[Mount Yari Climbing] I went on a 'oshi-katsu' (fan activity) again this year

In my previous article, I wrote about the mistakes I made when I first climbed Mount Yari in 2012. Since then, I have been captivated by the charm of Mount Yari and mountaineering, and I have continued to visit Mount Yari every year.
This time, I achieved my 15th summit of Mount Yari.

This year, I had concerns about my physical condition due to illness, but since I had a string of good days, I didn't miss the chance and went ahead with my 'oshi-katsu' Mount Yari climb.

As a result, I'm so glad I went!
I was truly healed.
It's such an exhausting climb, yet it's amazing how much energy it gives me!
Thank you, Mount Yari!

So, I would like to write an article about this year's 'oshi-katsu'.
I just got back from the mountain and I'm still excited, so please forgive me if my writing sounds a bit giddy.

◎Day 1 Kamikochi -> Yari-ga-take Sanso (Yari Mountain Hut)

There are many routes to the summit of Mount Yari, but this time, considering my physical condition, I took the Yari-sawa route, which allows for a round trip between Kamikochi and Mount Yari in one night without long-distance trekking.
Personally, this is my favorite course.

The healing aura at the Kamikochi trailhead is incredible, and the fact that the scenery gets better and better the higher you climb is wonderful.

I suffered quite a bit when I first climbed Mount Yari here, but it's also the route that made me love mountaineering, so I have a strong attachment to it.

I sometimes hear people say they dislike the 11km flat forest walk from Kamikochi to a point called Yokoo, but on the way, you are healed by Mount Myojin, the Azusa River, and the beautiful springs that suddenly appear. You can also eat soft-serve ice cream and curry at a lodge called Tokusawa-en, and you can even meet cute? animals like monkeys, so depending on how you look at it, it can be a fun forest walk.

After walking 11 kilometers and finally passing Yokoo, the path gradually turns into a mountain trail.

As I climbed while looking at the Yari-sawa, the upper reaches of the surprisingly beautiful Azusa River, I came across a hut called Yarisawa Lodge.
I ate the lunch I brought here and refilled my water bottle.
This time, I tried putting amino acid powder in my water bottle to see if it would reduce fatigue.

It's also nice that this Yari-sawa course has many water sources, so you don't have to carry a lot of water at once.
Yarisawa Lodge also provides lunch, and the Nepali curry and gapao rice that a foreigner sitting next to the bench was eating looked very delicious.

After passing Yarisawa Lodge and climbing a little further, I arrived at a campsite called Babadaira.
It used to be a campsite with nothing there, but a few years ago a nice restroom was built, and this year they even had a shop.
I thought that when I get a little older, I might pitch a tent here and climb Mount Yari at a leisurely pace over two nights.

From here, after walking along the stream for a while, the real climb finally begins.
The first time I went, this was the uphill slope that made me stop many times and feel despair.

You gain nearly 1,000m in elevation all at once to the goal at Yari-ga-take Sanso, but I'm used to climbing this, so it's totally fine.
Or so I thought, but it's still tiring after all.

On the way, there is a stream where you can draw water, so I gulped down the fresh snowmelt and filled my water bottle for the last time.
It's rumored to be drinkable, and I've never gotten sick from drinking this water before, so it's probably fine.

After climbing a bit from the stream, Mount Yari finally comes into view.
The weather was iffy on the first day this time, but I could see it occasionally depending on the movement of the clouds.

It's a brutal uphill climb, but seeing my favorite Mount Yari gives me the energy to keep going.
Everyone climbing this looks like they're having a tough time.

From the 1,500m remaining mark to Yari-no-kata, where Yari-ga-take Sanso is located, the remaining distance is painted on the rocks every 100m.
These 100m stretches feel abnormally long.

From about 400m remaining, the slope gets much steeper, so I'll do my best!

And then, after climbing up the steep slope...

Yay!
Finally arrived at Yari-ga-take Sanso.

The mountain hut is constantly evolving, and even the fees were now automatically deducted via credit card.
The registration card that used to be handwritten no longer needs to be filled out for those who booked online.
And, I received a gift at check-in.

Yari-ga-take Sanso 100th Anniversary Tenugui (hand towel)!!!

I'm so happy!
Furthermore, I was also very happy to receive a sticker and Amino Vital.

Even though it was a weekday, the mountain hut was incredibly crowded.
Compared to before, I really get the impression that there are more foreigners.

Another thing that made me very happy was that dinner had become a buffet style.
Until now, only rice, miso soup, and tea were free to refill, so I had to calculate the remaining amount of side dishes while eating, but this time I was able to eat plenty of fried chicken, shumai, almond tofu, and more.
To prevent altitude sickness, I drank about five cups of miso soup and tea almost every time.

The weather wasn't great on the first day, so I decided not to go to the summit of Mount Yari and climb it on the morning of the second day instead.

