I climbed the Uraginza traverse in the Northern Alps from 7/13-15/2018, staying in a tent!
About Ura-Ginza traverse route
The Ura-Ginza traverse is the name of a trail that starts at the trailhead of the Nanakura Dam/Takase Dam in the Northern Alps and leads to Yarigatake via Mount Noguchigoro, Mount Washiba, Mount Sugoroku, and others.
Because of its long route, it is a traverse route suitable for able-bodied climbers.
This time, I will record my own steps along the Ura-Ginza traversing route, except for the Yaritake course.
Details of this course
Course details are listed below.
Course
(First day)Nanakura Dam→Takase Dam→Karasuboshi-hut(CT7:20)
(Second day)Karasuboshi-hut→Noguchigoro-dake→Suisho-hut→Suisho-dake→Suisho-hut→Washiba-dake→Minamata-hut(CT10:00)
(Third day)Minamata-hut→Sugoroku-hut→Kagamidaira-so→ Wasabidaira-hut→Shin Hotaka Onsen(CT7:55)
The following Yama to Kogen map provides further details.
Hiking without a map is dangerous.
Make sure you have a map before climbing the mountain.
Because this course covers a large area of mountains, two copies of Yama to Kogen map are required.
(Mainly Mt. Yarigatake and Mt. Hotaka)
Start of climbing
On the night of July 12. I came to the bus terminal at Shinjuku Station.
From here I would take the daily Alpine bus to Nanakura Dam, the trailhead.
Click here to visit the website of the Mainichi Alpine. Advance reservations required.
At 3:30 a.m. on July 13, I arrived at Nanakura Dam.
From here I would need to take a cab or walk to the Takase Dam, the trailhead.
At this time of year, cabs are not available until 6:30.
Therefore, we will spend a little over an hour on foot to reach the Takase Dam.
Click here for cab timetable (starting times vary depending on the time of year)
I travel through numerous tunnels to the Takase Dam.
The tunnels are not lit and are very dark.
Headlights are a must.
After about an hour of walking through tunnels and forest roads, we arrived at a winding road just below the Takase Dam. We arrived at the stumbling block road just below the Takase Dam.
The trail climbs steadily up the stile.
Although it may seem faster to go straight up the stile, it is of course prohibited because of the possibility of falling rocks.
After passing through a series of twists and turns, you will enter the Fudosawa Tunnel.
It is full of dungeon-like atmosphere.
Inside the Fudosawa Tunnel.
Walk for a while through the Fudosawa Tunnel and then cross the Fudosawa Suspension Bridge.
Looking down from the suspension bridge.
This is an adventurous and fun route with tunnels, suspension bridges, and dams.
I passed through the suspension bridge and finally entered the mountain trail.
This is the beginning of the bunatachi ridge, one of the three steepest climbs in Japan.
Eboshi hut and night view of first day
On the BUNATACHI Ridge, the trail climbs 1,200 meters in elevation gain all at once.
The course time is approximately 4 hours.
Many alpine plants are in bloom along the way.
Miyamamiminanagusa, perhaps.
Kozentachibana?
Iwahobi?
Ohanaud?
Miyama daikonso?
???????
But still, this bunatachi ridge, I am not going fast at all.
I am only climbing in the same time as the course time (CT).
By the way, even in the same Omotegoza area in the Northern Alps, the Kassen ridge leading to Tsubame-dake is easier to walk in less time than the CT. (I did it in 2 hours instead of 3.5 hours for the CT.)
I arrived at Eboshi-hut!
I register for tenting at the Eboshi-hut and pitch my tent in the tenting area, which is a 5-minute walk from the hut.
Tent fee…1,000 yen per person
Drinking water…³ per liter
In addition to this, alcoholic beverages will be sold.
I am in the tent tenting up and taking a break.
The time is past noon.
The time is night. The sky is clear and the Milky Way is visible.
Did I not go to the summit of Mt. EBOSHI?
>→I couldn’t go because I was sleeping in the tent site.
From the next page, it is time to start walking along the ridge with a spectacular view.
