Today's walk was described as "a big up, followed by undulations and ending with a big down." Total length was billed as 13 km, and I recorded 13.24 km on my GPS system - very consistent. You can probably guess what big up and big down means, but let me say "big" means very steep with lots of round rock and tree roots. As it turns out the grade up was easy and quite doable, even enjoyable. The down was a bit more challenging. We have been experiencing these types of trail conditions every day and fortunately the path has been dry. In rainy or wet conditions, the rock would be very slippery.
Anyway, the walk today was in forest with several mountaintop views to the south and west. We could even visualize the walk tomorrow, which is billed as the toughest of the trek (14.5 km and 3,800 ft elevation gain). But we are all getting "trail fit." Not much more to say about today's walk. There were few shrines (a few Jizos - miscellaneous gods/guardian angels for the path and its pilgrims), two abandoned tea house sites, one of which where we ate lunch, some indigenous ferns and a few blue flowers.
We arrive into Koguchi and are staying in a converted school house.
Great photos. Your pictures tell the story. I am always in awe of people who can dine sitting on the floor. I could do it once, but then I would never be able to get up.
ReplyDeleteMike B.