Mountain hiking and camping in Japan have seen a boom among all age groups since the COVID-19 pandemic. However, there has also been a rise in mountain accidents, such as slips, falls, and missing persons, especially among middle-aged hikers. I was wondering if I could share some tips or alerts on mountaineering safety with you.
Just a few days ago, a hiker near the peak of North Hotaka-Dake slipped and fell about 10 meters, sustaining seriouse injuries. He magaged to emergency service call to rescue and was later airlifted to safety by helicopter.
September 30th, on Mount Yari, Nagano
A man slipped and was injured at around 2600 meters in hight on Mount Yari, North Alps, Nagano. He was safely rescued by hericopter and taken to a local hospital in Matsumoto. He sustained a minor injury, twisting his left ankle.
The man is 71 -year old. Hoping he will get better back to regular daily life.
Mount Yari-gatake, with its distinctive sharp peak and towering height of 3,180 meters, is often called the “Matterhorn of Japan” due to its iconic shape. As the fifth-highest mountain in the country, it’s a sought-after destination for many avid hikers. Its challenging ascent and breathtaking views make it a prized goal for climbers, with many aspiring to reach its summit at least once. The Yari-gatake area also offers diverse hiking routes, stunning alpine scenery, and rich natural beauty, attracting nature enthusiasts from all over.
Sachi and I arrived at Seattle Sea-Tac International Airport at 11:30 am on July 30th, an hour later than expected. After smoothly picking up the rental car from the airport’s facility, we set off for Portland, OR, around 1:00 pm. Let the adventure begin!
Mt. Hood National Forest, Oregon: 3-days
Portland, the largest city in Oregon, was once ranked among the most desirable places to live in the U.S. Located about 100 km east of Portland, Mount Hood National Forest is home to Timberline Lodge, a mountain lodge and year-round ski and snowboard resort.
Itinerary:
Day 1: Explore downtown Portland and stay at a hotel. Day 2: Traveto to Tollgate Campground in Mount Hood National Forest. Day 3: Climb Mt. Hood
Day 1: Enjoy a craft beer
Portland is a beer lover’s paradise, boasting over 70 breweries. Visitors can explore a wide array of innovative craft beers, many of which are unique to the city.
Day 2: Tollgate Campground and Timberline Lodge
We headed to Tollgate Campground in the National Forest and stopped by a grocery store on the way to pick up food, drinks, and other supplies for a two-day camping trip.
After setting up my tent, We visited the visitor center and Timberline Lodge in the National Forest to check the climbing route and conditions for tomorrow. I noticed several hikers there, putting on heavy backpacks with ice axes, who had likely already reached the summit of Mt.Hood.
I asked one of them about the route conditions and how long it took to reach the top. He said, “It wasn’t in bad condition up there; there were fewer falling rocks than I expected. We started at 2 AM from Timberline Lodge, and it took about 8 hours.”
Camp site
Temberline Lodge, Oregon
Visitor CenterTimberline Lodge
Timberline Lodge provides exciting, family-friendly skiing, snowboarding, mountain biking, and year-round recreation. They offer the best in historic lodging, fine dining, and memorable experiences.
Day 3: Challenging Top of the Mt. Hood
2:00 AM: Woke up early to prepare for the hike, ensuring We had all the necessary gear and provisions for the climb.
3:00 AM: Registered for the climb at the Mt. Hood Visitor Center. This step was crucial for safety, as it informed the authorities of my planned route and expected return time.
3:15 AM: Started the ascent from the trailhead at Timberline parking lot. The trailhead is the beginning of the official climbing route, marking the start of my journey up Mt. Hood.
4:00 AM: After reaching a mountain hut along the trail, We continued on, but the path soon became less defined, making the route unclear due to the darkness. We carefully followed the footprints left by previous climbers across the rugged snowfield, which served as my only guide. Meanwhile, Snowcats—heavy-duty vehicles designed for grooming the snow—were operating nearby, their lights casting an eerie glow across the white expanse. For the next three hours, we ascended through a mix of snow and rugged terrain. By around 6 AM, the sun began to rise behind the mountain, casting its shadow in the air—a breathtaking and almost spiritual sight.
