Comments on: Back in the saddle http://i-cjw.com/blog/2008/07/13/back-in-the-saddle/ Sun, 13 May 2012 20:52:13 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: cjw http://i-cjw.com/blog/2008/07/13/back-in-the-saddle/comment-page-1/#comment-1051 cjw Thu, 24 Jul 2008 04:22:00 +0000 http://i-cjw.com/blog/2008/07/13/back-in-the-saddle/#comment-1051 Hi Melanie - the views were great when I finally got to the top, made all the slogging through those hot forests worthwhile! BillyWest - good to be back! Hopefully shaping up for a decent summer, autumn and winter in the hills. MG - you're right, the physical workout is one thing but the psychological workout is quite another. Sometimes when I'm up there I just kick back and try to observe all the mental states I'm going through. Elation, boredom, excitement, weakness, strength, determination, frustration, all tumbling around together.. Hi Melanie – the views were great when I finally got to the top, made all the slogging through those hot forests worthwhile!

BillyWest – good to be back! Hopefully shaping up for a decent summer, autumn and winter in the hills.

MG – you’re right, the physical workout is one thing but the psychological workout is quite another. Sometimes when I’m up there I just kick back and try to observe all the mental states I’m going through. Elation, boredom, excitement, weakness, strength, determination, frustration, all tumbling around together..

]]> By: Mountaingoat http://i-cjw.com/blog/2008/07/13/back-in-the-saddle/comment-page-1/#comment-1019 Mountaingoat Tue, 22 Jul 2008 09:55:35 +0000 http://i-cjw.com/blog/2008/07/13/back-in-the-saddle/#comment-1019 H Chris, good to hear/read from you at last. Almost wish I was back over there among those peaks and ridges, utterly alone, wondering what the hell I was doing... H Chris, good to hear/read from you at last. Almost wish I was back over there among those peaks and ridges, utterly alone, wondering what the hell I was doing…

]]> By: billywest http://i-cjw.com/blog/2008/07/13/back-in-the-saddle/comment-page-1/#comment-1009 billywest Mon, 21 Jul 2008 10:01:16 +0000 http://i-cjw.com/blog/2008/07/13/back-in-the-saddle/#comment-1009 Glad to see you back after couple of months. Glad to see you back after couple of months.

]]> By: Melanie http://i-cjw.com/blog/2008/07/13/back-in-the-saddle/comment-page-1/#comment-986 Melanie Sat, 19 Jul 2008 09:20:34 +0000 http://i-cjw.com/blog/2008/07/13/back-in-the-saddle/#comment-986 Wow! What amazing views! Another great post where I feel like I can live a little through you as I stay on my lazy butt. Wow! What amazing views! Another great post where I feel like I can live a little through you as I stay on my lazy butt.

]]> By: cjw http://i-cjw.com/blog/2008/07/13/back-in-the-saddle/comment-page-1/#comment-969 cjw Thu, 17 Jul 2008 13:16:58 +0000 http://i-cjw.com/blog/2008/07/13/back-in-the-saddle/#comment-969 Thanks for the info, Julian. Looks like there's a typhoon brewing, so I'll probably keep it straightforward and safe this time. Although there is a dotted line along the Amidagawa valley to the east that intrigues me... Matt - thank you for the kind words, I'm glad you liked it here. Hopefully I can get some good photos from Mt Daisen this weekend and post them early next week. Thanks for the info, Julian. Looks like there’s a typhoon brewing, so I’ll probably keep it straightforward and safe this time. Although there is a dotted line along the Amidagawa valley to the east that intrigues me…

Matt – thank you for the kind words, I’m glad you liked it here. Hopefully I can get some good photos from Mt Daisen this weekend and post them early next week.

]]> By: Matt http://i-cjw.com/blog/2008/07/13/back-in-the-saddle/comment-page-1/#comment-964 Matt Thu, 17 Jul 2008 06:46:16 +0000 http://i-cjw.com/blog/2008/07/13/back-in-the-saddle/#comment-964 Awesome photography. Crisp, clear writing. Soulful insights. Hardcore hiking. Awesome blog, Chris. I'll definitely be back here. Awesome photography. Crisp, clear writing. Soulful insights. Hardcore hiking. Awesome blog, Chris.
I’ll definitely be back here.

