Comments on: This Mountain Sickness

By: Peter Skov

Peter Skov — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 12:34:14 +0000

Well, one day of good views is better than none. I should have taken the day off on Saturday. Then I could have gone up in the clouds and enjoyed two days up there in sunshine.

Yeah, last year I did the Arakawadake/Akaishidake circuit and found the bus from Shizuoka was not running because of a recent heavy rain that had washed out part of the road. I hastily arranged for a rental car but it seemed like a waste of money to drive four hours, leave the car for four days and then drive four hours back out, and I had to take the service bus from the dam up and back anyway. I’ll be sure to check with the lodge below about transportation before going again if I decide to attempt the traverse.

I’m glad the dragon you may have awakened is on your side. Think if she was against you! I am certain a woman of that power would have you defeated.

By: CJW

CJW — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 11:06:46 +0000

Peter – Yuka sure is a cool chick! As we speak, she’s researching places to bivy out on Kirishima-dake later on this month… To misquote General Yamamoto, I fear I may have awakened a dragon.

Our plan was to do the whole trek from Kita-dake to Hijiri. I think you could do it in 5 days (the Kita-dake to Kuma-no-daira is do-able in a long day if you got the 7am bus). Without her blisters, I’m pretty sure Yuka would have made the whole thing. The problem you’ll find is at the Hijiri end of things – the Shizuoka bus has stopped running, and you’re dependent on the Tokai Forestry buses. Either that, or you’ve a 12 hour walk-out… I missed the Yama-to-Keikoku article, but I’ll try to get hold of a copy.

Looks like you got some great views during your trip, certainly much nicer than the gloom I endured up around Washiba last year!

By: Peter Skov

Peter Skov — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 09:28:43 +0000

By the way, it looks like you made the trek from Kita to Shiomi. That’s something I would love to do sometime. In fact, if I had the time, I would want to go all the way to Hijiri or Kamikochidake. I think a solid week would be enough provided that the weather didn’t turn too nasty. Did you see the article about the South Alps this summer in Yama-to-Keikoku?

Maybe next Silver Week I’ll try to hit the South Alps for a bit. Your photos make me want to go back. Great pics as always!

By: Peter Skov

Peter Skov — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 03:46:24 +0000

What can I say but I loved the end of this story, or rather, the suggestion of a new beginning. Yuka is one cool chick. I have always liked her in your posts and now I like her even more. It reminds me when my wife suddenly says, “I really want to go camping. Let’s go to Kamikochi.” I know she doesn’t think about climbing. After having our son she has totally focused her energy on him. It will be some years before I get her back on the trails to the summits. But still I appreciate her interest in getting outdoors again.

The sudden eruption of light from the clouds at sunset is something I have experienced maybe two or three times, and each time I had given up on the sunset views and went inside the lodge or tent to eat and relax. I know better now. So that long weekend, when it was cloudy and rainy all day I went up to the summit of Sugorokudake just incase there was a sudden break. But there was not. You were very fortunate to get such a grand display. Such moments are what mountain photographers pray for.

By: butuki

butuki — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 14:45:05 +0000

For gaiters with trail runners, try these MontBell also makes a Schoeller type that I use. Outdoor Research makes a taller (but lighter than the usual goretex type) version that you can use with runners.

By: CJW

CJW — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 07:37:36 +0000

Hi Butuki – you were right, the spam filter had caught your comment – anything with more than a couple of links tends to get trapped. But thank you for taking the time to write your thoughts down, much appreciated.

I hear what you’re saying on shoes versus boots. I did Myogi once and also my most recent trip in a pair of Aku Stone XCRs. There were a couple of points where I’d have liked to have been in boots, and a couple of points where I was glad I was wearing something more flexible, so the experiment was pretty much a draw for me. I can see, though, that for day climbs I’ll be erring towards the XCRs rather than the boots from now on though. I did have some issues with gravel getting in them, even with the built-in gaiters on my Hagloff trousers. Not a show-stopper, though.

For flattish winter routes at sub 2000m, I might also give them a go. But for the big stuff, I think I’ll still be in my boots

By: butuki

butuki — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 05:18:35 +0000

Hmm, a few days ago I wrote quite a long comment on hiking in trail running shoes to take care of Yuka’s blisters, but it seems never to have shown up. I wonder if the spam filters got it?

By: Miguel

Miguel — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 13:19:49 +0000

Among ultralight enthusiasts boots have become outdated, unless you climb really high peaks like the Himalaya and Andes. Part of the reason that people get blisters in boots is the stiffness of the material. With running shoes (well, more properly trail running shoes), if the shoes fit properly, you very rarely get blisters. And there is no break in time. People who haven’t tried them pooh pooh going with anything without “support”, but numerous serious expeditions, like the Great Western Loop walk, by Andy Skurka ( http://www.andrewskurka.com/ ), the Yo-yo of the Continental Divide by Francis Tapon (who climbed Mt. Blanc in August in running shoes) ( http://www.francistapon.com/ ), and more recently the 4,000 mile walk by Erin and Hig McKittrick along the coast of Alaska, including winter ( http://www.groundtruthtrekking.org/ ), have shown that not only is it possible, but it’s a lot more comfortable and there are a lot less foot problems. Even in winter you can walk with running shoes, as long as you keep your feet warm enough, and this is critical, “loose” enough that the blood flows freely. I don’t use boots any more, though I used to all the time. I have never had any problems with ankles turning, as long as I got shoes that had a low center of gravity. I’ve climbed all the big mountain ranges in Japan in runners. In winter you might want to try something like this: http://www.kahtoola.com/flight-boot.html
Sami people in northern Sweden reject modern winter boots in favor of lightweight moccasin type shoes covered in straw leggings. I’m not sure they would work in the mountains, but the same kind of thinking definitely keeps your feet drier and warmer than any boot system.

I don’t know, it’s not for everyone, but give it a try. Yuka might get even more enthusiastic!

By: CJW

CJW — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 09:27:59 +0000

Damian – that’s interesting – I tend to be a thin-sock guy in summer. I’ll give the thick-sock technique a go next year..

Jason – yes, we were worried about so many other aspects, but the one that derailed us was so minor. Actually, I’ve been thinking about starting a separate blog for gear, so I might well post something on there. I had a 70L pack, Yuka had a 40L. Pretty standard stuff, though – tent, sleeping bag, mat, food.

Rockie – welcome! And thank you for the comment. Tanzawa’s a good mountain – if you can get up that, you can get up pretty much anything. Some others that might be close for you are Mitsu-toge near Fuji, and Amagi on the Izu penninsula..

Miguel – great to hear from you! You’re right about it being pure joy up there, as well you know. It’s funny how different people react, and with different sorts of trips, to the mountains. Yuka really doesn’t care for one-day trips, but loves multi-day hikes now – which is exactly the opposite of what I thought would happen. You never know what random development might spark Mika-san’s interest…

By: Miguel

Miguel — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 11:34:16 +0000

Chris, you always have a way of conveying that “other” thing about the mountains that goes beyond pretty sunsets and awe. Perhaps it’s a sense of devotion and love. And pure joy. Not many people who write about the walks they do can do that. You capture exactly what it is that draws me to the mountains.

Unfortunately I have to bear with Mika’s contentment with the likes of Takao-zan. She’s climbed Senjo, but seemed singularly unimpressed. She tells me, “You should be able to find adventure and beauty anywhere.” Well, yeah, of course, but…but…BUT…! Something is always missing. I can’t get that across.