Shadow of Mount Hood
8:00 AM: Reached the boundary of the glacier field and craggy terrain. From here, we needed to use crampons and an ice axe to continue. After hiking for 8 hours, fatigue was setting in. Sachi and I assessed our physical condition and evaluated the feasibility of reaching the summit.
Mount Rainir National Park, WA: 3-days
Camp Muir
The trek is exhilarating but is not a hike to be taken lightly. It’s tougher than it looks and the weather can change unexpectedly; it’s been said Mount Rainier makes its own weather. Conditions can change from hour to hour, from summer to winter conditions. Sudden fogs or whiteouts are not uncommon where visibility is limited or nil. This hike is only recommended for strong, experienced hikers, who are prepared with the right clothing and equipment, route-finding skills, those who know their limits and when to turn around when conditions are unfavorable.
Camp Muir is a climber’s camp with an impressive stone shelter, a couple of outbuildings and toilets. Camping inside the shelter is on a first-come, first-serve basis. Climbers usually hike to Camp Muir the day before they climb to rest and acclimate to the altitude, a little over 3000 m. If the shelter is full, climbers pitch their tents on the snow. The stone shelter is named to honor the naturalist John Muir who made an ascent of Mount Rainier in 1888.
Itinearaly:
Day 4: Stay at the Cabin, Ashford Day 5: Couger Rock Campground Day 6: hiking to Camp Muir, 3100 m
Day 4: Getting relaxed at the Cabin
Entrance gate of Paradis corridor, the natinal park
Day 5: Cheching out around the park
Day 6: Hiking to Camp Muir, over 3000 m
Camp Muir on the mountain is at the top of many hikers’ wish lists and for good reasons. It’s about as close as a hiker can get to a taste of a climbing experience.
Area: Skyline Trail, Paradise
Duration: 8-10 hrs
Difficulty Level: Strenuos
Elevation Start: 1646 m
Elevation End: 3105 m
7:00 AM: The sky was clear with a gentle breeze—perfect weather for a hike. We began our ascent from the Skyline Trailhead at Paradise.
8:00 AM: We reached our first short break point. After this, the trail became more challenging, with steeper and rockier terrain.
9:00 AM: It took about two hours to reach this point from the trailhead. From here, we put on crampons to tackle the uphill snowfield leading to our goal, Camp Muir.
12:30 AM: Sachi and I did it! At least we stepped off the snow and took the last steps to Camp Muir, 3100 meters. This was my fifth attempt and Sachi’s first. It was a long, tough hike, and there were moments when Sachi felt like she couldn’t keep going, but she pushed through and made it. Congratilations Sachi!
Many hikers agree that the last 200-300 meters of the climb are the most difficult. The Muir snowfield seemed to stretch on forever before we finally saw the buildings. When Camp Muir came into view, it looked closer than it actually was, and it felt like we were making no progress at all as we climbed. I definitely agree with this.”
4:00 PM: We arrived at the Paradise succesfully and safely.
Can’t beat the cold beer! Paradise InnParadise Inn
Drinking the beer after accompaniment hiking is the best!! Nothing beats the cold beer! Cheers Sachi, you made it.
Thank you Sachi-san
Sachi, thank you for joining those explorations. I really appreciate everything you did.
We encountered some trouble at the U.S. border security checkpoint, and I was taken to the passport control room. The officer asked me many questions about my passport background, but eventually, everything was cleared up, and we were able to proceed.
As we returned to Japan, we had to stay an extra night at a hotel near Seattle Airport due to a failed connection between Alaska Airlines and Japan Airlines via Vancouver Airport, Canada. We needed to apply for the eTA system in advance to enter Canada, even though it was just for transit.
