Nov 14~15: Shimonita 下仁田町 Rocky Mts, onsen, Camp, Momiji Park Lightup

[Adam]

Nov 14~15: Shimonita 下仁田町 Rocky Mts, onsen, Camp, Momiji Park Lightup
Intermediate level


Update:

Cut-off to join has passed. This event is currently FULL Thanks for your interest, please join us next time.

1) Adam
2) Jay
3) Justin



Introduction:

Cool, clear fall weather hiking and intermediate level rock scrambling. Peaceful rural valley protected from all the snow and wind of the Northern Alps and Tanigawa Mountains. Less than 3 hours driving from Tokyo. Cheap, fully equipped campground with a nearby hidden onsen and grocery store. Only 4 spaces available. Still lot's of beautiful fall colors up to 500m and we have a beautiful forecast!!



Trip Summary:

Saturday will be a 'warm-up' hike/rock scramble up Kuwagaradake (鍬柄岳), "A Mountain that Pierces the Heavens". It's a very short hike (1:30 map time, 2km, +340m RT) which requires rock scrambling and has several sets of chains. Trail lunch on the summit. It will be good practice for the next day.

After the hike we will head directly to the campground to check-in and drop off some gear before hitting the hidden onsen (closes at 14:00). The onsen is open-air and has a lot of charm, so it's well worth the effort. Following the onsen, there is a nice supermarket with many local vegetables. Shimonita is a serene, rural community where lots of konnyaku (こんにゃく) is produced. The campground is very comfortable and has a great view overlooking the town of Shimonita. I suggest we all stay in my 5-person JUMBO tent to save space in the car and money at the campsite. However, if you prefer, you may bring your own tent. We can decide as a group ahead of time if we want to make pizza in the Dutch oven or a Japanese vegetable stew. And, of course, there will be hot, spiced wine!

I'll make a special Dutch oven breakfast (my signature Dutch oven eggs). Sunday's hike up Oiwa "The Matterhorn" and Aoiwa (大岩・碧岩) will be more challenging than Saturday's with a longer exposed ridge to the summit of Oo-iwa (4:10 map time, 5.8km, +740m RT). Aoiwa is even more dangerous and is nearly vertical at some points. We will climbe Oo-iwa first and make a game-day decision about doing Aoiwa on the way back. We'll have a snacks along the way and lunch at one of the local restaurants after the hike (I know some places). Next, we'll drive over a scenic mountain forest road, maybe find a second onsen, and if there is time, we can view the illuminated Momiji Park in Nagatoro before finally arriving back in Tokyo between 20:00 and 21:00.



Trip Schedule:

Saturday, 14 Nov

8:00 - meet at Asakadai Station
10:30 - arrive at Kuwagaradake trailhead
12:30 - back at car
13:00 - set up camp
14:00 - onsen
16:00 - supermarket
17:00 - cook dinner

Sunday, 15 Nov

6:00 - sunrise
8:00 - on road
14:00 - finish hike
16:45 - sunset
20:30 - Asakadai Station



Event Grade, Safety (イベント等級, 安全)
viewtopic.php?f=76&t=3451

Kuwagaradake (鍬柄岳)

Fitness Grade 1 - Very Easy
1:30 hours walking time, 2km, & 340m altitude climb

Technical 5 VERY DIFFICULT - Intermediate (中級)
Several sets of chains near the summit. Andy (who has climbed it before) says "a fall will be fatal, but unlikely."
We will use a rope and harness here. Will be good preparation for the next day.

Oiwa and Aoiwa (大岩・碧岩)

Fitness Grade 3 - Moderate
4:10 hours walking time, 6km, & 740m altitude climb

Technical 6 SEVERE - Experienced (経験者)
Several sets of chains. A fall off rock ridge would be fatal.
Will use our rope and harnesses for protection.


Sign Up Conditions, Contact Details:

ALL members who wish to join must reply to this post. Spaces are allocated on a first-come-first-serve basis. Only 5 spaces are available. If you did not sign up in time I can add you to a waiting list, and there is still a chance you can join.



Things to Bring (持参もの)

• tent (limited space, stay in JUMBO if possible)

• 0C degree sleeping bag

• sleeping pad

• cup/mug, bowl, spoon

• proper hiking sneakers or boots

• harness (required) *I will bring my rope

• fleece/jumper

• rain/wind gear (top and bottom)

• trail lunch for Saturday

• energy food for Sunday

• onsen towel

• campfire offerings

Travel Details, Meeting Time & Place (旅行の詳細, 集合時間と場所):

8:00 Saturday, 14 Nov - Asakadai Station (North Exit)/Kita-Asaka Station (East Exit) at McDonald's



Cost (estimate) per person:

6,500yen - transportation (estimate)
camping should be pretty inexpensive

OCJ is funded by 500yen event attendance (up to 3 days). Collected by organizer who sends half of that to the club PayPal account for website costs.

Kuwagaradake map painted.jpg

Kuwagaradake from lot.jpg

Kuwagaradake approach 2.jpg

Kuwagaradake summit.jpg

4 men in a tub.JPG

campground view.JPG

Dutch oven eggs.jpg

Oiwa & Aoiwa map.jpg

Aoiwa ropes.jpg

Aoiwa rock scrambling.jpg

Oiwa rugged.jpg

Aoiwa from Oiwa (2).jpg

Oiwa from Aoiwa.jpg

Aoiwa Birds's eye view.jpg

Momiji Park.jpg

[Andy OCJ]

A few additional points added!


