Category: hiking

flushed off the mountain, again

On By Rick McIn food, hiking, travelLeave a comment

Here I am at Sugatami-ike in Daisetsuzan National Park, an impressive look-out over the fumaroles.

This volcano is LIVE.

From there the top of the volcano was shrouded. Myself and Kim from Belgium were the only hikers bold (stupid) enough to climb higher.

We might have made it to 1900m before being driven off the mountain by wind and freezing, horizontal rain. The summit is about 2200m.

Happily, there was a hot springs and gourmet dinner awaiting me below in Japan’s best and most expensive alpine hostel.

This ain’t the usual hostel grub.

more photos … or read my hiking trip report

If it’s raining in the morning, I’ll hop back on the train until I find better weather.

Sapporo the city, not the beer

On By Rick McIn hiking, travel1 Comment

Even by bullet train it’s 10hrs from Tokyo to Sapporo in the north.

I am overnighting in an internet cafe. Private cubicle with free drinks included for about $16 for 6hrs. Quite comfortable.

Tomorrow I will try for Daisetsuzan National Park, the largest in the country. More bears than people.

Unfortunately it is too late in the season to get much hiking done. But I’ll give it a go.

Might be offline for a couple of days.

turning Japanese

On By Rick McIn Cirque du Soleil, gymnastics, hiking, travel1 Comment

The World Gymnastics Championships have ended. After 14 intense, emotional days … what next?

I’m staying on in Tokyo, hanging out with Marceline Goldstein from Montreal. I’ll be assisting her with a Cirque du Soleil audition. And then a second audition in Osaka.

From there … I have a 21-day all-you-can travel rail pass. It will be like the old Eurorail travels of my distant past. I’ll be hiking everywhere the train will take me, happy to be part of the revitalization of the Japanese tourist industry.

Following that, I’m fairly decided to go over to Hong Kong for a week or so. Hiking — and taking in a big domestic Chinese gymnastics competition. Coach Jun Chen has invited me.

And back to chilly North America Nov. 22nd.

climbing and fleeing Mt Yari, Japan

On By Rick McIn hikingLeave a comment

My trip report is now posted on BestHike.com:

It was the best of times …

… The “spear” of Mt Yari compels. But it’s not nearly as close as it appears.

… The highlight of the day, however, was the shocking location of the campground.

Check the sunset view from my tent.

Exhausted, I couldn’t be happier with the adventure so far.

read more – climbing Mt Yari, Japan

It was the worst of times …

Next day:

Can you believe this stunning view from Yari-dake-sanso at sunset?

Here’s my last photo of the day — my tent.

_____

In fact, that was my last photo of the trip.

Going to sleep at 8:30pm, I was awoken at 10:30pm. The storm had arrived.

Wind and driving rain all night kept me up. I listened to an audio book until first light.

It was all I could do to stuff my wet gear and flee back the way I came, the easy way down.

read more – fleeing Mt Yari, Japan

fleeing the Japanese Alps

On By Rick McIn hiking, travel1 Comment

Likely the most popular overnight hiking destination in Japan is Kamikōchi.

People go to walk high ridges and scramble Mount Yari (槍ヶ岳 Yari-ga-take), … one of the 100 Famous Japanese Mountains. … 3,180 m (10,433 ft).

For two days we had perfect weather. (Trip report and photos coming soon.) I put up my tent on a ridge a couple of hundred metres beneath the “spear” (槍 yari).

The first night was fantastic, one of the best spots I’ve ever camped. Both sunset and sunrise.

… but the second night a storm blew in at 10pm. I listened to an audio book all night, frantic to pack up my soaked belongings at first light. I descended directly to the Tokyo bus.

As a result I missed the infamous “Daikiretto” (die-key-ret-toe – all I see is ‘DIE’).

It will be too late in the season for me this Autumn, but one day I’d love to do the 65km Tate-Yama to Kamikochi traverse of the “Northern Alps”.

hiking Japan’s northern Alps

On By Rick McIn hiking, travel1 Comment

I’m confirmed tomorrow to head for the Northern Alps to hike out of Kamikōchi:

… a remote mountainous highland in the western portion of Nagano Prefecture, Japan, which has been preserved in its natural state. …

It is sometimes referred to as the “Japanese Yosemite,” although it is considerably smaller than its American counterpart. …

34km

Japan’s classic alpine route.

I’ll be back online by Oct 2nd.

Expedition Idaho Race

On By Rick McIn health & fitness, hiking1 Comment

I’m down in Kellogg, Idaho volunteering for a week long Adventure Race.

Here are racers from around the world, still clean and happy at the START …

They’ll race from Sunday 10am until the following Saturday night, finishing at a Blues and Beer Fest. Nearly a full week on bike, paddle and feet.

Check out our website. (I’m working on the BLOG portion.)

my new Out There AS-1 backpack

On By Rick McIn hiking, product endorsements1 Comment

$189 is the cost of the best all-around adventure pack on the market right now.

I got mine yesterday from Mike Kloser himself. He packed it for me. Adjusted it for me. … And then made me chase him around the mountains of north Idaho for 12hrs continuous to test it.

The pack did great. I’m a wee bit exhausted.

Mike was testing 40 miles of the 400 mile Expedition Idaho Race coming up in a couple of weeks. I tagged along.

There are too many features to list. Watch the video on the site if you might be interested in getting one for yourself.

For pure hiking I’ll stick with my minimalist Granite Gear inflatable frame pack, but for any trip requiring “toys”, I’ll be using the AS-1.