July 2026 Mountain Hiking Summary: 5 Trips Where Changing Plans Led to the Best Views of the Summer

I love the time spent walking along quiet ridgelines.

In July, there were almost no mountains I hiked exactly as planned.

Weather forecasts.

Road closures on forest trails.

Scheduling with companions.

Each time, I opened my map and rethought my destination over and over.

But looking back,

every view I encountered was only possible because I changed my plans.

Flowers in the Yatsugatake Mountains.

A quiet Mount Kisokoma.

Mount Norikura in the morning.

And the rocky ridges of Hotaka that I had long admired.

The final trip was a grand traverse through the deep Southern Alps over three days.

July was,

not a month of "hiking as planned," but

a month of stacking up the best I could do at the time.

■ This Month's Numbers

Number of hikes: 5

Total distance: approx. 145km

Total cumulative elevation gain: approx. 14,500m

Overnight hikes: 2

(Oku-Hotaka to Nishi-Hotaka 2 days 1 night, Nōtori-dake to Kōmori-dake 3 days 2 nights)

Looking back,

It was a month where I walked plenty of distance and elevation.

But what remains in my memory isn't the numbers.

It was making different decisions every week,

and continuing to choose the mountains I could hike on that day.

■ The 5 hikes I did this month

1. Yatsugatake | Warming up before the summer mountain season

A break in the rainy season.

The mountain area I had planned for had bad weather,

so I headed to the relatively stable Yatsugatake range.

On the classic traverse connecting Mt. Aka, Mt. Yoko, and Mt. Iō,

while remembering the feel of the rocky terrain,

I was also able to fully enjoy the alpine plants that were just at their peak.

Potentilla matsumurae. Anemone narcissiflora. Lagotis glauca. And Dicentra peregrina.

"Summer is starting again."

It was a day that made me feel just that.

Distance: 23.8km, Cumulative elevation: 1,921m

▶ Click here for the detailed article

[Yatsugatake] Mt. Akadake, Mt. Yokodake, and Mt. Ioudake Loop | 23.8km - A Classic Traverse to Walk Before Summer Hiking

(2) Mt. Kisokomagatake | A Quiet Ridge Found Through a Change of Plans

I was actually planning to hike the Cosmo Circuit.

However, the forest road was closed.

I made a last-minute change and hiked the Kogara Circuit instead.

A quiet forest.

The ridge leading from Mt. Chausuyama to Mt. Shogikashirayama.

Ending with the bustling Mt. Kisokomagatake.

I was able to discover a side of Mt. Kisokomagatake different from the popular routes,

making it a welcome change of plans.

Distance: 15.6km
Cumulative Elevation Gain: 1,902m

▶ Click here for the detailed article

[Central Alps] Mt. Kisokomagatake | Kogara Circuit 15.6km - A Quiet Ridge Starting from Mt. Chausuyama

(3) Mt. Okuhotakadake to Mt. Nishihotakadake | Connecting the Rocky Ridges I Longed For

I hiked the Gendarme last year.

I wanted to continue from there.

It was a traverse I had always thought about.

I consulted the weather forecast many times,

and strictly adhered to starting early and arriving early.

As a result,

Under the summer sky, I was able to hike all the way from Gendarme to Nishi-Hotakadake.

More than the difficult rocky terrain,

the sense of relief that we all returned safely with my companions left a stronger impression.

Distance: 21.7km
Cumulative Elevation Gain: 2,764m

▶ Click here for the detailed article

[Northern Alps] Okuhotakadake to Nishi-Hotakadake | A 21.7km Grand Traverse Crossing Gendarme

4. Mount Norikura | A Morning Encounter with Komakusa in Full Bloom

This was also a change of plans.

We skipped the mountain we originally planned to visit,

and headed to Mount Norikura with my companion.

Arriving at the summit earlier than the first bus,

we found a quiet morning ridgeline.

And,

the Komakusa (bleeding hearts) were at their peak.

We had a mishap where the bus was full on the way back, but,

because we walked all the way to the end,

we were able to see Mount Norikura transform under the blue sky.

Distance: 18.1km
Cumulative Elevation Gain: 1,566m

▶ Click here for the detailed article

[Northern Alps] Mount Norikura | A 19km Hike from Sanbondaki to See Komakusa in Bloom and a Quiet Morning

5. Mt. Notori to Mt. Komori | 3 Days Connecting the Southern Alps

At the end of July,

I headed to the Southern Alps.

Mt. Notori. Mt. Ainodake. Mt. Shiomi. Mt. Komori.
And the Shirane Southern Ridge.

The distance covered was 65km.

It was a 3-day journey where I made decisions one by one as I walked.

Whether to traverse or climb.

Where to stay for the night.

Because I kept thinking on my feet,

I will never forget the view I saw from Mt. Sasayama at the end.

Distance: 65.1km
Cumulative Elevation: 6,389m

▶ Click here for the detailed article

[Southern Alps] Mt. Notori, Mt. Ainodake, Mt. Shiomi, Mt. Komori | A 65km Grand Traverse of the Sen-shio Ridge and Shirane Southern Ridge

■ July Comparison

Longest Distance
Mt. Notori to Mt. Komori 65.1km

Maximum Cumulative Elevation
Mt. Notori to Mt. Komori 6,389m

Mountain with the most impressive flowers
Mt. Norikura

Mountain with the most impressive tranquility
Kogara Circuit

Mountain that felt the most tense
Mt. Okuhotaka to Mt. Nishihotaka

Mountain I most want to hike again
Sen-shio Ridge

▶ What kind of traverse is the Sen-en Ridge? | One of the quietest ridges in the Southern Alps, connecting Mt. Senjo to Mt. Shiomi

■ July Seasonal Notes | For reference next year

[Alpine Plants]

In the Yatsugatake Mountains, Anemone narcissiflora and Primula cuneifolia var. hakusanensis are in full bloom.

On Mt. Norikura, Dicentra peregrina is at its peak.

In the Central Alps, many flowers like Geum pentapetalum could also be enjoyed.

[Weather]

Forecasts are prone to change around the end of the rainy season.

Last-minute decisions were crucial.

[Popular Mountain Areas]

Even before summer vacation, Mt. Kisokoma and Mt. Norikura had many hikers.

By starting earlier than the first bus, I was able to enjoy some quiet time.

[Southern Alps]

Cumulus clouds tend to develop in the afternoon.

Starting early and arriving early made for easier hiking.

■ This Month's Reflection

July was,

a month of making decisions

.

Watching the weather,

Researching forest roads,

Changing plans,

Choosing a mountain I can hike that day.

That accumulation of choices,

led to unexpected scenery.

Days when I can hike exactly as planned,

might be surprisingly rare.

But,

if I can enjoy the mountain I am able to hike that day,

the mountains always show me new scenery.

July was,

a month that taught me that many times over.

■ For first-time visitors

Focusing on mountains in Shizuoka, I write hiking logs centered on conditions and decision-making.
I record not just the results,

but also "how I made those decisions."
I have compiled the mountains I have hiked so far and my completion records here.

▶ Read my self-introduction article

▶ Click here for last month's summary
June 2026 Mountain Hiking Summary | A month where every hikeable day felt so special

August is finally the peak of the summer hiking season.

Again, while assessing the conditions,

I plan to connect quiet ridgelines one step at a time.

Click here for my past hiking logs

▶ Magazine "One Peak at a Time, Hiking Logs"

I hike every weekend, mainly in the mountains of Shizuoka.

I would be happy if you followed me.

See you next time with a record of another mountain.