I plan to go hiking in Mt. Rainier National Park in Washington and Mt. Hood National Forest in Oregon this summer. Here is the itinerary. I will share this challenging adventure after I return to Japan.
Itinerary
Date
Description
7/30, Tus
Tokyo to Seattle, Departure: 17:40 Terminal 2, Flight JL0068 Japan Airline
7/30, Tus
Seattle Tacoma Int’l Arrive: 10:35 Car rental: Thrifty pick-up at 13:00 Drive to Portland, OR Check-in at Studio 6, Check-out 7/31
7/31-8/1 Wed-Thu
Mt.Hood National Forest, Campsite # at 013, Area Check-in 7/31, Check-out 8/2 Activities: Hiking and Climbing Mt.Hood
Thanks for the weather cooperating on the day, Saturday, June 1st. Sachi and I enjoyed craft beers, food, and stage performances, including music, dancing, etc.
The ten craft beer stalls were lined up to serve unique taste beers at each stall. My favorite is a Haze IPA, it has a nice flavor and bitter taste.
Day 1: Sachi and I had my brother drive us from Azumino City, Nagano, to the Nakabusa Trailhead. There are three parking areas around the trailhead, but they were all full because of Golden Week, from May 3rd to 6th in Japan. Thanks to my brother for taking care of us.
Around the trailhead, there is an onsen facility, a clean toilet, and an ice cream booth.
The skies were clear in the morning, and we started our hike at 6:00 am. Today’s route: Trailhead (Nakabusa Onsen) ➡ Kassen Goya ➡ Kousanso Hut ➡ Top of Mt. Tsubakuro, with an overnight stay at Kousanso Hut. There are three benches on the trail, numbered #1 to #3, before reaching Kassen Goya.
The stunning scenery
We ascended the steep and snowy mountain ridge about two hours after a short break at Kassen Goya and reached Kousanso Hut, where we planned to stay for the day. The terrace of the hut was crowded with hikers. From there, we continued to the top of Mt. Tsubakuro, which was just a 30-minute hike from the hut. Around the top of Mt. Tsubakuro, there are many uniquely shaped limestone formations. The trail to the top is gravelly with small limestone fragments.
Mt. Yarigadake from the top of Mt.Tsubakuro
Day 2: At 6:00 am, we descended the same way to the Nakabusa Onsen trailhead safely and successfully. Then we enjoyed the onsen to relax and rejuvenate.
Thank you, Sachi, for signing up for this meetup. See you at the next event.
The Thousand Cherry Blossoms Festival at Ueda Castle Ruins Park is truly a sight to behold! With approximately a thousand cherry trees now in full bloom, it’s an experience that takes your breath away. Walking through the park amidst the beauty of the cherry blossoms, both during the day and at night, is simply enchanting.
In Japan, spring holds a special significance, beginning around April. People nationwide eagerly anticipate the blooming of Sakura, or cherry blossoms, following the cold winter months.
Cherry blossoms, with their delicate pink petals, carry profound meaning in Japanese culture. They symbolize the beauty and fragility of life, deeply ingrained in the hearts of the Japanese people for centuries.
These blossoms serve as a metaphor for life’s transient nature, reminding us to treasure every fleeting moment. Their brief yet stunning appearance during Sakura season is a poignant reminder of this fleeting beauty.
Food stalls line up in the park during the festival.
Sachi and I set off at 5:30 am, driving to the Shinhotaka Ropeway in Takayama, Gifu. After taking two ropeways, we reached the upper station at around 9:30 am. From there, a trailhead led us to the Nishiho Mountain Hut and Mount Nishihotaka-dake in the Northern Alps.
At 10 am, we were geared up with crampons and ready to make our way to the Nishiho Mountain Hut. The upper station, sitting at an altitude of 2000 meters, offered mild weather conditions that day. The snow-covered trails, well-trodden by many hikers, made the ascent quite manageable. It took us about an hour to reach the Hut at 2385 meters.
