What kind of traverse is the Sen-Shio Ridge? The quietest ridge in the Southern Alps connecting Mt. Senjo and Mt. Shiomi

There was a traverse route I had planned to hike during my summer vacation.

From Mt. Senjo to Kumonodaira, and then to Mt. Shiomi.

Originally, it was a plan to hike over several days, but due to work and family commitments, I couldn't make it happen.

Still, I couldn't give up on it, so I decided to hike it in sections little by little afterward.

As a result, I was able to hike from Mt. Senjo to Mt. Notori, and from Mt. Shiomi to Mt. Kita.

Now that I have finished walking it, I think about it again.

If asked which ridge in the Southern Alps is my favorite, I might name the Sen-Shio Ridge.

What is the Sen-Shio Ridge?

The Sen-Shio Ridge is a long, vast ridge of approximately 30km connecting Mt. Senjo (3,033m) and Mt. Shiomi (3,052m).

Along the way, there are:

・Mt. Daisenjo
・Mt. Inaarakura
・Mt. Yokokawa
・Mt. Mitsumine
・Kumonodaira

and other peaks that follow one after another.

Compared to famous peaks like Mt. Kita and Mt. Aino, it is not very well known.
It is also not a route for efficiently visiting the 100 Famous Mountains.

However, I believe it is a traverse route not for aiming at summits, but for savoring the ridge itself.

For those who want to feel the depth of the Southern Alps, this is a place I definitely want you to walk.

In this article, I have summarized the appeal of the Sen-Shio Ridge, the route I actually walked, recommended sections, and points of caution based on my own mountain trips.

I hope this will be helpful for those who want to try walking the Sen-Shio Ridge.

Recommended for people like this

The Sen-Shio Ridge is not a traverse route that can be recommended to everyone. The distance is long, and escape routes are limited.

Even so, I think it will surely be a memorable mountain journey for people like this:

• People who want to walk a quiet ridge typical of the Southern Alps

• People who prefer the 'time spent connecting ridgelines' over the summits themselves

• People who want to connect Mt. Senjo, Mt. Shiomi, and Mt. Aino with a single line

• People who are interested in Kumanodaira or Ryomata Hut

• People who want to challenge themselves with a long route that takes several days to walk

The appeal of the Sen-Shio Ridge

A traverse for walking the 'ridgeline' rather than the summits

The Sen-Shio Ridge has a charm that is a bit different from the fun of efficiently visiting the 100 Famous Japanese Mountains.

The goal is not just the summits, but the ridgeline itself that connects them.

From Mt. Senjo to Mt. Daisenjo.

From Mt. Mitsumine to Mt. Aino.

The scenery changes every time you look back, and you get the feeling of going deeper into the mountains with every step you take.

For me, the Sen-Shio Ridge is not a 'traverse aiming for summits,' but a 'traverse for savoring the ridgeline.'

It is incredibly quiet

Up to Mt. Senjo, it is bustling with many hikers.

However, the moment you step onto Mt. Daisenjo, the atmosphere changes.

The presence of other people disappears.

All you can hear is the sound of the wind.

There are times when you might only meet a few people even after walking all day.

This kind of tranquility is hard to find on the popular traverse routes of the Northern Alps.

The Sen-Shio Ridge is not just a ridgeline with continuous views.

There is also a long time spent walking through forest zones.

However, it is precisely because of that quiet forest that the sense of openness the moment you emerge onto the ridgeline stands out.

I felt that the ebb and flow in the rhythm of walking is also a unique charm of this traverse.

Walking while gazing at 3,000-meter-class peaks

While there are many forest zones, once you reach the ridgeline, the mountains that represent the Southern Alps appear one after another.

Mt. Senjo
Mt. Kaikoma
Mt. Kita
Mt. Aino
Mt. Shiomi

You can overlook the leading actors of the Southern Alps such as these.

The scenery around Mt. Mitsumine in particular is spectacular.

No matter which way you look, the ridgeline of the Southern Alps continues.

Although there are no flashy rocky peaks, I believe the scale is among the best in Japan.

A special place called Kumonodaira

If you are going to talk about the Sen-Shio Ridge, you cannot leave out Kumonodaira.

It is far no matter where you walk from.

It is not a place you can reach easily.

That is precisely why there is a remaining tranquility there.

The way time flows around the Kumonodaira mountain hut is unique.

It was a place where I strongly felt that I had come deep into the mountains.

That was the feeling I had.

The existence of Ryomata Hut

If you are going to hike the Sen-en Ridge, the existence of Ryomata Hut cannot be overlooked.

When heading south from Mt. Senjogatake, there are no operating mountain huts on the ridgeline.

You must descend significantly to reach Ryomata Hut, which is built along the Noro River.

When I first looked at the map,

I wondered,

Why do I have to descend so far?

But when I actually stayed there, that time became part of what makes the Sen-en Ridge unique.

The sound of the mountain stream.

The scent of the forest.

A quiet time where you are released from the tension of the ridgeline.

It is not flashy, but it is a place where your heart can unwind during a long traverse.

The next morning, climbing back up to Mt. Mitsumine is tough, but thinking of Mt. Ainodake and the Shirane Sanzan mountains waiting ahead, my feet move almost magically.

If you are going to hike the Sen-en Ridge, I think it is a mountain hut you should stay at at least once.

Where is recommended for a first-time hiker?

