Planning and Managing Risks on the Trail During my formative days hiking in Japan, I must confess I didn’t devote much time to planning my hikes even the overnight ones. My usual approach back then was print out a hike some random person posted on...
Nanahaneyama 七跳山 – Hinatadani-no-atama 日向谷ノ頭 – Toridaniyama Refuge Hut 酉谷山避難小屋 According to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Bureau of Environment as of May 7, 2022, there has been a landside on the Ogawadani Rindo making...
Backpacking Food Ideas and Meal Planning A common question I get is what food I pack for an overnight hike. The simple answer is foodstuffs that I enjoy eating and not too much as food is heavy. In stark contrast to my first overnight hike, when I...
Kaze no Kamisama 風の神様 – Mt. Koyashiro コヤシロ山 – Mt. Minashi 実成山 Duration: 3 hours Distance: 8.5 km Elevation change: 402 metres Highest point: 609 metres Difficulty: Start: Arai Bus Stop Finish: Arai Bus Stop Map: Yama...
Bask in Fujisan’s Shadow On my latest getaway to try and sneak in one final hike before returning to my teaching post I spent a night at Fumotoppara campground just a hop, skip and a jump away from Mt. Ryugadake. Fumotoppara is located in...
Stone Buddha 石仏 – Hashita-toge 端足峠 – Lake Motosuko 本栖湖 Duration: 5 hours Distance: 11.1 km Elevation change: 550 metres Highest point: 1485 metres Difficulty: Start: Lake Motosuko Bus Stop (Blue Line) Finish: Lake...
Mt. Yougaisan 要害山 – Tenguiwa 天狗岩 – Umabikisawa-toge 馬引沢峠 Duration: 4 hours Distance: 11.2 km Elevation change: 228 metres Highest point: 414 metres Difficulty: Start: Miyanohira Station (Ome Line)...
3-Day, 3-Season Backpacking Gear (Updated 2022) It’s been a couple of years since I last whipped out the scales and took inventory of the gear, I take with me on a three-season, three-day hike. Not surprisingly the bulk of the stuff I carry is...
MAPPLE Special Online Maps Campaign Continues in 2022 The map images and contents of this article have been obtained with the permission of the publisher (Shobunsha). Like always at the beginning of spring Shobunsha Publications (MAPPLE) released...
Best Backpacking Tripod for Lightweight Adventures Let’s start with why even bother bringing a travel tripod along when hiking. Many readers no doubt see a tripod as kind of ridiculous luxury especially when the majority weigh something akin to...
