How I have been getting along.

Recently, I don't touch any information about mountains. Just only reading Blogs which they left a comment to mine.

The other hand my colleagues are so full of energy that they go to back-country skiing or attend the activity of a Alpine club. I envy them.

Whenever this season come, I think "I wonder if I would go to spring snow mountains" .But I know I should take care of my family. I have become so fatter that I may not to clime more. " I am afraid if I should retired" .

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Recently I don't have a picture as a subject. So I show a movie which didn't have a release timing. It's from "Shiragamon" in April. Pay attention the avalanche if you go to snow mountains. My some horrible experience are in spring mountains.

Akadake 1/5 - 1/6 in 2007 Episode 2

14:20　leave summit
I didn't like to leave, After all, I was going down with being careful where I walk.



I became nervous at some steps when I traversed. But basically the condition was very good.



I love to look up Akadake aroud here, Today's condition is definitely surpreme.I decended slowly with taking many pictures. ( Sorry not to keep the pace )






Going down Bunzaburou-one, I walked with having my crampons stick the iced ground.My dream of descending by glissade on this ridge should be postponed. I found the point where I think " Should I try to glisade from here ? ". But I stooped doing it so that I won't died on the solid face.



14:00 Gyouzya-goya
We return to Gyouzya-goya. There were 7 or 8 tents. The rest of the day is just for our relaxing time.




In the tent
This is second time to camp in winter so I don't have enough knowledge of staying in winter comfortably.After eating the "Oden" bought at Gyouzyagoya. we melting a pack of snow to make bottles of water by a cartridge stove in the tent. We did slowly and sufficiently with chatting, I really felt I could get away hurried dairy living. " Camping in winter is very nice. We are able to do what we want slowly ". I said. On the contrary he asked me ? " What are they, who staying at the lodge, doing ? ". Certainly I have been killing the time in the lodge when It was rain.



Jun-san boiled rice. It tasted one hundred times better than alfa-rice. I am surprised that he boiled easily in winter camp.




He cook "Tonziru:the miso soup with a poak" He brought "pemi-kan" and prepared the taste by boiled water. I was happy it mademy body warmer




We had told " Let's go out again to take pictures when It dusk." But we chat about mountain-blog. The sun have set without notice.




1/6 5:00 AM uprising
When I got up, snow are covered around there. Jun-san also seemed a little exiting. Today, All of our plans is only going down and most of the way is in the forest .We take it easy even though It snow.




7:45　Going down from Gyouzya-goya
I was back to the way we come. I felt a strict winter mountain at the moments.




That's a slope on the minami-sawa way. The slope was only needed to walk by kick-step.Jun-san was "siri-sade"ing. ( That mean grissading by a hip instead of a foot. ) I did so, But I couldn't recommend there....




9:45　Minoto-guchi
We walked without crampons. I sliped on the frozen sold road a few times.The window gradually bloom.




Mominoyu
We went to "Mominoyu". This was a first visiting for me. The color was good. A hot spring is nothing special. Anyway, Taking a hot spring is always one of the best activities after conquering winter mountain




---
I had decided to suspend going to mountains due to some reason.So I had wanted to be exhausted with the glorious accomplishment of 2 stay in winter to draw the line.Things were not going well. Nevertheless, Akadake welcome to me under the clear blue sky and impressed me as a precious memory as long as I live

This was a first time to go to mountain with a person except family and colleagues.Learning knowledge of camping in winter definitely make me more comfortable and interested in it And going through our conversation,I was impressed with his proud or his pure mind for mountains throughout this coraboration. I felt often that might be stronger than mine.

I really thank you very much > Jun-san.

Fin.

Akadake 1/5 - 1/6 in 2007 Episode1

Yatsugatake Akadake1/5-1/6 in 2007

Jan 5th
Minotoguchi（6:45）-MInoto（7:30-50）-gyouzyagoya（10:05-45）-Akadake tennbou lodge（11:55-12:05）- summit（12:40-13:20）-gyouzya-goya（14:15）
Jan 6th
gyouzyagoya（7:15）-minoto（8:45-9:00）-minotoguchi（9:45）

It was likely I could take holidays to get away both work and family services.I am not sure when I get such a chance next time. I thought I want to try 2 stay trekking. Though I have not experience even in summer. Besides,my colleagues and I couldn't arrange any plans. So I ask to Jun-san who is mountain-blogger. He gave me his "OK" .

