Saturday, March 31st, 2025
I didn’t reach the summit of Mount Karamatsu-Dake again. Over the past two years, I’ve attempted the climb four times in winter, but each time, I had to turn back midway due to bad weather.
The hike started off well—my body felt good, and the snowy trail, packed down by many hikers, provided a steady path. The weather was unstable, but now and then, patches of blue sky would break through.
As I climbed, discomfort crept into my leg and back. Pain spread through my left thigh joint and lower back, and with each step, my leg grew heavier. I barely made it to Maruyama Cairn at 2,434 meters, but the summit was still over 200 meters of elevation away. I decided to push on a bit farther to see how my leg and back would hold up.
In the end, this was my fifth attempt to reach the top, but once again, I had to turn back—not because of the weather this time, but because of my own physical condition.
Afterword
Mt. Karamatsu-Dake continues to challenge us, but we embrace and enjoy the journey. Although we didn’t reach the summit this time, we still had a great adventure and look forward to our next exploration!