[Personal Experience] Completing the 100 Mountains of Shizuoka in 10 Years | The Mountains That Truly Moved Me and the Ones That Were Tough

Introduction

When I first started hiking,
I came across a book.

"The 100 Mountains of Shizuoka"

The deep interior of the Southern Alps,
the quiet mountains of the deep south.

Every time I turned a page,

"Are these mountains really hikeable?"

That was the thought that came to mind with every name I saw.

At the time, I had little experience,
and most of themseemed like mountains from a distant world.

Ten years have passed since then.

I gained experience little by little,
and before I knew it, I had hiked all 100 of them.

In this article,

・What kind of mountains are the 100 Mountains of Shizuoka?
・Mountains that truly moved me after hiking them
・Mountains that were tougher than I imagined

I will summarize these based on my personal experience.

I hope this will be a helpful reference
for those who want to start hiking the mountains of Shizuoka.

1. What are the 100 Mountains of Shizuoka?

While "100 Mountains of [Place Name]" books are published in various regions, Shizuoka Prefecture also has its own volume.

• Editor: Shizuoka 100 Mountains Research Group

• Publisher: Meibun Publishing

• First Edition: October 25, 1991

*Meeting this book was the beginning of everything.

2. The Beginning of the 100 Mountain Challenge

From the start, I didn't think,
"I'm going to climb all 100 mountains."

In fact, it was the opposite.

It was the other way around.

Just looking at the names, I felt,
"These are impossible."

Mountains that were particularly difficult:
Tosaka-yama North Peak, Nakanoone-yama, Fudo-dake, Marubon-dake, Kuroboshi-dake, Saru-ga-take, Ikewari-yama, Aonagi-san, Komori-dake, Daimugen-zan, Oonezawa-yama, Aozasa-yama (Ikawa)

All of them were,
unrealistic mountainsfor me at the time.

"Can I do this in a day trip?"
"Is it safe to go solo?"

Thinking about things like that,
I walked the mountains one by one.

3. Completing the 100 Mountains in About 10 Years

Looking back,
it took about 10 years to complete the climb.

It was by no means a fast pace,
but it was the result of continuing to walk one step at a time.

Along the way, there were:

・Mountains I retreated from due to weather
・Mountains that were physically demanding
・Mountains I thought I might never visit again

I had many different experiences.

Even so, when I finally
walked all 100 mountains,

I felt the depth of the mountains of Shizuoka
all over again.

4. 3 Mountains That Moved Me

Saru-ga-take

The view from the ridge of the Shirane-Nanrei is exceptional.
Hijiri-dake, Akaishi-dake, and the Arakawa Three Mountains spread out before me, and the view of Mt. Fuji seen over Ko-Saru is also beautiful.

▶ Click here for detailed hiking records

Mt. Kobu

A mountain where you can experience the feeling of standing right in the middle of the Southern Alps.
Looking out over the surrounding main peaks, you can feel the grandeur of nature firsthand.

▶ Click here for detailed hiking records

Mt. Marubon

A famous peak with views that symbolize the deep southern region.
It was completely white when I visited, but the scenery makes you feel that a return trip is essential.

▶ Click here for detailed hiking records

5. Three Mountains That Were Tough

Mt. Ikegiwari

It is difficult to do as a day trip on the ridgeline of the Shirane Southern Ridge.
It is a mountain that is a trial in itself, with only forest zones and no views.

▶ Click here for detailed hiking records

Mt. Naka-no-one

The highest peak in Hamamatsu City, located in the depths of the deep southern region.
The approach is difficult and there are many unclear routes, so it is for experienced hikers.

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Mt. Osawa

A mountain located between Mt. Akaishi and Mt. Hijiri.
It is a difficult spot that stands in the way of an exhausted body, but it is worth climbing to the top.

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None of the mountains were easy, but
after finishing the walk,

I felt a mysterious charm that made me think,

'I want to come back again.'

6. Afterword

The mountains of Shizuoka are not flashy.

However, when you walk them,

quiet ridgelines,
deep forests,
and grand views of the Southern Alps

all have their own unique charm.

Moving forward,
while continuing to hike mainly in the mountains of Shizuoka,

I would like to record the scenery and experiences
that can only be understood by actually walking them.

Click here for my past hiking records
▶ Magazine "One Mountain at a Time, Hiking Records"

If you like mountains,
I would be happy if you followed me.

Until next time, with a record of another mountain.