Once upon a time for Hong Kong people, traveling is the meaning of life; taking a plane for a weekend trip was almost as normal as a bus ride. However, everyday life has changed dramatically under the new normal of the pandemic, and travelling overseas now feels like an inaccessible luxury. When our lives are being paused somehow, we can only imagine and plan for the next future trip. Years of hiking records accumulated by TrailWatch users of their footprints from all over the world are a great source of reference.
Looking at one of our users Billy’s Dashboard Records, the dense blue lines in “My Footprints” show he has almost 300 records in the last four years, hiking a total of over 2,700km. 2,700km, coincidentally, is the distance between Hong Kong and Japan, and Billy shared with us his hiking story in Japan.
An ideal plan to visit Yarigatake turned into a realistic visit to Chogatake.
(Photo: 山系凡人Mortal Hiker)
Billy and his brother Andy, together with Andy’s wife and two other friends chose to visit the Kita Alps, known as the “Northern Alps of Japan”. They planned to start from Tsubakuro-dake, hike across Yarigatake and arrive at Hotaka-dake. The first night, they rested at Nakabusa hot spring after getting off the plane. It was enjoyable to be able to soak in the hot spring before their hiking trip. Blessed with nice weather the next day, they successfully climbed to the first mountain of their trip, Tsubakuro-dake, which is known for its unique granite rocks and looking like a castle.
(Photo: 山系凡人Mortal Hiker)
Their original plan for the next two days was to hike to Yarigatake, but they were met with pouring rain. They tried to climb up twice but failed both times due to the heavy fog. Climbing to the peak of Yarigatake requires a certain degree of mountaineering skills. As they were soaked through by then, they decided to retreat and go back to the hut to replan.
(Photo: 山系凡人Mortal Hiker)
That night, Andy and Billy decided to change their destination to Chogatake. Although the trip was not as they had expected, they still enjoyed the view of Yarigatake and Hotaka-dake from the ridge of Chogatake. Besides, to them, gazing at the sea of clouds and eating a bowl of curry udon at the top of the mountain was already a joyful moment.
They again soaked in the hot spring after days of heavy rains, strong sun and a long walk. They talked and joked about what they went through; it was a memorable experience for them. Two days after leaving the mountain, they visited the easier route in Kamikochi where the view is as pretty as God’s garden. The trip ended there with a few regrets but gives reason for a revisit.
Full exploration, in-depth understanding and plan in advance for upcoming journeys
"I'm just a mortal, everyone can go into nature to appreciate and explore, as long as there is sufficient preparation. Step by step, be humble to everything and you will be able to enjoy the fun of hiking,” wrote Billy on his page, Mortal Hiker (山系凡人). He humbly says that his hiking techniques are not particularly remarkable, but he has a habit of extra preparation, which always rewards him with a rich journey even if he encounters unexpected circumstances.
The story, photos and route of their Yarigatake experience will be featured in the TrailWatch Overseas Hiking Special Edition Poster – Japan (Chinese only). Routes and stories from three other TrailWatch users Trevy, Yannie and Patty are also included.
The TrailWatch Overseas Hiking Special Edition Poster – Japan will be distributed in the Hiking Wind Fire Magazine (風火山林) issue no.33 in March 2021. It includes content covering: the classic Mt. Fuji (the most popular “Northern Alps” among the Japanese hikers), the millennium–old world historical heritage Kumano Ancient Trail, as well as the place where the magical world comes from, Yakushima.
Our TrailWatch users’ hiking journeys may be both smooth and challenging, but they walked into the woods of Japan and created unforgettable memories.
Further Information:
– Hiking Wind Fire Magazine’s (風火山林) Selling Points
– 山系凡人 Mortal Hiker Facebook Youtube MeWe