After a brief break, around 11:30 am, we left a backpack at the Hut and continued our adventure towards our mission for the day, Nishiho Maruyama. Ascending the steeper, well-trodden snowy trail for about 10 to 15 minutes, we then followed along a moderate ridgeline for another 15 minutes to reach our destination, all the while being captivated by the stunning scenery surrounding us. We got back to the Hut and enjoyed lunch and dinner that day.
Nishiho Maruyama, 2462 m
Nishiho Ramen noodle is the most favorite food among hikers. We enjoyed it with a beer!
For dinner, we had a set meal : fried fish, hamburger steak, pasta, and veggies, accompanied by miso soup. We also enjoyed some sake that I had brought along in a small bottle.
Day 2:Monday, 3/25 – 2nd day of Aventure
At 6:00 am, it was a slightly rainy morning as we departed from the Hut to ascend to the summit of Mt. Nishihotaka, which stands at 2909 meters. We reached Hodaka Maruyama in about 30 minutes, encountering only a few gusts of wind along the mountain ridgeline. From there, our plan was to ascend to the summit of Mt. Nishihodaka via Doppyo.
We spent the next hour climbing a steep, snowy, and rugged ridgeline, eventually arriving at Doppyo. Doppyo is a rock wall covered with snow and ice, presenting the most hazardous, tricky section of the route. We barely made it to the top of Doppyo, facing obstacles such as rock, ice, and snow walls. We carefully navigated this treacherous terrain, using crampons and ice axes to find secure footholds and progress step by step.
Upon reaching Doppyo, we deliberated whether to continue our mountaineering expedition. The challenge tested both our physical and mental endurance, as well as our technical skills, especially considering the worsening weather conditions.
Ultimately, I made the decision to descend.
Heals with Onsen Spa
Another pleasure of mountaineering is indulging in onsen spas and enjoying delicious local dishes. In the Northern Alps area of Chubu Sangaku National Park, Japan, there are numerous onsen spas to choose from.
The second time, Sachi, my meetup co-organizer and I attempted to hike for Mount Karamats-dake on the day, but the weather had not permitted us, and we were hampered by the strong winds again.
7:30 am ticket Call was open at the Happo Gondola Station but there was an announcement for hikers, “It is hesitant about servicing the two lifts uphill of Happo- Ike due to strong winds.”
Given the weather forecast for the day, we couldn’t hope for the weather to recover based on the weather forecast, so we moved to plan B, which is Hakuba Iwatake Mountain Resort.
I enjoy playing tennis and socializing with the H Juku Team members on weekends.
Congrats on starting college life!
We had a celebratory party last weekend for one of our team members who graduated from high school and is now moving on to college in the Kansai region, Japan.
Spring is a time of goodbyes as well as a time to make new acquaintances, which graduation ceremony is held in March and the entrance ceremony is held in April across Japan.
I would like to put my insight into the Japanese public education system based on my firsthand experience as a public elementary school teacher in Japan since July 2022.
In many schools today in Japan, there’s a noticeable shift towards praising schoolchildren to facilitate their growth, rather than scolding them. This approach, often dubbed “praising education,” isn’t inherently flawed. Praising Education involves positively reinforcing kids, which can nurture and uplift them.
When schoolchildren show good behavior in their schoolwork and activities, they’re rewarded with praise, which seems to bolster positive actions. However, on the flip side, negative behavior tends to be overlooked, almost as if it never occurred. This poses an issue where misconduct goes unaddressed, missing valuable opportunities for timely correction and education. Consequently, schoolchildren may not learn the crucial skills of problem-solving and conflict resolution. These are responsibilities that educators, parents, and educational institutions should address with sharing information. Essentially, educators should teach students what they can and cannot do.
As a result, schools overlook significant opportunities to teach their students vital skills such as navigating challenges, problem-solving, and developing resilience. This encompasses what is commonly referred to as “critical thinking,” which I personally translate to Japanese as “生きる力.”
