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I had no intention of climbing a mountain when I set off for Kawaba on the beautiful midweek national holiday we had last Tuesday. In my mind I imagined myself maybe snowshoeing up from the top of the quad lift to get a nice fresh line but that was about it. Things changed when I came to the ticket counter to buy my six pack of one lift tickets.
The girl at the desk noticed the snowshoes on my back and said “[font="ＭＳ Ｐゴシック"]ハイキングするつもりですね。そこに行ってハイキングの申込書を書いてください。 (Your going hiking aren’t you. Please go over there and fill out the form for hiking). Having been to Kawaba countless times with snowshoes and never having filled out a form I was caught off guard. “ハイキングしません。スノーシューと滑ることは練習だけです。” (I was trying to say I am just practicing riding while carrying snowshoes but I said it a bit strangely). “ちょっと待ってください”(Please wait a sec).[/font]
Enter the girl potentially hired for her English abilities. “What course are you planning on hiking” This was actually said a bit strangely but I got the gist. “I’m not planning on hiking I’m just carrying the snowshoes to practice riding with them.” That blank look people have when they have no idea what you just said. “You have snowshoes, you are hiking right? Where are you going?” Something gives in in my brain and I decide to just go with the flow. “Yes I’m hiking. I want to climb the mountain.” She helps me fill out the form and I am given a ticket to be returned later. Nice to know they look after the hikers!
Riding the lift towards the top of the mountain I was feeling a bit Schizophrenic. “Why did I come here again? I guess I’m climbing a mountain today. This should be interesting.” At the top of the quad lift I put on my snowshoes and set out on my journey. Plowing through the deep snow after 100 meters I was already feeling it, but the powerful rock wall to my left served as my energy source.
The route up the mountain is on the left side of this beast.
I love trees!
The skies this day where some of the clearest I have ever seen. In the distance you could see the Yatsugatake and the South Alps!
Mt.Asama in the forground was also stunning. You can also see some hikers who benifited from me going first coming up behind me 
They returned the favor shortly after. I loved this guys snowshoes!
This last pic doesn't show how steep it was. This next one does. I was "fully prepared".... to walk up an easy hill and snowboard down. I only almost fell once 
Everyone else had crampoons and ice axes, I had snowshoes and a snowboard. If I do it again, I will come better prepared.
Climbing up I was loving the trees!
These ones weren't to shabby either.
Tree spirits!
Mt. Sukai
Mt. Nikko Shirane above Marunuma Kogen seen between some peaks of Mt. Hotaka
After climbing the rock face you come to a small sharp peak.
After climbing the peak and seeeing the rest of the mountain in front of me I decided I probably shouldn't go any farther with my lack of gear. Here are the more prepared climbers heading for the peak.
And one with the whole mountain in the background. One of the hikers said I had already done the hardest stuff, but also wanting to snowboarding and being satisfied with the hike, I decided to turn around.
The views from my little peak where pretty good! Here is Tanigawa and Naeba.
And another shot of Shirane
This line of the peak was looking amazing. You can't really make out the mandatory 5 meter air. The only problem is it leads to nowhereland.
More coming!
