Last weekend was the first hiking event I attended with my membership
The location was Daibosatsu Pass in Okuchichibu. You might be thinking, "Wait, Daibosatsu Pass on a Sunday? Won't it be a disappointment with so many people?" Indeed, if you took the route from Reishi or Kamihigawa Pass, there would have been a line of people, from children to the elderly. In fact, the pass was packed with people, even though it looked like it might rain
To be honest, I personally don't like hiking trails that are crowded with people (which is why I've never climbed Mount Fuji), so I prefer to take quiet routes with as few people as possible. However, I also have a strong desire to experience the most exquisite scenery and experiences
So this time, we decided to climb Daibosatsu Pass, which is usually packed with hikers, from Kosuge, located at the back of Lake Okutama, and since we were using a car, we chose a circular route. This was my first time on a group hike like this, so there were plenty of escape options to suit the situation. In any case, it was a personally favorite route with few people walking, allowing you to enjoy a bit of adventure while walking through the beautiful forest of fresh greenery. The distance is quite long, so depending on the group, it might have been a bit tough, but we decided to go with the group we were with, and thankfully we were able to safely enjoy Okuchichibu at its utmost freshness
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Hiking in the fresh greenery of Ura Daibosatsu
This time too, I set off equipped with plenty of gear to try out for the review
*Only people with permission are allowed to appear in the photos. Please rest assured that we will continue to check this information before publishing any photos
It's a mini-adventure that takes you along a ridge path(?) that doesn't even appear on a 1:25,000 topographical map
Once we reached the hiking trail, we found a Jizo statue there. We were grateful for the guidance
The path was covered with fresh greenery and was ablaze with color. It's really pleasant to walk through the forests of low mountains at this time of year
The mountain azalea, one of my goals, was a little past full bloom so I was only able to see a little bit
Along the way, you will come across Furukonba (apparently it's written as Furukiba!) on the ridgeline, where you can see Okuchichibu in the distance. It's such a pleasant place that it would make a great place to set up a tent (apparently there used to be a mountain hut there)
Finally, we arrived at Daibosatsu Pass. Up until this point, we had only passed one other group of two people. It felt like we were suddenly at a scramble intersection
And so, we suddenly began talking about tools (or rather, a competition to brag about the things we've recently bought!)
...In the end, I gave in to the temptation of beer and ice cream and ended up staying longer, but I quickly started to descend the mountain, worried that it would be a disaster if I got caught in the rain
My next goal is to " drink 1000ml coffee at an altitude of 1000m while relaxing in a hammock ."
We made our way down the mountain path smoothly and found a spot at around 1040m where it looked like we could descend to the stream bed, so we decided this was the place to be and took a final break. We skillfully set up our hammocks and opened an impromptu mountain stream cafe
The hammock rest along the way was amazing. My body let out a cry of joy, freed from the stress of gravity. I think I'm going to get addicted
We also enjoyed the "Trekking Blend for 1000m Altitude," a decaffeinated coffee that has been designed to be optimally balanced when drunk at 1000m altitude, taking into account changes in boiling point and extraction efficiency due to altitude
After about 7 hours, I walked 18km and reached the finish line safely. I was exhausted from the long distance, which I was not used to
...But the fun doesn't end there
So, should I take a bath or eat? After considering the time and how hungry I was, I decided to go for a meal. If I had to recommend something in the Okutama area, it would be the dandan noodles at Keiryu, a Chinese restaurant near Mitake Station. The dandan noodles are so delicious you wouldn't imagine it from the simple appearance of the restaurant. They just seep into my tired body
So, since it was my first time, I was a little worried, but in the end I was able to see it through to the end, and it was a great mountain trip (as intended?) for a first time
The course I walked this time
The next membership hike is scheduled for Saturday, June 22nd
Although we may be entering the rainy season next month, Saturday, June 22nd . The location will be announced at a later date, so please look forward to it.
We are currently recruiting members
Outdoor Gearzine is looking for members who want to share the joy of the mountains by hiking together with other readers, learning and discussing things like outdoor gear, and inspiring each other. We charge a monthly operating fee of 1,000 yen, but this allows you to participate as many times as you like in monthly hiking, camping, meetup events, and talk events with famous guests
If you love mountains, want to hear about, learn about, or talk about mountain gear, or if you want to go to the mountains with someone but can't find anyone with the same vibe, please feel free to register!
