Comments on: A Mountain, Redeemed

By: I-CJW

I-CJW — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 02:07:18 +0000

Peter – yes, exactly, I think I made the same observation in the post about my Ibuki climb last year.

Good question about the hyakumeizan. I want to climb good mountains in ways and conditions that are a challenge. And the hyakumeizan is stuffed full of good mountains. We’ll see.

By: Peter Skov

Peter Skov — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 04:11:49 +0000

It’s a bit like Bukouzan, a Nihyaku Meizan. Taiheiyo Cement has stripped off a good chunk as well.

So are you trying to complete the Hyaku Meizan?

By: I-CJW

I-CJW — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 12:52:27 +0000

Wes – likewise, I had a great time too, and am looking forward to our next trip! Hope the hay fever clears up soon..

By: wes

wes — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 05:58:14 +0000

cheers for the kind words and great companionship on our hike. It was great to finally meet up.

I’m still on a bit of a rush from our trip, as it was my last chance before the hay fever kicked in.

Looking forward to future climbs together.

By: I-CJW

I-CJW — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 05:14:34 +0000

Hi Peter – Ibuki has certainly suffered more than most at the hands of the tourist industry (not to mention the cement industry, which has carved off part of the northern flank). But it does have deep historical roots, and there’s no doubt of its Meizan status. And, of course, it’s a lot easier to turn your back on the overdevelopment at the peak when there is a layer of snow on it, and look out over Biwa to one side, and the Alps and Hakusan on the other.

I imagine you’re right about Tateyama – although the snowpack on the plateau is 15m, on the summit it is much less.

By: Peter Skov

Peter Skov — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 03:08:21 +0000

I was waiting for your next post. So you went to Ibuki. I saw it in the series of magazines Nihon Hyaku Meizan which were out last year. It didn’t look interesting and I wondered why it was chosen to be among Japan’s top 100. I guessed it had to be for historical significance. Of course, in winter and in your photographs it looks nice (love the clouds in the last photo) but I can see some large structure has been built on the top and that makes it a little less attractive.

By the way, I always thought the Tateyama area held the record for the most snow with sometimes over 15 metres of snow being deposited on the alpine route. Or doesn’t that count because the snow isn’t actually on the mountain so much as it is on the slopping plateau that leads to the mountain base?

By: I-CJW

I-CJW — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 12:57:53 +0000

David – it was a good climb, and blissfully quiet. Such a contrast to last August!

Holdfast – I don’t think it’s selfish at all. We go to the mountains to find ourselves, feel a little more alive, to get away from pre-packaged comfort and the easy options of modern living…

Clint – the climate is certainly changing – but then it always is. I would love, though, to see a good plastering of snow on Ibuki one winter soon.

Our Man – thank you, as always! Can’t tell you how happy we were when the clouds parted and the sun peeked out from over the horizon that morning.

Julian – the sunrise and the sunset, it’s what I live for! From the top, as we started down, we could see a dog and owner starting out at the bottom, and for a moment it crossed our mind that it might have been you & Hana – but they were moving far, far too slowly!

Captain – indeed! Ibuki thoroughly lived up to the appellation. Some mountains are just more seasonal in their Meizanality.

By: Captain Interesting

Captain Interesting — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 17:48:19 +0000

I much enjoyed reading about this mountain in “stereo” – your account and Wes’s. Together they prove that there is no such thing as an irredeemable or an uninteresting Meizan!

By: julian

julian — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 13:47:50 +0000

As you describe, so much more beautiful and uplifting in the winter with the snow covering at least some of the disfigured summit, and without the crowds.

It’s a pleasure to see your dusk/dawn photos from mountaintops in mid winter, as I’m too soft to sleep up there myself!

By: Our Man in Abiko

Our Man in Abiko — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 13:10:50 +0000

Lovely. Fifth pic’s my fave.