For spectacular views: Mt. Mitsumine to Mt. Ainodake

You can get a panoramic view of the leading mountains of the Southern Alps.

For those who prioritize tranquility | Mt. Daisenjo to Kumanodaira

This is the section where you can best feel the essence of the Sen-Shio Ridge.

For those who prioritize balance | Mt. Senjo to Mt. Mitsumine

You can enjoy both the views and the tranquility.

To experience it all | The full traverse from Mt. Senjo to Mt. Shiomi

It requires both time and physical stamina, but it is packed with the charm of the Southern Alps.

Course conditions and things to know before you hike

The Sen-Shio Ridge is not a technically difficult route with continuous rocky areas or chain sections.

On the other hand, it is a traverse that requires long hours of activity and careful planning, even by Southern Alps standards.

Few escape routes

There are limited junctions on the ridge where you can descend. You must plan on the premise that once you enter, you will not be able to return for a long time.

Limited water sources

There are not many places where you can reliably resupply other than Ryomata Hut and Kumanodaira Hut. It is safer to keep a surplus in your supply.

Few places to resupply

There are very few operating huts, so the plan must be based on carrying enough food and water to complete the hike.

Judgment is crucial when weather conditions deteriorate

The ridgeline is long, and traveling through fog or rain will drain both your physical strength and your ability to make sound judgments.

Deciding to turn back early leads to safety.

Physical exhaustion due to the long distance

None of the individual climbs are extreme.

However, because the distance is so long, the constant walking causes more fatigue to accumulate than you might imagine.

I myself was apprehensive about the long distance before I walked it.

Even so, when I actually walked it, the joy of spending time connecting the ridgeline step by step left a stronger impression on me.

I recommend planning a schedule with plenty of time and carefully assessing the weather before you set out.

The route I actually walked

I walked the Sen-En Ridge in two separate trips.

Although I couldn't complete the full traverse as originally planned, thanks to that, I was able to thoroughly savor the charm of each section.

First half | Mt. Senjo to Mt. Notori

This was a 2-day, 1-night traverse where I climbed from Kitazawa Pass to Mt. Senjo, then walked to Mt. Daisenjo, Mt. Yokokawa, stayed at Ryomata Hut, and continued to Mt. Mibu, Mt. Ainodake, and Mt. Notori.
It was a memorable mountain trip where I was able to connect the quiet Sen-En Ridge and the Shirane Sanzan mountains all at once.

▶ [Southern Alps] Mt. Senjo to Mt. Notori | 35km traverse: 2 days connecting the Sen-En Ridge to the Shirane Sanzan

Second half | Mt. Shiomi to Mt. Kita

From Sanpuku Pass to Mt. Shiomi.
From there, I walked for 3 days to Mt. Komori, Kumanodaira, Mt. Ainodake, and Mt. Kita.
The tranquility of Kumanodaira and the views from Mt. Komori left a particularly strong impression on me.

▶ [Southern Alps] Mt. Shiomi to Mt. Kita traverse | 44km: 3 days connecting Mt. Komori and Mt. Kotaro

Why I love the Sen-En Ridge

There are no famous rocky areas on the Sen-En Ridge.

There is no Gendarme.

There is no Daikiret.

Even so, I find myself thinking about it again and again.

It is because what remains in my memory is not the summits, but the time spent walking between them.

Looking back, there is Mt. Senjo.

Looking ahead, there is Mt. Aino.

In the distance, there is Mt. Shiomi.

I walk silently through that scenery.

It is just that, yet for some reason, it stays in my heart.

The Sen-shio Ridge was that kind of ridgeline.

Due to work and family commitments, I ended up walking it in sections this time.

Even so, I believe it was precisely because of each of those individual hikes that I was able to deeply understand the charm of the entire Sen-shio Ridge.

The plan that I regretted not being able to complete has shown me a different view when I look back on it.

If I were to walk it again now, I would still want to connect it from Mt. Senjo to Mt. Shiomi in one go.

Someday, I hope to walk this quiet ridgeline from start to finish again.

Even when that day comes, if I am asked, 'What is your favorite ridgeline in the Southern Alps?', I am sure I will answer 'the Sen-shio Ridge' without hesitation.

Related Articles

I have compiled a list of traverse courses in the Southern Alps that I actually enjoyed walking.
Including this route, I introduce quiet ridgelines and grand traverses to be savored over two or more nights.

▶ 5 courses I enjoyed walking in the Southern Alps | Introducing quiet ridgelines and grand traverses from personal experience

▶ 5 courses I enjoyed walking in the Northern Alps | Introducing superb views, rocky ridges, and deep mountain areas from personal experience

Conclusion

When walking in the mountains, it is easy for the summit to become the goal.

But the Sen-shio Ridge was different.

It is a traverse where the ridge itself, rather than any particular summit, becomes the destination.

That is the kind of traverse it was.

For those who love quiet mountains.

For those who love walking along long ridges.

For those who want to feel the depth of the Southern Alps.

I would definitely like you to try walking it at least once.

In addition to the course introduced here, I have compiled records of scenic routes, traverses, and long routes in the Japanese Alps in a magazine.

▶ Superb View Mountaineering Guide | Japanese Alps, Scenic Routes, and Traverse Courses Summary

Also, my daily hiking records are updated in the magazine below.

▶ Magazine "One Mountain at a Time, Hiking Records"

If you love mountains, I would be happy if you could follow me.

Until next time, on some other quiet ridge.