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| Mt.Tsurugi-dake |
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| Mt.Tsurugi-dake |
In late summer, good weather morning, the view from Oyama peak, which is one on Mt.Tateyama's peaks, was exactly magnificent as the approximately whole area of the Northern Alps expanding, even distant Mount Fuji's figure appearing. In slightly higher morning linght the above sky was clearly blue, in the right hand Ushiro-Tateyama mountain range set purple slope folds, and in the left Murodoh-dahira opened a soft green grassy plain. However, from here Mt.Tsurugidake was not well seen.
Tracing ridgeline of peaks Oh-nanji and Fuji-no-Oritate through rocky pass, walking over Mt. Masago's grit-coverd gentle slope, ascending to Mt. Bessan. Carry step to the wide ridgeline to look into Valley Tsurugi-zawa, Mt.Tsurugidake towered holding entire space above the valley. Earthy blades overlaping with folds, rocky flame of the freezing fire. As this is the first time I faced closely the mountain, it was so holding breath seanery.
The day I climbed Mt.Tateyama, continueing to walk on the ridgeline via Mt.Bessan to Pass Bessan-Nokkoshi, descending to basin Tsurugizawa, viewing campsite in right hand, to today's accommodation, Tsurugi-Sanso hut. Arriving there at noon past a bit, guided to the second floor nobody was in the room. After a short rest in the lobby with a cup of coffee served by good staff, going out to make around trip of peak Ippuku-tsrugi as there was a plenty time until the evening meal. On the ridge linkng Ippuku-Tsurugi and Tsrugi-Gozen there was little shadow of a person, but looked around, catching mountaineers coming from Bessan-nokkoshi in sequence to huts or nearby tent site. As I looked up and stared at Mt.Tsurugidake in front of me hikers was descending in the mountain.
On this day six persons shared the room approximately 12 tatamis breadth. Talking with each other about tommorow's each plan we are called by hut's staff that common bath was ready. To wash out today's sweat we went down and walked through roofed passage connecting to bathroom. After supper we turned off the light early for hikers who planned departure next early morning.
departure, in front of the hut, still nightime
When it was 4:00 of the morning, a downstairs party began to rustle, then in an instant the noise like daparture for the front filled entire hut. Some persons in our room last night saying slowly start this morning give up sleeping and get up to prepare to climb. It is for me too so I took my daypack settled during the previous night and went out. In the outside there was the chilly jet black darkness through that twos and threes of head light aproaching to here from the campground. I remembered the route to Ippuku-Tsurugi by the yesterday's walk so I thought I could get through and started climbing with my heavy body which half slept.
Reached with a half an hour at the small peak of Ippuku-Tsurugi, it was still nighttime. The wind was not strong, but the temperature was cold. Looking up at the dark slope of peak Mae-Tsurugi soaring in front, at many places many beams of the climbers' light investigated a trai, in utter confusion. Two men came over who were the roommate and examined a route with them. Coming to see where one lost one's own way, we made up our mind to begin to climb the rocky slope. These three men inclding me acted as a party from here to descent point.
Burnig sunrise beyond Mt.Kashima-yari
Near Mae-Tsurugi
Through the considerably long zigzag up of the rock stone slope, it just dawned at Mae-Tsurugi. A beam of sunshines through the left of Mt.Kashima-yari told the opening of hard climbing places. Coldness before the daybreak replaced the refreshing cool, the height of the sky spreading overhead guaranteed today's good weather. I looked ahead Mt.Tsurugi's summit seemed to become considerably low. I might have understood that severe route followed as holding chains attached to ground must be need in many places, but thought it became slightly easy that earned altitude from now on.