◎Day 2 Mount Yari summit climb → descent

In the morning, it seemed like all the guests were starting to move from around 3:30, but I slept in until 4:30.
When I woke up, there was no one left in the 10-person room I was staying in, but I'm the type who doesn't need to see the sunrise, so I took my time getting ready, and when it started to get bright, I leisurely left the hut and headed for the summit of Mount Yari.

The steep path toward the tip of the spear was a bit congested, but while waiting, I looked toward the Hotaka mountain range and it had a beautiful color illuminated by the morning sun.

After climbing the cliff and ascending the last two long ladders, I finally reached the summit.
I'm grateful that the wind was calm this time.

Today, a 360-degree panoramic view was spread out before me.
It's as if the mountain is welcoming me!!
The many climbers at the summit also all look happy in front of the spectacular view.
Even though we are strangers, the conversation flows, saying 'This is the best, isn't it?'

I stayed at the summit for about 30 minutes, but it was time to head down, as much as I didn't want to leave.
When descending the first ladder from the summit, the sense of height makes it a little scary.
I heard there are more accidents on the way down, so I'm descending carefully.

I returned to Yarigatake Sanso, collected my luggage, applied sunscreen, ate a bread roll for breakfast, and started the descent at 6:30 AM.

As I breezed down the path I had struggled to climb yesterday, I looked back at Mount Yari many times.
Personally, I think the view of Mount Yari from just a little way down from Yarigatake Sanso is the most moving.
This spot is called the Green Band.

After descending for about 30 minutes, the Green Band finally ends, and Mount Yari disappears from view.
It's hard to say goodbye, but I'll be back!!

From here on, I can't see Yari anymore, and I'll descend the path I came yesterday all at once.
Everyone I pass who is climbing up looks exhausted.
This climb is tough, isn't it.

The path I struggled to climb yesterday ended surprisingly quickly on the way down, and I refilled my water at Yarisawa Lodge.
The cold water is delicious!!

If it's sunny, you can see Mount Yari from the telescope installed next to the hut, but it was already hidden by clouds.

I continued walking towards Yokoo and then Tokusawa.
I had some soft-serve ice cream at Tokusawa-en and took a short break.
The atmosphere of this lodge is European-style and chic, which is very nice.

Both those about to climb and those who had finished their descent were all enjoying their meals with calm expressions.

◎ The tragedy of the bus from Kamikochi to Sawando Parking Area

After walking for 30 minutes from Tokusawa and passing Myojin, there are already more tourists than hikers.
It takes another 30 minutes from Myojin to arrive at Kamikochi.
Man, that was long!!
I walked so much!!
It's 5 hours and 15 minutes of walking from Yari-ga-take Sanso.

Looking back at the Hotaka mountain range from Kappa Bridge, it was already so foggy that I couldn't see the upper parts.

Perhaps the area near the summit at this time of year only stays clear in the early morning hours.

While glancing at the Azusa River, I headed to the bus terminal for Sawando Parking Area.
Even though it was a weekday, it was summer vacation, so there was already a long line.
While waiting in line, I drank water and amino acids, and wiped my body with a towel as hard as I could.

By the way, every time I ride this bus, there is something I always worry about.

That is the problem of who will sit next to me, as I have been walking for over 5 hours from Yari-ga-take Sanso and must absolutely smell.
I can almost hear people saying, 'If that's the case, change your clothes before getting on the bus and wait for your sweat to dry,' but I think, 'If I don't get in the long line quickly, the Chuo Expressway on the way home will get more and more congested,' 'The sweat will probably dry while I'm waiting,' and 'Since I look so dirty, no one but a hiker will sit next to me,' so I end up getting in line just like that every time.
If I were with someone, we could take turns changing while waiting in line, but I can't do that alone.

After sitting in the bus seat, I always strongly wish, 'Please let the person sitting next to me be a hiker, and preferably an older man.'
Until now, I had been lucky enough to have that wish granted, but this time, a tragedy finally occurred.

My seat remained empty until the very last moment, but the person who boarded last was a stylish young female tourist.
The one type of person who should absolutely not sit next to me came over and said, 'Excuse me.'
I'm the one who should be saying excuse me...

Convinced that a hiker uncle would definitely sit next to me, I thought, 'Oh no,' and tried to move my body and backpack as far toward the window as possible to create even a little distance, but perhaps because I was filled with such a sense of guilt, I started sweating uncontrollably in a miraculous vicious cycle.

I saw the young woman next to me yawning and covering her mouth, and I was terrified that maybe she was pinching her nose because of the smell.
The 30-minute bus ride to Sawando felt like an eternity.

In my previous article, I wrote about many of the blunders from my first Mount Yari climb, and I thought I had cleared all of them, but at the very last moment, I created a new blunder.

The lessons from this climb are:
・Adding amino acids to your drinks while hiking reduces fatigue
・Before getting on the bus from Kamikochi, get rid of as much odor as possible because a tourist might sit next to you
・But even if the same situation happens again, don't blame yourself more than necessary

Those are the three points, I suppose.

With that, I was able to enjoy supporting my favorite mountain safely again this year.

Thank you for reading this long article.
I hope you all take care in the heat and have a fun summer.