Comments on: This mountain eats men

By: Ron of Tokyo

Ron of Tokyo — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 03:43:44 +0000

Good People,

Mate and I climbed Tanigawadake and did the peaks ridge trail and camped out for 2 nights last weekend. Amazing vistas but incredibly steep ridge lines and I can see why the death stats are so high. The weather can change in an instant and after starting ou climb late arvo a thunderstorm moved in and we were battered by the most torrential downpour I have ever experienced, which was accompanied with lightning. we were pretty lucky to make it to the first cabin as the air was electrified and we were basically climbing in the middle of the thunderstorm. 1 hour later it was blue skies with not a breath of wind at the summit – freakish! 2 days climbing were outstanding but did have a bear encounter at close range (20m) in steep, dense terrain on our descent doing the avalanche alley ridge line and by passing the top of the gondala – incredibly steep track. Unbelievable mountain experience all round but agree that preparation and equipment is key…..

By: Keela

Keela — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 09:27:03 +0000

Love the picture of the tree, its really surreal. Looks like something from a Tim Burton film

By: MTC

MTC — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 09:40:46 +0000

My own last trip up Tanigawadake was done in the company of what seemed a rather significant portion of Japan’s population.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/28196204@N05/4024690511/sizes/l/

Ah, mountains!

By: CJW

CJW — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 06:47:58 +0000

Hey Tony – you’re absolutely right (and I think a few comments above mentioned it, too) – the vast majority of those fatalities were in climbing parties. That said, even the relatively straightforward ridge has taken a few, and if people insist on going up there in jeans and t-shirts when it’s sleeting on top, then it will surely take a few more…
Hoshiana was a good day out, our elapine encounter notwithstanding!

By: Tony

Tony — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 07:21:18 +0000

PS Forgot to say, nice website cjw… good work. I also enjoyed your comments about the Hoshiana shindou on Myougi san… a classic outing

By: Tony

Tony — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 06:00:43 +0000

Whilst it’s certainly interesting to read everyone’s point of view here about Tanigawadake, I think you might all be reading things into those statistics that aren’t necessarily there. Changeable weather aside, I wouldn’t have thought there were many serious dangers waiting for you on the hiking trail from the top of the gondola. Unless we can see a breakdown of that 850 number, I’m assuming that the vast majority of those deaths will have taken place in Ichinokurasawa on the rock-climbing routes, and maybe the lions share of those in winter. The rock can be loose, the terrain often unprotectable, with huge runouts on properly steep grass that are basically unavoidable if you want to get to the top of your route. Then in winter you can factor in the shorter daylight hours, the steep and runout snow slopes on routes, the huge cornices that develop up on the summit ridge, and the huge avalanche danger from around the middle of February onwards.
There are certainly plenty of ways to meet your maker on Tanigawadake, but relax everyone, walking up the path from the gondola is way down there on the list.

By: CJW

CJW — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:08:15 +0000

BillyWest – the only mountains I eat are mountains of Calorie Mate and Snickers.. food of the gods!

OMIA – thank you, as ever.

Rockie – you’ve no idea the panic that set in when we finally got a glimpse of those colours – just seconds to click off as many shots are possible before the cloud rolled in again..!

Butuki – the Three Wire Bivy looks like just the thing if you’re claustrophobic. The only thing that struck me was (looking at the Big Agnes website) that they seem to have replaced the all eVent upper with a Cordura foot. That would be bad if it was the case – the foot of the bivy is generally the place that suffers the most from condensation. Maybe worth checking with them. I’m a big fan of Integral Designs – the Unishelter Exp (eVent version) might be worth looking at, if only to compare.

The Envoy – she sure is, she sure is..

By: The Envoy

The Envoy — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 03:14:33 +0000

Arr… a deadly beauty, she (the mountain) is.

By: butuki

butuki — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 02:57:42 +0000

Chris, I’m starting to seriously look at bivvies for walking, including winter. So far I’ve got the Big Agnes Three Wire Bivy on my list and will most likely go with that, but I’ve not done any camping with a bivvy without using a tarp in conjunction. What would you recommend? (I’m claustrophobic so a closed bivvy that lies on my face is out).

By: Rockie

Rockie — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 22:33:34 +0000

More excellent work. “The mountain eats people” is superb!!! Love the path of colors leading to nowhere…