Comments on: Mañana, Utsugi-dake, mañana http://i-cjw.com/blog/2008/12/08/manana-utsugi-dake-manana/ Sun, 13 May 2012 20:52:13 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: cjw http://i-cjw.com/blog/2008/12/08/manana-utsugi-dake-manana/comment-page-1/#comment-2843 cjw Fri, 12 Dec 2008 00:54:21 +0000 http://i-cjw.com/blog/2008/12/08/manana-utsugi-dake-manana/#comment-2843 It was good to get out, Melanie. I'm going to give it another shot tomorrow, forecast is looking good.. It was good to get out, Melanie. I’m going to give it another shot tomorrow, forecast is looking good..

]]> By: Melanie http://i-cjw.com/blog/2008/12/08/manana-utsugi-dake-manana/comment-page-1/#comment-2829 Melanie Thu, 11 Dec 2008 05:07:29 +0000 http://i-cjw.com/blog/2008/12/08/manana-utsugi-dake-manana/#comment-2829 That's some serious hiking! Sounds amazing though! That’s some serious hiking! Sounds amazing though!

]]> By: cjw http://i-cjw.com/blog/2008/12/08/manana-utsugi-dake-manana/comment-page-1/#comment-2819 cjw Wed, 10 Dec 2008 01:21:45 +0000 http://i-cjw.com/blog/2008/12/08/manana-utsugi-dake-manana/#comment-2819 Hi KamoshikaBob - the emergency hut I was aiming for is (I think) the one you mention as being in the valley about 30 mins from the peak - south of the ridge at about 2500m maybe? The 「避難小屋」 just below the peak is the 「駒峰ヒュッテ」, the Komamine Hutte, maybe? I wasn't sure whether that was manned or not, or whether it would be open - either way, no chance of getting there on Saturday for me. Hi KamoshikaBob – the emergency hut I was aiming for is (I think) the one you mention as being in the valley about 30 mins from the peak – south of the ridge at about 2500m maybe?

The 「避難小屋」 just below the peak is the 「駒峰ヒュッテ」, the Komamine Hutte, maybe? I wasn’t sure whether that was manned or not, or whether it would be open – either way, no chance of getting there on Saturday for me.

]]> By: cjw http://i-cjw.com/blog/2008/12/08/manana-utsugi-dake-manana/comment-page-1/#comment-2818 cjw Wed, 10 Dec 2008 01:06:08 +0000 http://i-cjw.com/blog/2008/12/08/manana-utsugi-dake-manana/#comment-2818 Thanks Damian, that's some nice kit, we might have to see if Santa can manage some of that. Conditions look great up in Hakuba - it's just that it seems to be raining/snowing every weekend.... Hi Peter - just a sleeping bag and a mountaintop, that's the perfect way to do it! Hey Wes - the long vertical, of course :-) In a fit of hopeless optimism, I thought I might be able to get up to Utsugi and over to Kumazawa-dake on day 1, then along to Kiso-Kaikoma on day 2 and back down via the gondola. But it wasn't to be. Actually, I did check the webcam before I went and it looked OK - a lot of the snow you are seeing now actually fell the previous evening and during the day I went up. I definitely would have made it otherwise. Thanks Damian, that’s some nice kit, we might have to see if Santa can manage some of that. Conditions look great up in Hakuba – it’s just that it seems to be raining/snowing every weekend….

Hi Peter – just a sleeping bag and a mountaintop, that’s the perfect way to do it!

Hey Wes – the long vertical, of course :-) In a fit of hopeless optimism, I thought I might be able to get up to Utsugi and over to Kumazawa-dake on day 1, then along to Kiso-Kaikoma on day 2 and back down via the gondola. But it wasn’t to be. Actually, I did check the webcam before I went and it looked OK – a lot of the snow you are seeing now actually fell the previous evening and during the day I went up. I definitely would have made it otherwise.

