[Trip Report] Visiting the Alpine Route with my three middle and high school daughters and a chubby toy poodle (Part 3)

Hello, this is koguma.
This is the third installment of our [Trip Report] on our Alpine Route journey with my three daughters.
After transferring between various vehicles, we finally arrived at Murodo, the highest point of the Alpine Route (we arrived around 8:20 AM).
As for the weather I was worried about, it was beautifully sunny!
Before the typhoon approached, we decided to fully enjoy this magnificent view.

1. The Nature Conservation Center and a morning stroll around Mikurigaike Pond

Upon arriving at Murodo, we first headed to theTateyama Murodo Nature Conservation CenterOur goal was the "Naturalist Guide" tour starting at 9:30 AM.
After successfully checking in, we decided to take a short walk around the area until the meeting time.
Before the wind picked up and caused ripples on the water, we first headed to the famous
Mikurigaike PondThe Mikurigaike Pond that appeared before our eyes was so incredibly beautiful that I was left speechless!With its clear blue surface, every angle looked like a picture. We took plenty of photos as a family and returned to the center, the meeting place for the guide, feeling very satisfied.

2. A luxurious hour walking with a naturalist guide

There were 1-hour and 2-hour courses for the guided tour, but our family chose the 1-hour course, which was easy to join.
The guide was very kind and explained many things in a way that was easy for the children to understand, such as the formation of the Tateyama mountains, the names of rare alpine plants, the geology, and the ecology of the ptarmigan, which unfortunately we didn't encounter this time.

The time spent walking while learning about the history and life of the mountains, rather than just looking at the scenery, was very luxurious and a wonderful experience for my three daughters.

3. A bit tough? Heading to the front of Mikurigaike Pond

After the 1-hour tour ended and we said goodbye to the guide, it was time for a family stroll again.
Thinking, "We haven't been to the front side of Mikurigaike Pond yet," we decided to head toward that route.
However, even though the path is well-maintained, this is a mountain at an altitude of 2,450 meters.
The path with its ups and downs took more energy than I imagined, and it was quite tiring to walk.
Even so, the view of Mikurigaike Pond from the front was exceptionally beautiful.
It was worth the effort to walk, and we found a bench near Mikurigaike Pond to take a break.

We all munched on the rice balls we had bought at the supermarket the day before.
Eating rice balls surrounded by the great outdoors felt many times more delicious than usual.

4. The arrival of sleepiness, and finishing with "Mikurigaike Soft Serve"

Once we were full, the reaction to waking up at 4:00 AM hit us all at once.
I actually wanted to extend our walk to the Mikurigaike Onsen area, but my middle school daughters looked quite sleepy.
Deciding that pushing any further was forbidden, we decided it was time to head down the mountain.
But, there is one thing we couldn't miss at the end!
Before we started our descent, we all ate the famousMikurigaike Soft ServeThe cold, sweet soft-serve ice cream soaked into our tired bodies after all that walking, making for a perfect conclusion.

5. A surprise on the way down and thoughts on Kurobe Dam

It happened while we were leaving Murodo and transferring between vehicles on our way down.
When I happened to look down at Kurobe Dam, there was a beautiful rainbow over it!

It was a breathtaking view that felt like a surprise from God, which we could only see because of the unstable weather before the typhoon.
Kurobe Dam, which carries electricity to the Kansai region where we live as a matter of course every day.
I also had the thought that I really wanted to let my children learn more deeply about its profound history, which is called the great project of the century, and the harsh process leading up to its completion.
We are heading down the mountain for now, but I will save that for the next opportunity.

Leaving behind the awe of the great outdoors and a little bit of homework, we return to the foot of the mountain where our beloved dog is waiting.
Next time, it will be [Trip Report Part 4], where we finally reunite with our dog at the pet hotel and provide a summary of the trip.
Please look forward to it until the end.