Hyakumeizan: Japan's 100 Mountain Challenge by Craig McLachlan

Author:Craig McLachlan [McLachlan, Craig]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Paradise Promotions Ltd
Published: 2013-09-27T16:00:00+00:00

Mount Asahi loomed large at the end of a long forested valley as we sat in Pete at the end of the potholed, unsealed road. Close to six hours each way according to our maps. Number Fifty would require a big effort. But fair enough! There were some hard days, and some not so hard, but it seemed appropriate that Mountain Fifty should be a test in itself. Tired bodies, tired minds, but a milestone such as the halfway point should not be conquered easily. We relished the challenge in high spirits. Four kilometres up the valley followed by four kilometres of steep climbing. It’s hard to imagine four kilometres of continuous climbing. On the flat I can walk five kilometres in an hour, but hit the steep stuff and a kilometre can take as long. But, as fit as we could be, Trav and I powered along and up in the sticky heat, following a trail of coffee cans and black candy wrappers discarded by a climber showing little respect for the land of his birth.

“The cloud is in. There’s no view at the top,” said the lone hiker we met on the way up. A bogie, he was obviously not the litterer who we were hoping to meet along the way. Sixtyish and carrying an ice pick, he had a badger skin around his waist and a towel wrapped around his forehead. “No, don’t need the ice pick. I was worried about snow, but it’s all melted.”

We were surprised to find a Bob at the top. Hard hat, sunglasses, swarthy skin and grey work clothes chattering into a radio.

“I’m a ham radio operator,” he explained when we inquired between radio calls. “If you go down over that way about two hundred metres you can see some wild flowers.” Heading off in the wrong direction in search of flowers didn’t top our things-to-do list, whereas minor celebrations did. Minor celebrations in the form of lunch and silly proof photos before a quick descent. The climb had taken four and a half hours, the descent less than two.

Pete had been parked outside a lodge at the start of the track. No one had been around when we’d departed, but at just after six we were greeted by the owner who’d inspected Pete in our absence. “100 Mountain Challenge,” read the sticker covering one of Pete’s rear windows. “Trav and Craig’s Big Adventure.” He knew what we were up to.

“What number are you up to?”

“Fifty. Mt. Asahi is number fifty.”

“Congratulations,” he aid smiling. A few more pleasantries exchanged and I asked for some advice.

“Onsen? No sorry, none around here. You’re welcome to use our shower though. We’ve no guests tonight so there’s no point in filling the bath.” We gratefully accepted, showering, before spending an hour or so chatting with the kind owner and his wife.

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