Mount Kiso-Komagatake
Some sun today, but not sure whether the cloud base level will rise high enough to make it worth getting to the summit today. I'll take a walk...
The mountain forecast calls this mountain mount Kisokoma as there are multiple mount Komagatakes.
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24 May 2026 - 09:23
My tent and transport is a little different to my neighbouring campers with their huge tent and bright pink Tesla!
Admin
I'd have started earlier, but apparently it's a requirement that you fill out a hiking plan for this level of hike here, so I've spent quite a while trying to figure out how to do that... It may mean I won't have time and will have to decide whether to try again tomorrow...
After faffing around with online stuff in my tent for a while, I eventually decided to head for the trailhead. There was a sign, postbox, and paper form I was able to fill in.
All the stuff about what you should carry means my bag is even heavier than usual for a big Brunel Walking Group day hike; bringing my power bank and extra food & water may slow me down, but I guess it's good exercise 🥵
Ford
The river was a bit less of a torrent this morning and I managed to cross the ford on stones without having to take my boots off 🙂
24 May 2026 - 10:45
These woods are beautiful, but so steep! I can see why they say this is a tough route up!
24 May 2026 - 10:58
Just passed a guy on his way down. He didn't have a bear bell or even a rucksack - looked like his pockets may have been quite full though.
4 and a half somethings to go...I don't see the symbol for hours, so maybe km...
24 May 2026 - 11:15
Almost a view!
Hmm, so I'm above the cloud base, but the sun is almost coming through above me!
Just over 2000m above sea level now.
24 May 2026 - 12:06
Oh! I hadn't expected any snow left on the trail after the 28 degC+ temperatures some days in the last couple of weeks. I am at about 2380m above sea level now though.
Mountain hut
Wow, what a lovely mountain hut! It smells of beautiful cedar wood too! If you can stay in this kind of luxury, it makes me think mybe I should kit myself out for multi-day treks!
24 May 2026 - 12:42
Ooo, a view!
Defeat!
This is beautiful, but I think I'll have to turn back. There's too much snow, on steep paths. People may have come this way, but not in the last few days (May 17th was mentioned in the book in the hut, but it feels like they'd have left clearer footprints in the snow if they'd come this way).
I guess the summit may be accessible from the cable-car route (which starts on the east rather than the west side of the mountain where I'm camped), but along this path, now coming from the north and in the woods, the snow hasn't had a chance to melt!
24 May 2026 - 14:07
I'm a lot closer to the mount Mugikusa summit, so I thought I'd have a look up that trail. Pretty steep and snowy too...
It's about 800m away, but still over 250m of ascent to get there! Even where the trail is clear of snow, it's a little less well-travelled than the mount Komagatake trail...
24 May 2026 - 14:19
Well, I love being up here, even without a clear view...
Turning back again
Another section of snow-covered path and I'll let this one stop me, despite being so close to a summit. It was a good climb! Now for the descent...
Highest altitude of the day: 2538m
24 May 2026 - 14:53
Clouds clearing below?
24 May 2026 - 14:57
24 May 2026 - 15:47
Many years ago I remember walking with a couple of others in the hills on the north of Tenerife. The woods looked very mystical when the cloud mingled with the trees like this!
24 May 2026 - 16:27
24 May 2026 - 16:46
24 May 2026 - 18:10
24 May 2026 - 18:28
Now I'm back at camp I start to get the views! I have spent 2 nights here without the cloud lifting this high. I might have realised snow could be a problem had the mountain emerged from the cloud before I tried to climb it!
Evening chat
Had a nice evening chat with Nicholas, a Canadian hitch-hiker in his 20s. He'd had an amazing time travelling in Nepal and is now on his way home via Korea and Japan, hitch-hiking his way, which sounds like a great way to meet people in a reserved culture like Japan's.
Instant noodles with a carrot and baked potatoes (well, almost baked!) filled me up, then I managed to do some washing and have another nice hot shower and bath before bed (this is a great campsite!).