"...Then as long as his career help me...". I suggested some intermediate winter courses which is a little bit harder for me. But, according the forecast, 5th would be fine, Both 6th and 7th would be rough weather due to depression. After all, we had changed an overnight plan going to Akadake.
"We will camp in winter at a first time we meet. Internet is great tool".

Actually this is a first time for me to go to Yatsugatake in winter. That remind me I was moved by pictures of Akadake in winter when I started to clime. while I felt " Eventually the day come to me.", I left heading for yearning mountain.

6:45　Minotoguchi
Alghouh snow is not so much, we started at the Mintoguchi due to the iced load. I felt my outfit, that is approximately 20kg, was so heavy. I could view Amidadake here and there.I couldn't see it when I walked Minmi-sawa last september. Today's weather is very fine.




We went up along MInami-Sawa. I felt good with much snow. We followd a trace,on which is defferent from summer course,along a stream toward Gyouzya-goya. The shining ridge appeared forward.Yokodake ridge showed a fantastic color.Besides,The snow glittered anywhere.
My colleague's and my pace are usually inconstant because everyone take numerous pictures on the way. But when I took a picture backside, He also stop no aparting from me. Is it the custom of Wandervogel club ?














10:05 Gyouzya-goya
Carring tent equipments was my role. I brought winter fly sheets and snow shovel as well. Plus, I looking forward to using snow anchors. But There are good spaces where had already been leveled. I don't afford to level new ground.I would like to reserve my vitality to conquer the summit today.






We viewed North Alps from Gyozyagoya. I didn't know the front was Hotaka mountains range.





Zyun-san was mobloging. He asked me "Why don't you moblog ? " . But My cell phone was out of the serice, When I could connect around the ridge, I left a commet at the Jun-san's article.(^^;)






10:45　Zizou-ridge
The picture show Zizouone on the right side. " It seem I couldn't clime there.But I conldn't go down." I said. " We should choice the course to go up." we decided.






It has not been snowfall since the end of the year. There are clear steps on the ridge. Most of the chanes had been appear on the snow. There was no place that made me nerves.What a safety condition.





The upside was a place that is a risk of avalanche. But, Today,that was a attractive slope. There are many traces of sliding by their hip. Usually, going up on the right side.and traversing toward the left?






I walked with imaging the shape of the ridge and the way I should trace. But Currently It's too difficult for me under the "no trace" condition. "But I would like to try it some day " though, I
rarely get such a chance at Yatsugatake.






We passed a desertification timberline, Today both right and left were incredible foresight.









Divergence to Zizouone
Around one hour later, I arrived at the main ridge. more mountains range appear a front of us The part of the reason that time is faster than I felt might be easier than summer course or reliable partner?






This is an advertisements of Akadake-tenbou-lodge. What is the purpose for ? Is there a party who change the plan, when find this advertizement after pass through yokdake. For example "If the lodge open, we will stay there". Who have such a haphazard plan in winter ?





We took a short break around Akadake-tenbou-lodge.We could see a little rippled snow fields(SKAVL) on the way to summit.




We aimed to the last.Strong wind brow on the ridge in the winter, though, today is windness and the trace was remained.I felt sorry with looking at the superb view that it would have finished soon.




12:40 The summit of Akadake.
we conquered without any incidents. We shake the hands with smiling.Even if we had not meet before, we can felt certain sense of solidarity throughout climbing together.




We could view all Alps from the end to the end. This was a first time I could identify Haku-san at Yatsugatake. I could see Nikkou Mountain Chain farther. I have ever read an article of "If you were not fascinated by mountain when to stand up at the summit under the blue sky,you might have been forlorn of deities." I am really enthusiastic in the mountains since I climbed here 3 and half years ago. It had spent a long time before coming to this mountain in winter.