Oo-iwa and Midori-iwa (named on the map this way) are probably my favourite hike in the Shimonita valley... but , particularly Midori-iwa would be graded Technical grade 6 and additionally an unroped fall from the ridge WOULD BE fatal.

Technical 6 SEVERE - Experienced (経験者)
Frequent rock scrambling on steeper slopes with increased exposure. Use of chains, ropes or ladders on rocks essential.
Serious injuries are common but falls are not always fatal.
A climbing rope can be carried but is usually not required.


Technical 5 VERY DIFFICULT - Intermediate (中級)
Oo-iwa is quite a bit easier but a fall (off the side ridge) would be fatal... but unlikely. I would not let any club people go up without being protected by a rope unless I knew them and their ability in depth. I would still always put a rope down though for hand support even.


Technical 6 SEVERE - Experienced (経験者)
Midori-iwa has a much steeper climb up softer ground with bushes and trees. It does weave its way up around rocks and trees so not vertical but some steep places. If wet it could be slippery. There was a fixed rope but you cannot rely on that with a group as it is likely old and couild break - you must have your own fixed rope for others and best if they use a harness. Belay them (best) or fixed rope and they are clipped in but intermediate stopping point they need to bypass with 2 karabiners to clip off and on again themselves. Most people only climb Oo-iwa but we had people on previous trips that stopped below the peaks but still great views there.

I would advise using rope and harness for Midori-iwa and some form of protection for 0o-iwa for those needing it. On the way up there is a rock traverse near waterfall that people need to be careful at. Just before reaching the top - base of the peaks, there is a steep slippery scrambly earth slope then a narow traverse - be careful on that as well.


http://maps.gsi.go.jp/#17/36.149662/138 ... z0r0s0m0f1

===============================================

The Saturday peak is much easier but a fall would be fatal, but unlikely. The local government put chains up so local children, people, and visitors would be safer.
Some people might get vertigo and need a hand rope going up so I would carry one. At the top just before the shrine there is a narrow section over rock that should be roped.

===============================================

The campsite should charge only 1000yen for group in 1 tent with van (family price). Because not many lone campers before they were not sure what price but on a piece of paper in the office desk it says 3 people with individual tents = 1000yen total.

Public transport for Oo-iwa and Midori-iwa is not great so car is best for that day.

First pic of Midori-iwa is much steeper than Oo-iwa - red circle spots. Sides of the ridge are not far from vertical in places.
Second pic shows the north facing side of Oo-iwa.

[Adam]

Thank you Andy. Steeper than I anticipated, but still sounds OK.

I have updated the Event Grade and will be bringing along my rope, harness, and other pieces of protection for the ridges.
We can make a game-day decision about climbing Midori-iwa.

We have an beautiful forecast this weekend!

Tuesday forecast.jpg

[jaypiggott]

I’ll be in the area and will join for the climb and camp - no transport needed. I can bring my rock climbing rack and rope to make it safe if others require it.

[Adam]

Update:

All sites at the Shimonita Campsite (Hotaruyama Park) are booked. Sorry about that! I am looking into other options and will repost once I decide on the new plan. I'll either book a new campsite 25 minutes out of the way or we can set up a phantom car camp on a dead end road closer to Midori and Oo-iwa.

[Andy OCJ]

Update!
a new site (after I left Japan anyway):
https://ns-park.nanmokushoko.com/%e4%bd ... %e9%87%91/

Not so cheap though. I would still prefer other options.

=================

Not many campsites in that area but at Myogi I think people camp unofficially at the old lodge that closed down (Kokuminshukusha) or you can do a 15 minute walk up the stream to a few good spots and there is maple there.
The scenery there is very good. If my choice I would stay in the Myogi valley.... or the Uenomura Noguri campsite.


Kokuminshukusha
http://maps.gsi.go.jp/#16/36.307439/138 ... z0r0s0m0f1

https://www.google.com/maps/@36.3070949 ... 312!8i6656


Or park there and walk up to this spot where the river crosses the road - wild spot with maple trees, clean stream, sandy area and lots of free firewood.
http://maps.gsi.go.jp/#17/36.296644/138 ... z0r0s0m0f1





There are campsites on the Uenomura side with quick access via tunnel to/from Shimonita.


There are a few there but if you go that side I recommend this one - it is basic but quiet side valley with nice hot spring a few hundred metres away.
http://maps.gsi.go.jp/#16/36.069941/138 ... z0r0s0m0f1

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Nogur ... 38.8037747

[Andy OCJ]

Not great pics of the Myogi spot but we enjoyed it there - just over the bridge and down.

[Andy OCJ]

Maybe here not bad - never stayed

https://kitaaiki.com/page-26.html



恐竜王国はこだたみキャンプ場
Next to road in Uenomura - noisy, camp on gravel - not recommended. We stayed once at G week.


Another idea if small group
You can camp by the road at the top of the mountain. It is the super-rindou along the ridge between Shimonita and Uenomura. It is a great scenic drive as well.
Might have to fill a tank for water though.
Myogi better I think.
If you have time after the hike it is worth the drive up there for scenery if colours are good higher up.

[Adam]

Still need two more members to make a car affordable. Otherwise, we'll go by train and meet Jay in Shimonita. Going by train will definitely rule out the Momiji Park.

We'll camp at Fujitatoge Camp Ground in Tomioka Saturday night. 1100yen per person.

Since it's a more technical route, I will not be accepting any last minute joiners. Last chance to join is 8am tomorrow (Friday).

[Justink]

Look forward to another adventure amigo

[Adam]

Cut-off to join has passed. This event is currently FULL. Thanks for your interest, please join us next time!