]]> By: KamoshikaBob http://i-cjw.com/blog/2008/12/08/manana-utsugi-dake-manana/comment-page-1/#comment-2817 KamoshikaBob Wed, 10 Dec 2008 00:35:12 +0000 http://i-cjw.com/blog/2008/12/08/manana-utsugi-dake-manana/#comment-2817 I have fond memories of climbing Utsugi solo from Komagane in Sep. 1999, as it was the highest vertical climb I'd made. But seeing as how that mountain boasts several unmanned 避難小屋, I'm curious as to which ones we are referring to. I recall one by a stream in the woods on the lower half of the climb, and though there may have been one or two more on the way, I remember walking past a roughly built hut that seemed to say "use only in case of emergency" in a valley about 30 minutes or more from the top. But the map showed one more 「避難小屋」immediately below the summit, and that was my target, encouraged by descending hikers who told me that the hut attendant was on his way up ahead of me. What I found was was a nice, clean, two story hut, that charged a fee for staying there whenever there was someone there to collect it, as there was on that 敬老の日, a national holiday. Since the weather was starting to get nasty, I didn't mind too much having to pay, since the hut kept the typhoon out very nicely, and the attendant's radio was on to inform me of the damage this unexpected typhoon was causing. So the next morning, I abandoned my plan of traversing to Kiso-Koma, and after fighting the wind up the 200 meters of trail to the actual summit, I retreated down the ridge line (which does not pass the grimy 避難小屋), destroying my foldable umbrella in the process. Sorry for the long reminiscence, but I am trying to picture which hut(s) we are referring to. Thanks I have fond memories of climbing Utsugi solo from Komagane in Sep. 1999, as it was the highest vertical climb I’d made. But seeing as how that mountain boasts several unmanned 避難小屋, I’m curious as to which ones we are referring to. I recall one by a stream in the woods on the lower half of the climb, and though there may have been one or two more on the way, I remember walking past a roughly built hut that seemed to say “use only in case of emergency” in a valley about 30 minutes or more from the top. But the map showed one more 「避難小屋」immediately below the summit, and that was my target, encouraged by descending hikers who told me that the hut attendant was on his way up ahead of me. What I found was was a nice, clean, two story hut, that charged a fee for staying there whenever there was someone there to collect it, as there was on that 敬老の日, a national holiday. Since the weather was starting to get nasty, I didn’t mind too much having to pay, since the hut kept the typhoon out very nicely, and the attendant’s radio was on to inform me of the damage this unexpected typhoon was causing. So the next morning, I abandoned my plan of traversing to Kiso-Koma, and after fighting the wind up the 200 meters of trail to the actual summit, I retreated down the ridge line (which does not pass the grimy 避難小屋), destroying my foldable umbrella in the process.

Sorry for the long reminiscence, but I am trying to picture which hut(s) we are referring to. Thanks

]]> By: wes http://i-cjw.com/blog/2008/12/08/manana-utsugi-dake-manana/comment-page-1/#comment-2810 wes Tue, 09 Dec 2008 12:36:21 +0000 http://i-cjw.com/blog/2008/12/08/manana-utsugi-dake-manana/#comment-2810 glad to see you embarked on another adventure but sorry you couldn't make it to the summit. which route did you take? The gondola up the the base of Mt. Hoken/Kiso-koma or did you do the long vertical ascent from Komagane village? You shouldn't checked the Kiso-koma webcam before you departed. Those peaks are solid white with meters of snow. glad to see you embarked on another adventure but sorry you couldn’t make it to the summit.

which route did you take? The gondola up the the base of Mt. Hoken/Kiso-koma or did you do the long vertical ascent from Komagane village?

You shouldn’t checked the Kiso-koma webcam before you departed. Those peaks are solid white with meters of snow.

]]> By: Peter Skov http://i-cjw.com/blog/2008/12/08/manana-utsugi-dake-manana/comment-page-1/#comment-2809 Peter Skov Tue, 09 Dec 2008 10:19:23 +0000 http://i-cjw.com/blog/2008/12/08/manana-utsugi-dake-manana/#comment-2809 I can't say I have ever been chest deep in snow but two years ago I had to stop just below 燕山荘 because the snow was up to my thighs and I couldn't find the trail and sometimes slid off down the slope a little. I did 空木岳 in October. It was pretty good but the weather was too good. At least it was good enough for me to sleep on a small mountaintop in only my sleeping bag. I had planned to reach the 避難小屋 but spent too much time photographing at sunset. I'm looking forward to reading about your winter hikes since I won't be going out until February maybe. I can’t say I have ever been chest deep in snow but two years ago I had to stop just below 燕山荘 because the snow was up to my thighs and I couldn’t find the trail and sometimes slid off down the slope a little.

I did 空木岳 in October. It was pretty good but the weather was too good. At least it was good enough for me to sleep on a small mountaintop in only my sleeping bag. I had planned to reach the 避難小屋 but spent too much time photographing at sunset.

I’m looking forward to reading about your winter hikes since I won’t be going out until February maybe.