]]> By: Julian http://i-cjw.com/blog/2008/07/13/back-in-the-saddle/comment-page-1/#comment-961 Julian Thu, 17 Jul 2008 01:29:49 +0000 http://i-cjw.com/blog/2008/07/13/back-in-the-saddle/#comment-961 Enjoy the long trip down to Daisen! The main path from the visitor center, etc. is a well-maintained staircase almost to the top. Near the summit with its hut and neat boardwalks, I found a rope across a path leading across a short ridge to what I thought was the true peak (will email you a photo), where it seemed a structure had been dismantled. The sign on the rope certainly suggested that the Devil was waiting to take trespassers' souls, but I know such signs are like a red rag to you! Enjoy the long trip down to Daisen!

The main path from the visitor center, etc. is a well-maintained staircase almost to the top. Near the summit with its hut and neat boardwalks, I found a rope across a path leading across a short ridge to what I thought was the true peak (will email you a photo), where it seemed a structure had been dismantled.

The sign on the rope certainly suggested that the Devil was waiting to take trespassers’ souls, but I know such signs are like a red rag to you!

]]> By: cjw http://i-cjw.com/blog/2008/07/13/back-in-the-saddle/comment-page-1/#comment-960 cjw Wed, 16 Jul 2008 23:44:33 +0000 http://i-cjw.com/blog/2008/07/13/back-in-the-saddle/#comment-960 Hey George - ah, mountain biking - I'd been wondering what you get up to when the snows are gone. Okutama is just over from Niigata, so no wonder it shares the same great greenery in summer. Funny you mention the bugs, I was just reading about the midges in Scotland: http://biggalloot.blogspot.com/2008/07/ding-dong.html Wise words, Miguel. I'm off to Daisen over the long weekend. I got the 2008 map yesterday - the thing is covered with dotted lines! Between the typhoons and earthquakes, probably half the trails over the top have eroded or disappeared. It's the first map I've seen that specifically marked one ridge as 死亡事件多発 - fatalities. Probably no bad thing that my wife is coming with me, she has more sense that I do.. Hey George – ah, mountain biking – I’d been wondering what you get up to when the snows are gone. Okutama is just over from Niigata, so no wonder it shares the same great greenery in summer. Funny you mention the bugs, I was just reading about the midges in Scotland:
http://biggalloot.blogspot.com/2008/07/ding-dong.html

Wise words, Miguel. I’m off to Daisen over the long weekend. I got the 2008 map yesterday – the thing is covered with dotted lines! Between the typhoons and earthquakes, probably half the trails over the top have eroded or disappeared. It’s the first map I’ve seen that specifically marked one ridge as 死亡事件多発 – fatalities. Probably no bad thing that my wife is coming with me, she has more sense that I do..

]]> By: butuki http://i-cjw.com/blog/2008/07/13/back-in-the-saddle/comment-page-1/#comment-955 butuki Wed, 16 Jul 2008 14:27:41 +0000 http://i-cjw.com/blog/2008/07/13/back-in-the-saddle/#comment-955 For the dotted line trails, just be careful to read the warnings carefully. When there is information about "rotten volcanic rock" or "parts of the trail have slid away in mudslides" then I think it is time to really consider your alternatives. It's no fun finding yourself part of the debris of a mountain falling away under your feet! For the dotted line trails, just be careful to read the warnings carefully. When there is information about “rotten volcanic rock” or “parts of the trail have slid away in mudslides” then I think it is time to really consider your alternatives. It’s no fun finding yourself part of the debris of a mountain falling away under your feet!

]]> By: George Baptista http://i-cjw.com/blog/2008/07/13/back-in-the-saddle/comment-page-1/#comment-951 George Baptista Wed, 16 Jul 2008 12:03:53 +0000 http://i-cjw.com/blog/2008/07/13/back-in-the-saddle/#comment-951 Those photos remind me of the mountains here in Niigata. Incredible greenery, and wild. There are some really remote areas here, part of the charm of it I guess. But too many bugs at the moment, so we sticking to mountain-biking for now. Those photos remind me of the mountains here in Niigata. Incredible greenery, and wild. There are some really remote areas here, part of the charm of it I guess. But too many bugs at the moment, so we sticking to mountain-biking for now.

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