August 3rd ~ 7th 2008 : Traverse of Japan North Alps,
including an ascent of Mt. Tubakuro, Mt. Otensho and Mt. Jonen --- Nagano prefecture

Mt. Tsubakuro (Tsubakurodake) is a 2,763 metres high mountain and forms part of the Hida Range, which is named after ‘ｔsubame’ (swallow), as the shape covered in spring snow looks like swallows.

Day 1-Sunday 3rd- Taking Super Azusa (express) from Shinjuku to Matsumoto, then transfering onto Matsumoto Railway to Hodaka, we headed to Nakabusa Hot Spring (Nakabusa Onsen) by taxi, 1,462 metres above sea level. There was an old-fashioned post near the entrance, which is rarely seen these days
*Please click photo for larger image


Left: Nakabusa Hot Spring, Right: Red post

Day 2-Monday 4th-Leaving Nakabusa Hot Spring at 8am, we arrived Hut Kassen (Kassengoya) at 12:15. The specialty watermelons were served there, provided a very refreshing taste, especially after the long walk.
 Left: Watermelons at Hut Kassen

Arrived at Hut Enzan (Enzanso; on the main route called Omote Ginza) at 3pm. It was build in 1921, very historical mountain hut in Japan Alps. The little pink flower as below photo is Dicentra peregrina (Komakusa), queen of alpine flowers. Spreading around the hut under the owner’s care, Dicentra peregrina entertained hikers.

Left: Dicentra peregrina, queen of alpine flowers , Right: Dicentra peregrina medow

Mt. Tsubakuro summit is about 30-minute walk from Hut Enzan. There were rocky outcrops here and there along the path, decorating with pretty pink flower of Dicentra peregrina. Some of the rocks are oddly shaped and looked like a school of dolphins.
 
Left: Mt. Tsubakuro from Hut Enzan, Right: Hut Enzan and dolphin shaped rocks from Mt. Tsubakuro

Pleasant break at the summit of Mt. Tsubakuro after the gentle ascend with many of dolphin-like or seal shaped rocks through Dicentra peregrina meadow.

Left: At the summit of Mt. Tsubakuro, Right: Dicentra peregrina in front of the oddly shaped dolphin rocks

Day 3- Tuesday 5th- Left for 3 hour slow trek to Mt. Otensho (2,922 metres), as looking over the peak of Mt. Tsubakuro. Mother and baby grouses were there, picking ‘Geum pentapetalum’ (one of the alpine plants) for their breakfast.

Left: Decentra peregrine, Middle: Mt. Tsubakuro as a backdrop, Right: Mother and baby grouses

 Left: Pedicularis chamissonis

Arrived at the top of Mt. Otensho. According to the presently-accepted theory, ‘Otensho’ is named after ‘Otenshukaku’, (then ‘Otensho’ afterwards), which means tower keep (‘Tenshukaku’) of castle Matsumoto. Indeed, the view from the summit was just spectacular. Whitish granite-type rocks covered over the summit area, and Dicentra peregrine was also found there.
  Left: Mt. Otensho Summit

Then aiming for Hut Jonen (Jonengoya) from Mt. Otensho, to attempt to scale Mt. Jonen tomorrow. As the weather was gradually changing, the clouds spread over Mt. Yari (Yarigatake). There were 5 grouses around the hut, playing with the sand.

Left: Mt. Yari in the clouds, Right: Grouses in the sand

Day 4- Wednesday 6th- Although leaving Hut Jonen for Mt. Jonen at 7am in the morning, we abandoned climbing the top due to the thunder and lightning warning. The weather was though still good at the time we left there, so we were able to see Mt. Yari (3,180m clearly behind the roof of Jonen Hut.

Left: At Hut Jonen, Middle: Mt. Jonen from the hut, Right: Mt. Jonen in the morning

After the sharp descend of Ichinosawa (mountain stream), alpine meadow spread out before us. The downhill was filled with blossoming alpine flowers, which were shown in the below photoes.

Left: Alpine meadow, Middle: Lychnis gracillima, Right: Veronicastrum sibiricum

Left: Filipendula multijuga, Middle: Ligularia fischeri & Polygonum bistorta, Right: Campanulaceae perennials

Found the sign said ‘2.1km to Ichinosawa forest road’, standing by the bench called ‘Ootaki bench’. The spring water there was truly refreshing, particularly after the long walk.

Left: The last bridge of Ichinosawa, Middle: Spring water near Ootaki bench, Right: The sign by the bench

Arrived at the final point of Ichinosawa (back to the starting point of Mt. Jonen) at 11am. We enjoyed local fresh cucumbers and tomatoes at the rest house, which were very juicy and tasty. After that, we headed to ‘Holiday Yu Shiki no Kyo’ (Azumino Chogatake Hot Spring; 20 minutes by taxi), to take a good rest and recover from 3 day trekking.

Although not been able to reach the top of Mt. Jonen, we did enjoy the fantastic view from Mt. Tsubakuro and Mt. Otensho, entertained by Dicentra peregrine and the other beautiful flowers, as well as pretty grouses.