Mt. Ishizuchi

     Took a lovely sliver week trip to Ehime prefecture, the goal being the top of Ishizuchisan, the highest point in western Japan.

     There are a number of points on the trail to the summit where you can decide between the chain route or the less intense course. We met an older man on the way up who we briefly asked about the climb and the chain sections. He had climbed the chains and said they were great; he further advised us to take them rather than than the makimichi or "loser's road". As if we needed any more encouragement than that.
     They ranged in intensity from near vertical to a mild scramble, but all were awesome and well worth the fun and views they provided.

the summit

summit shrine

going for a highest point/silliest face in western japan combo face

Amateur Spelunking; Journey to the Highlands

Shots from our mountain ramblings last saturday...

shrine at the entrance to the cave

descending into the cave by phonelight

onward, inward

underground stream

     After realizing the road got pretty wet from here, we headed back out to the light of day... back out to cloudy yet blinding above-ground Kochi, but not before an ultra-dramatic, almost camera-breaking pitch dark underground mud-bail from yours truly. Fantastic. Came out grinning stupidly, covered in mud, gleeful that I'd managed to self sacrafice and get my body in between the earth and my camera once again (I've practiced this manuver on a number of unplanned occasions).

     We jumped into the cars and headed for higher ground. As we climbed the winding road up to the top of Tengu Kogen, we found ourselves winding further up into the thick, cloudy white. Thinking we had picked the wrong day and that these clouds were bound to choke out our chance at a view of the highlands, we couldn't have been more surprised as the road continued up, shooting our car onward and upward, above the clouds and into the wide open. Glory be.

 lisa, leeako, melissa, gary, michelle