-English version follows Japanese-

登山と釣りにはまり始めたころ、ド素人が3度目の遡行で登頂に成功した和賀山塊・羽後朝日岳の思い出です。
初回は2人で、後はソロで。
きれいだった、怖かった、死ぬかと思った笑
もう行くことはないと思うけど、一生忘れません。


Way back in time when I first started to get into outdoorsy activities,
I made four attempts to get onto the top of Mt. Ugoasahi, Waga Mountain Range, Akita/Iwate.
The first try was with one other person, the last two were on my own.
It was unbelievably beautiful and satisfying, but at the same time it was very scary - I even had some near-death experiences.
It will be highly unlikely for me to attempt such dangerous endeavours again, although they will absolutely remain one of the most cherished memories of my life.



121007_1523_02
道なき道を沢伝いに ー地図と写真とコンパスとにらめっこして、迷ったり躊躇ったり引き返したりを繰り返してー 朝日岳山頂へ… そこからまた別の沢に下る。
今みたいにスマホとオフラインで使えるGPSアプリがあったらなあ…

ちなみに、今まで和賀山塊全体では沢登りではありませんが和賀岳、真昼岳、白石岳、大荒沢岳、小影山に登頂しました。
Out in the middle of nowhere, on a ridge of Waga Mountain Range.
There are no trails, but only a maze of streams spread over the range to and from the top of Mt. Ugoasahi.
If only I had had a modern smartphone with a GPS and offline navigation app back then...

Other Waga mountains I have climbed in the past are; Mt. Waga, Mt. Mahiru, Mt. Shiroishi, Mt. Kokage and Mt. Ooarezawa.



120916_1640_01
第一回目の挑戦: 巨大な岩が行く手を阻む。ここで野営、翌朝引き返す。
The first attempt: a gigantic rock, its size as big as a house, stuck in the valley prevented us from climbing up any further. We could not find any way around it so we had no choice but to stay the night at the foot of it before heading back the next morning.


120917_1531_01
The scale of everything in the valley was just gigantic.


121008_1336_01
訪問者
Stag Beetle


120924_1011_03
猛毒トリカブトの花。
The deadliest, poisonous flower in Japan; Torikabuto. 


120924_0938_03
鮮やかな柿色のお腹を持ったニッコウイワナ。
Orange Bellied Char


120924_0930_02
イワナ
Char from above.


120924_0609_03
Smoked char for my dinner, breakfast and lunch.


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120923_1803_01
お命ありがたく頂戴いたします。
Thank you all for giving up your lives to keep us alive.


120923_1330_02
死の階段。
Stairway of Death.


120917_1556_01
大熊が目の前に落下してきた木。
A huge bear fell from the tree in front of us.


120916_2116_01
A treat after a whole day of walking.


120916_1530_02
マンダノ沢マタギ小屋。
Deep in the mountains, there was a mysterious shed used by Matagi (traditional bear hunters of the region).


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