Comments on: Bitter dragons

By: cjw

cjw — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 09:50:02 +0000

Hi Kirt – thanks for coming by, you’re likewise on my list too – you’ve got some beautiful shots on your Flickr page, especially the waterfalls in Hakone!

By: Kirt Cathey

Kirt Cathey — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 23:49:17 +0000

Nice capture. Visited and commented on your flickr page too. In the next couple days when I add a blogroll to my page, will make sure to include your link.

By: cjw

cjw — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 12:52:44 +0000

Hey Butuki, good to have you drop by! I can’t wait for rainy season to end this year, I need to get back into the mountains as soon as possible..

I’m using a DSLR – I’ve got a D80 with a Nikor 18-200 lens. I bumped up the saturation on the coins photo, so that probably accounts for the digicam look. At least, I hope that’s what it is!

You’re right about the weight though. The D80 with that lens is an even 1.1 kg. Is is strictly necessary? No. But I would feel rather sad to leave my weighty friend behind, we know each other too well now.

By: butuki

butuki — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 02:21:52 +0000

It’s been too long since I dropped by. What an amazing array of images and great words to get lost in. And about the same Japan that I love, too! I didn’t know that about Buko-san, though so many of the mountains around Tokyo have that threadbare, too-many-shoes-trampling-the-carpet look. Especially out in Chichibu and Tanzawa.

Been hard to get out to the mountains lately with all the torrential rains…

By the way, what kind of camera do you use? Do you go the DSLR route or carry a digicam? From the photo of the coins I have the inkling that you might use a digicam. I keep waffling between my Nikon D70 or buying a digicam, which would be so much lighter on the mountain walks! I’m thinking that the Ricoh GX200 might be a good compromise. Any thoughts?

By: cjw

cjw — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 03:36:48 +0000

Hi MG – I’m still alive, some days more than others. It’s just a bad combination of abominable financial markets and rainy season that’s kept me out of the mountains (OK, and some time-out in Hawaii). But I appreciate the concern.

I’m thinking about a new project too: film. If I can get over hearing the sound of my own voice on tape, then I’d quite like to drag a cheap camcorder along with me on my next few trips. Put it down to too much time spent watching “Survivorman” episodes…

By: Mountaingoat

Mountaingoat — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 10:52:19 +0000

Chris, enough is enough. Did you come back from your last mountain alive? LONG time between posts, my friend.

By: zlati

zlati — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 07:36:05 +0000

great photos, love them!

By: cjw

cjw — Mon, 26 May 2008 23:00:34 +0000

I went to the top of Mt. Buko a few years ago. It’s actually an easy climb up, although made somewhat more challenging by the presence of my father-in-law’s shotgun, which he would periodically swing round to take shots at anything that flapped in the undergrowth..

It gets some snow around February time, and there is a small shrine at the top with great views of the Chichibu plain and beyond (just don’t get too close to the edge and tumble into the quarries below). I think though a really memorable way to do it would be to climb up on the afternoon of the 3rd December, and stay at the top to watch the Chichibu Night Festival and the fireworks from above. Last year I saw torchlights on the peak during the festival, so it’s definitely feasible. But it will be cold!

By: wes

wes — Mon, 26 May 2008 14:36:39 +0000

wow, I had no idea about Mt. Buko. Despite the environmental destruction, has anyone climbed to the top? It’s one of the 200 Famous Mountains, and the trail looks pretty steep, with a 1000m elevation gain. Perhaps winter will show its hidden beauty?

By: cjw

cjw — Mon, 26 May 2008 06:29:39 +0000

Wes: I’ll definitely keep my eyes (ears?) peeled for the Kamoshika. Last time I went to Ryogami the only wildlife I saw was a rather large snake sunning itself in the middle of the path..

Melanie: You’re too kind. But I’m not complaining

Julian: I believe they held the mineral rights to most of the Yokoze-side of the mountain, although I’ve noticed recently that many of the quarries now appear to be abandoned. Back in ‘94 Onoda Cement (now Taiheiyo Cement) acquired the original desecrater, Chichibu Cement; maybe hard times have forced them to mothball the operation, or maybe they’ve hit the limits of what they can profitably extract.
Nobody talks about it much though. My wife mutters darkly about them “not knowing what they have done”. If you want a real shock, use Google Earth to fly over the mountain, or what’s left of it. I hate looking at the old pictures of Buko, it was so beautiful.