに乗車、新橋で銀座線乗り換え、浅草で東武に乗り換え、特急「けごん1号」で東武日光駅に8:25着。
駅前のバス停２A乗り場から湯元行きバスで二荒神社中宮祠に9:40着。二荒神社から登山開始。
男体山は二荒山神社の御神体山であり、境内地になる。そのため例年4月25日〜11月11日の登拝期間のみ登山が可能だ。山門横の事務室で登拝料1,000円を納めて入山する。
神社の鳥居を抜けた石の階段の先は三合目まで滑りやすい露出した竹がちらほら見える登山路を直登する。すると三合目の標識が見えた(10:30)。三合目から四合目まではゆったりとした舗装道路。
四合目から鳥居を抜けるとかなり荒い登山道になる。特に五合目からはガレ場が多い。足元にキイチゴがちらほらみえる。食べてみるとうまい。時々雲が切れて中禅寺湖が眼下にみえる。
四合目からおよそ２時間で八合目へ。八合目には瀧尾神社と刻まれた石碑が立っており、避難小屋もある。八合目を過ぎたあたりから雲行きがあやしくなってきたので先を急いだ。
先を急いだのが悪かったか、まず左足が攣り、次に右足も攣ったので九合目の石標の脇にあった倒木に腰掛け弁当を使った。小粒の雨も降りだした。この時点で13:30。
上下セパレーツの雨具は持参していたが、蒸れるので好まない。足が攣ったこともあり、ここで頂上はあきらめ下山開始(13:38)した。
ガレ場で足を下ろそうとすると攣った足が痛む。ここで下山を始めたのは正解。慎重に下ったが、それでも中宮祠発16:17のバスに間に合った。
東武日光駅に17:10着。17:24発の特急に間に合った。キオスクで買ったビール2個と持参した発泡酒2個を合わせ、窓席でゆったりと帰路を楽しんだ。浅草から上野で下車、ＪＲに乗り換えたのは大正解。座席確保、大船に20:40着。
歩行時間：上り4時間下り2時間計6時間/歩行距離18.5km/歩数26,993/階段32階
3. 会津・磐梯山 (1819m) 同行者：松本氏、麓のペンション「こめら」で前泊。
前日、松本さんと私は、福島に住む次男一家と猪苗代駅で合流し、一緒に五色沼付近を観光し、麓のペンション「こめら」で一泊した。久しぶりに会う次男一家との交流は楽しく、また孫たちの成長を見るのはうれしかった。
11月3日(金) 快晴。6時起床、やどの女将が朝食用におにぎりを2個ずつ作ってくれた。次男に車で八方台登り口まで送ってもらい、「熊に注意」の看板前で記念撮影してから7:20に登山開始。登山路は広く落ち葉で埋まっていて快適だった。
登山路を進むにつれ次第に幅が狭くなる。次第に硫黄の匂いがしてきた。8時ごろ「中の湯」に着いた。ここは昔、温泉宿があったようで、火事の跡のような廃屋が残っている。ここで小休止を兼ねておにぎりの朝食を食べた。
ここから本格的な登山路で勾配もきつくなり、松本さんにかなり遅れる。左足が痛むのは当然として右足も攣るような感覚があり、ますます遅れる。
天気は最高で風もさほど強くない。「弘法の清水」まで1.1kmという標識があった分岐から「弘法の清水」までの距離が長く感じた。
弘法の清水には10:30に到着。ここは展望がよく、裏磐梯高原登り口からの登山路の合流点になっている。松本さんが先着し、カモシカを目撃したという。
彼はここでコーヒーを買い、パンを食べた。私は持参したインスタントのコーヒーとスナックを食べた。われわれは茶屋の横の丘にリュックを置き、サブリュックに水と弁当と長袖シャツを入れて山頂を目指した。
重いリュックがないのは非常に楽だが、それで登山のペースが速くなるわけではない。ここから頂上までの距離はわずか500mだがかなりつらい。
11時に山頂に到着。山頂は360°の展望。頂上で一番高い石礫の上に小さな神社があり、月山同様、ポータブルの標識板があったので、写真撮影した。
そのあとで風の当たらない日当たりのよい場所でランチを食べた。両隣に若い男女のカップルが二組、互いにカップル写真を撮りあっていた。 山頂で約30分、昼食休憩をした後、下山を開始した。「弘法の清水」までは同じ道を下り、「弘法の清水」からの下山コースは八方台ではなく裏磐梯口を目指した。これは噴火口の縁のような道を下ることになった。
下り始めてすぐに松本さんが到着時に目撃した同じ個体と思われるカモシカが悠々と草を食んでいた。木間を通してであるがこのカモシカの写真を撮ることができた。立派な角があり、ハンサムに見えた。
カモシカを目撃した後は茱萸(グミ)の茂みの間を歩き、多くの茱萸を食べながら歩いた。
途中、我々と前後して歩いていた若者と松本さんが言葉を交わしていた。その若者の顔が孫の斗和をそのまま成人にしたようないい顔だった。 下山口は裏磐梯スキー場のゲレンデまでがかなり急峻な坂で、Ｕをさかさまにして地面に刺したようなユニークなホールドが続いた。
ゲレンデまで下ると植物の甘いにおいがした。ゲレンデに降りてから舗装がない道路を30分近く歩いてバス停に出た。
バス停に近づくにつれ紅葉が実に見事だ。紅葉の写真撮影をしながらバス停に到着した。バス停到着時刻は3時半だった。
猪苗代駅行きのバスは定刻4時に出発したが紅葉見物のマイカーが多く、渋滞を抜けるのに時間がかかった。猪苗代駅に5時に到着。予定の電車に乗れず、5:58の電車まで待ち、郡山には5:30ごろ到着した。
この日は新幹線を利用すれば大船に帰宅可能だったが、郡山のビジネスホテル「Daiwa Roynet Hotels」で泊翌日帰宅した。
この日の運動量は上り4時間、下り3時間の計７時間、歩行距離18.7km/歩数27.024/階段27階だった。
今年3度目の「百名山」の挑戦で初めて天候に恵まれ、同行者に恵まれ、天然記念物との邂逅にも恵まれたよい登山だった。