After went over Mae-Tsurugi, as expected it was a series of chains. As repeating climbing up and down, using my arms holding chains and rocks, so whole body fatigue degree cannot compare with the ordinary hiking. Depending on a chain traversed the rock plate that leaned diagonally, climbed through the rock ditch, went down a slippery monolith-like with holding a chain and investigating a clue by my foot, so even amid climbing I was not able to remember what came out with what kind of turn. With party members I didn't felt fear, but the transition of route was exess as I could not remember what, how and where, so I climbed, to be precise, feverlishly.
one of many traversal point
can you find a man's figure? (hint: coloured.)
"Kani-no-Tatebai" (It is here I suppose.)
Struggling as I thought approaching the mountaintop gradually, came to be seen a figure of mountaineer who climbs up straight rock wall like a huge screen. It is Kani-no-tatebai, meaning "crabs crawling straight up", one must climb depend on implanted bolts. My friend who climbed this mountain quite before said, "a sense of fear overspread me when I thought that I missed my footing with this bolt". Though I do not remember why calm down well, I was able to pass it for normal feeling. I have been not acrophobia, and maybe it would be easy than looking to keep the balance by securing of three points. My physical strength might have been worn out, supposedly I was able to climb mainly with my leg power.
From up the Tatebai through rocks on scree the slope angle brcame gentle, then a small shrine, in our country it is often seen on any summit, appeared in my sight. At last reached highest point, it made the steps lighten.
The mountaintop was rocky, but there was plenty place one could sit, so we took a break. I placed myself freely and watched Mt.Tateyama or Mt.Kashima-yari. Thanks to good weather to show to Mt.Fuji on that day, there was no complain about the view. I made tea, had a meal and quieted a feeling getting excited.
at the peak viewing Mt.Tateyama (left) ,
Mt.Bessan (Tateyama's front),
Mt Yakushi-dake (far right).
The basin isTsurugi-sawa.at the peak viewing Mt.Narusawa (front left),
Mt.Akazawa (front center),
Mt.Renge (middle right).
Mt.Yatsu-ga-take(far center),
and Mt Fuji (far right)
One of our party said he had attended to climb this mountain before but on the day terribly strong window prevented him as Tsurugi-sanso hut's staff took all guests back to Murodo, traffic terminal. It was a re-challenge for him this time, and got success. The other one who was already retired, he was travelling alone by his car to climb famous mountains novelist Kyuya Takeda had selected 100 in this country. Both of them had tough legs so I was afraid of making their pace slow. Last night the old man, 80 years old, stayed together in our room. Having lunch at summit everybody noticed he came up. Not only himself, all in there were glad of his arrival.
In the descent most fearfull was at Kani-no-yokobai, meaning "Crab's crwling sideways". Traversing the rocky place aside before step down to the under rock, it was just a moment much cold sweat came out. I got tired than I thought. During short ascent to, not to mention peak Mae-Tsurugi, even lower Ippuku-Tsrugi, I exhausted. The elasticity of knees weakened, fatigued by the big step descent. When I came back to th Tsurugi-Sanso hut, I celebrated the safe and sound return from today's mountain. The milk, in paper cartoon, was too delicious.
I repacked one-day baggage in the large rucksack which I deposited Tsurugi-sanso hut and went out. I thanked party mate and went to Kuranosuke-sanso hut the next accommodation. From Bessan-nokkoshi in the reverse direction of yesterday, during Mt.Bessan's mountainside to Mt.Masago-dake, I got so tired because of after up and down Mt.Tsurugi-dake,.
dazed and confused
Mt.Tsurugi in evening light, viewing at Dainichi-goya hut
Here I looked back at the map around Tsurugidake. Thinking about a general route starting Murodo via Bessa-nokkoshi to basin Tsurugi-sawa, the altitude there are Tsurugidake-sanso hut and Tsurugi-sawa campsite, nearest accomodations to Mt.Tsurugi-dake, is around 2,600 meters. As Mt.Tsurugidake's altitude is 2,999 meters so differnce is slightly approximately 400 meters. However, for the general mountaineer, it will not be easy 400 meters. From far earlier daybreak, with headlamp we had to face the world of rocks and support chains.
2002/8/30-3
