‘Mount Hotaka (穂高岳 Hotaka-dake), also known as Mount Hotakadake, is one of the 100 Famous Japanese Mountains, reaching a height of 3,190 m (10,466 ft). It is situated in Japan’s Hida Mountains and all its major peaks besides Mount Maehotaka, lie on the border between the cities of Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture, and Takayama, Gifu Prefecture. This mountain is located in Chūbu-Sangaku National Park.’

The first week in November when the information on snow coverage entered in various places.

it will go to Karasawa again to go to photograph Hotaka.

When it reaches at midnight, the second parking lot of Sawatari is almost empty.

A morning comes around by an in the train stay then.

This parking lot has a beautiful toilet and it is comfortable.

Since there was not Buss at the time of a start, it is to Kamikochi in a taxi.

Since it is cold, it begins to move immediately in the morning.

The mountain seen from a usual long path through a wood is attached by touch with

sufficient snow.

Since a photograph was taken frequently and it has got fatigued, when it comes last time,

It is that physical strength preservation to Karasawa curl refrains

from photography as much as possible.

Since intermediate Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker was new,

it is merely photoed thoroughly.

Tokusawa and Yokoo have few people.

Atmosphere somehow cold in a tent place full of openings.

From the Mototani bridge, it is to a full-scale snowy road.

It is not necessary to attach climbing irons, and they are merely reached silently,

making the sound which steps on snow with a sufficient feeling firmly.

Snow coverage increases as a Karasawa hut is approached, and temperature also falls.

A these days term is that tent cost has no necessity although proposed to

a tent about a hut.

A hut is warmly busy at an appropriate crowd.

If it is forever, he is likely to want to return to the tent of arctic cold, and

it is likely to be lost.

If you think that he will return and take a photograph in a tent,

it has become cloudy for a while.

The wind of a ridgeline seems to be extremely strong .

But the spray of snow of good touch has been photoed.

If supper is eaten, it will go to bed at 20:about 00.

When it occurred at 2:00 a.m.,

it was as bright as outside is a star of moonlight and full marks and was not obtained in it.

Since it was lazy, a start will be 4:00am.

I thinks well that what is necessary is just to be able to photograph sunrise on the way,

and begins to climb.

The circumference dyes red gradually.

From here, it was charmed by it for about 1 hour, and a photograph was taken.

The visionary world which the moon remains clearly and cannot be said not at all.

After a morning glow finishes, empty is to a blue sky without even clouds.

Contrast with white snow is a color of winter.

A morning glow is appreciated and it begans to reach to a ridgeline again.

The sun comes out, temperature goes up, so my leg was taken at snow.

Snow coverage had even the knee top in many places.

The twice of a course time are applied and it is to the Mt. Hodaka mountain villa.

It takes a brief recess and leaves in the Mt. Hodaka mountain villa.

Although I wanted to go also to Mt. Karasawa, since it is [ time ] exaggerated, it is made only Mt.Okuhoataka.

Behind, there is no mountaineer who goes a front by two independent persons.

Mt.Okuhoataka.  enjoys this fully considerably.

Passes a ladder carefully and follows the mountain trail which is carrying out snow coverage moderately.

When it arrived at a summit, it was a grand panorama of 360 degrees.

It is popularly called the “gendarme”.

Snow lies and Mt.Kasagadake is also beautiful.

Snow with the uncannier Mt.Yakusidake

Went down after photoing the bird’s-eye view from a summit thoroughly.

At the time of go down, because it was high-temperature, snow is considerably rotten,had the leg sometimes taken, and fell.

It returns to a ten place at 12:00, and is full recovery to past [ 13:00 ].

It was that having arrived in Kamikochi arrived at the second parking lot of Sawatari by the half and taxi at 18:00 at 19:00.

2012-1103・04-奥穂高岳

各地で積雪の情報が入って来た１１月の第一週目。

ならば、穂高を撮りに行こうと、また涸沢へ向かう。

深夜に着くと、沢渡第二駐車場はガラガラ。

そのまま車中泊で、朝を迎える。

この駐車場はトイレが綺麗で使いやすい。

出発時にバスがいなかったので、タクシーで上高地へ。

いい加減朝は寒いので、すぐに動き始める。

いつもの長い林道からみる山は、雪がいい感じで付いている。

前回紅葉時に来た時には、林道でも結構撮影して疲労してしまったので、

体力温存から涸沢カールまでは極力撮影は控える事に。

ただ途中のコゲラは珍しかったのでじっくりと撮影。

徳沢も横尾も、ピークに比べればまばらな人。

スカスカのテント場が何だか寒い・・。

本谷橋からは本格的な雪道へ。

ただアイゼンは付ける必要はなく、さくさくという心地いい雪を踏みしめる音を立てながら

黙々と登る。

涸沢ヒュッテに近づくにつれて積雪が増えて、気温もぐぐっと下がってくる。

ヒュッテについてテントの申し込みをするが、今時期はテント代は必要なしとの事。

ヒュッテはそれなりの人出で暖かく賑やか。

いつまでも居ると極寒のテントに戻りたくなくなってきそう。

テントに戻って撮影しようと思ったら、ガスったり晴れたり。

稜線は風がものすごく強そう・・。

でも良い感じの雪煙が撮影できた。

夕飯を食べたら２０時くらいには就寝。

午前２時に起きると、外は月明かりと満点の星でありえないくらい明るかった。

だらだらしていたので、出発が４時近くになってしまう。

まあ、途中でご来光撮れればいいかなと思って登り始める。

ザイテン辺りで、だんだんと周囲が赤く染まっていく。

ここから１時間近く、それに魅了されて撮影していた。

月がはっきりと残っていて、なんとも言えない幻想的な世界。

まさにシガー・ロス若しくはWorld’s End Girlfriendの世界観。

朝焼けが終わると、空は雲ひとつない青空へ。

白い雪とのコントラストが冬の色だな～～。

朝焼けを堪能して再び稜線へ登り始める。

陽が出てきて気温が上がり、雪が腐り気味で難儀する。

積雪は多い所で膝上くらいまであった。

コースタイムの２倍をかけて穂高岳山荘へ。

穂高岳山荘で小休止して出発。

涸沢岳にも行きたかったけど、時間オーバーなので奥穂高だけにする。

前を行く登山者は単独の２人で後には居ない。

これはかなり奥穂高が満喫できそう。

梯子を慎重に通過して、適度に積雪している登山道を進む。

頂上に着くと、３６０度の壮大なパノラマ。

やはり目に着くジャンダルム。

笠ヶ岳も雪が積もって綺麗です。

薬師の方もすごい雪。

頂上からの俯瞰をじっくり撮影した後、下山。

下山時は気温が高いせいで雪がかなり腐っていて、時々足を取られてすっころんだりした。。

１２時にテン場へ戻って、１３時過ぎに完全撤収。

上高地に着いたのは１８時半、タクシーで沢渡第二駐車場に着いたのは１９時だった。

2012-1103・04-奥穂高岳