]]> By: damian http://i-cjw.com/blog/2008/12/08/manana-utsugi-dake-manana/comment-page-1/#comment-2807 damian Tue, 09 Dec 2008 09:25:28 +0000 http://i-cjw.com/blog/2008/12/08/manana-utsugi-dake-manana/#comment-2807 cjw, it is a bit of a drive for you, but or you info - consistent good weather has opened up the local Hakuba peaks, which are full of snow yet not chest deep (I ache for your effort in that kind of snow). The only reason I have not skied from a summit above 2500m in the last week is a want of partners interested in that type of trip. The early snow, good weather and lack of follow up storms has created a European Alps type of Hakuba. It is great! For your next winter trip, highly recommended: http://www.backcountry.com/store/DNF0001/Dynafit-Se7en-Summits-Touring-Ski.html http://www.backcountry.com/store/DNF0003/Dynafit-TLT-Vertical-ST-Alpine-Touring-Binding.html http://www.backcountry.com/store/BLD1105/Black-Diamond-Ascension-Custom-STS-Climbing-Skins.html http://www.backcountry.com/store/BLD0359/Black-Diamond-Method-Alpine-Touring-Boot-Mens.html http://www.backcountry.com/store/BLD0673/Black-Diamond-Carbon-Fiber-Ski-Poles.html cjw, it is a bit of a drive for you, but or you info – consistent good weather has opened up the local Hakuba peaks, which are full of snow yet not chest deep (I ache for your effort in that kind of snow). The only reason I have not skied from a summit above 2500m in the last week is a want of partners interested in that type of trip. The early snow, good weather and lack of follow up storms has created a European Alps type of Hakuba. It is great!

For your next winter trip, highly recommended:
http://www.backcountry.com/store/DNF0001/Dynafit-Se7en-Summits-Touring-Ski.html

http://www.backcountry.com/store/DNF0003/Dynafit-TLT-Vertical-ST-Alpine-Touring-Binding.html

http://www.backcountry.com/store/BLD1105/Black-Diamond-Ascension-Custom-STS-Climbing-Skins.html

http://www.backcountry.com/store/BLD0359/Black-Diamond-Method-Alpine-Touring-Boot-Mens.html

http://www.backcountry.com/store/BLD0673/Black-Diamond-Carbon-Fiber-Ski-Poles.html

]]> By: cjw http://i-cjw.com/blog/2008/12/08/manana-utsugi-dake-manana/comment-page-1/#comment-2805 cjw Tue, 09 Dec 2008 07:47:10 +0000 http://i-cjw.com/blog/2008/12/08/manana-utsugi-dake-manana/#comment-2805 Clint - not sure about skis, but I definitely wish I'd taken my snowshoes. "Surely not necessary this early on in the season", I thought... George - thanks, I just wish i could have got some photos from the summit instead. Sounds like the snow was about the same on Utsugi as it is around you up to around 2000m, and a little deeper above that. It snowed all day long up there, so it was unconsolidated powder - good for boarding, not good to climb up! I'm thinking about spending time at year end in the southern end of the minami Alps if the weather is OK, and maybe take some time out from hiking in Jan and Feb to try to get my ice climbing up to scratch. Clint – not sure about skis, but I definitely wish I’d taken my snowshoes. “Surely not necessary this early on in the season”, I thought…

George – thanks, I just wish i could have got some photos from the summit instead. Sounds like the snow was about the same on Utsugi as it is around you up to around 2000m, and a little deeper above that. It snowed all day long up there, so it was unconsolidated powder – good for boarding, not good to climb up! I’m thinking about spending time at year end in the southern end of the minami Alps if the weather is OK, and maybe take some time out from hiking in Jan and Feb to try to get my ice climbing up to scratch.

]]> By: George http://i-cjw.com/blog/2008/12/08/manana-utsugi-dake-manana/comment-page-1/#comment-2804 George Tue, 09 Dec 2008 07:19:57 +0000 http://i-cjw.com/blog/2008/12/08/manana-utsugi-dake-manana/#comment-2804 Another amazing photo. Sounds like you'll be hiking throughout the winter? Also envious to hear of the amount of snow you experienced there. Here in the Yuzawa/Tanigawadake area we are still waiting for the real winter to begin. Only seeing about 1 meter of snow at the 2000m level, and we really need 2x that to open up the usual descents. Another amazing photo. Sounds like you’ll be hiking throughout the winter?

Also envious to hear of the amount of snow you experienced there. Here in the Yuzawa/Tanigawadake area we are still waiting for the real winter to begin. Only seeing about 1 meter of snow at the 2000m level, and we really need 2x that to open up the usual descents.

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