Jun-san was mobloging at the summit. （Pardon me..^^）





To be continued

Kitayatsugatake Gotsuji 12/30 in 2007

Rope way station(10:30) - "Kita-yokodake trekking way "Withdrawal!" - Rope way station (12:10-13:00 ) - Gotsuzi (13:20-14:20) - Rope way Station(15:10)

I decided to go travelling with my son to make him play in the snow field with a sled and a shovel. I looked for an appropriate place around "Shirakaba-lake". In this year, It looked the snow was still lacking. The weather was so fine that I judged to be able to trek to "Kita Yatsugatake" by "Piratasu rope way" in order to seek fresh snow.

10:50　Rope way station.
When we went out from the summit station within numerous skier, The other world appeared a front of us. The guide in the rope way said "The trees have already covered with snow In a few days. Usually we cannot see such a tree in December. That is what is "We are so lucky !"






Today's new item is snow shovel which made by BlackDiamond. But we don't make up snow man by such a powder snow. Besides I left the sled at the base due to prohibiting to bring it into the rope way. My son weared underwear,flees,underware of flees and montbell rain wear. Plus winter outer in the my backpack. Neck warmer is must. Goggle are not used after all. And a pair of grabs and its spare, The foot in essential was snow shoes and plain 4 point crampon.






11:00　On the way to Kitayokodake
The trace to the Kitayokodake was already very clarified. It's likely that the adult party could walk on time of the guide map. There is a lodge on the way which make the risk lower. "Well, for now Let's try to go "






My Child so froric that he was not willing to proceed. Because he dig the snow by shovel and he looked very interested in rocks and trees which are covered with snow. The other hand he feared to walk the slight snow slope.　"I cannot expect him yet..." I give up in only 15 minutes since we started. We were back to the rope way station with hanging around on our way for 1hours.






13:00 restarting at the rope way station
In spite of -10 degrees celsius, It's was comfortable. The whether was fine and windless. After eating the light meal at the cafe in the station,we retried to walk toward "Gotsuzi" where is a good view point.

Kitayatsugatake famous snow forest can get my son's favorable reception."The trees is very beautiful" he said. There is a evident snow-shoe trace on the hiking way. I tried to walk with confident that " I need not any kinds of snow-shoes on such a easy way.". But I drop to the way under my feet many times. My son, whose weight is still light that is approximately 19kg, walk smoothly on the traced snow way. My knees were buried and I stucked into the snow. I called him " Woo----i , Don't leave me". As soon as he hear me, He dashed to the farther with sunshine smiling. "Why do you have such a twisting in your nature ? (- -# )"






It is called "Shima-gare" that means "Stripe-death". We can see the tree like this anywhere.






The bridge was covered with snow. Once he find this, I cannot go ahead because he cannot help dropping all.






13:40　Gotsuzi
We arrived at "Gotsuzi" for 40minites. It's a good pace for my frolicing son. We overlooked South Yatsugatake and Japan Alps beyond the field of snow.










While I photographed somewhere,My son took some nutritions and romp around there. When both of us we tried to race on the snow field, While I was buried around my thigh by each step, He was around ankle and run smoothly. I had been really defeated.^^;)











After a breaking,We went back on the way we came, He played dropping the snow that covering trees. He exclaimed with joy when I shaked the tree to have the snow fall down.






There is an observatory. We had so fine view from there that we could see Hotaka mountain range well afternoon.










Children may know the happiness to trace on the fresh snow more than adult.
( By the way , If I walk here, My knee is buried. )





15:10 Rope was station
After a short break, I go down by the rope way. I had stayed for a longer time because of better condition than I expect. We had to cancel the plan of playing sled and going sight-seeing.






It's a short hiking about one and half hour by his walk. We are lucky to be under a good condition. My son seemed to be happy. But I slightly felt I accompanied with him for my self-satisfaction. While I saw him sleeping on the way to the accommodation in the car, I thought "tomorrow we are going to the place where many children play.

Even though I had thought,I would brought him to the summit of the "Kurumayama" next day.

Fin.