Mt Kumotori in Okutama is Tokyo's highest peak at 2,017 meters (6,617 ft) and is part of Japan's top 100 mountains.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Kumotori
This will be my first spring hike on May 20-21. I have not done a weekend camp trip during the peak season in a while...
I'm learning to take some photos with a new camera and lens, but most were taken with my trusty camera phone.
Temps: highs of 28 / lows of 16, clear skies, low humidity.
The plan is to start from Kamosawa bus station, camp a few kilometers below Mt. Kumotori, summit in the morning and then take a side trail to Nippara bus station.
Kamosawa bus station after four buses dropped off passengers within 30 minutes.
Queuing for the toilet
TIP: Avoid the lines and use the spacious all purpose restroom at the side of the men's toilet.
Start of the trailhead at around 650 meters elevation
First steps into the woods
Spotting Mt. Fuji a little after two hours into the hike
The trail gains elevation non-stop until hitting the summit. About another hour later I finally reached the ridge line where the sun is unrelenting. Luckily a sun cap kept my brain from over heating.
Getting baked by the sun
On the Bunadawa ridge
Got to the campsite before 2pm and the place is already crowded.
Tent city at 1750 meters
You pay at the hut where they also provide lodging. Tent space is 500 yen per person per night and apparently there is no such thing as no vacancy. Unfortunately, beers were all sold out.
Three outhouses are nearby (one for ladies only). Yes, they do stink when the place gets crowded.
"Okutama Little Hut"
Reliable water nearby but a steep climb back up
Tent city continues to grow
Some people setting up their tents on the outskirts of an emergency hellipad
Out of all the tents, I managed to find a hanger with his ground dwelling friends.
Sporting an ENO Sub7 with Dutch biners and sharing the same top quilt made in Japan by Highland Designs
My setup away from tent row
Next to me were a group from an outdoors college club. Behind me were a bunch of old timers drinking up and having a good time.
Stuck in the middle of my neighbors
Place got too loud for me so I took my dinner for a walk.
Change of scenery
Returning at dusk
Sunset
Back in my campsite and there was another new neighbor. I was worried about the noise as people were excitedly talking and joking around. But something amazing happened at hiker midnight: EVERYONE starting whispering in hushed tones and most were calling it a night... except for the old timers finishing off their bottle of sake. I unexpectedly had a good night's sleep without ear plugs.
DAY TWO
I woke up at 3am and had 1.5 hours to reach the summit before sunrise. I brought my small day pack along with my camera.
But first, I took the opportunity to take some night shots around the camp area:
Reached the summit with my small but barely visible Petzl eLite.
Waiting for sunrise
Time lapse of sunrise on Kumotori (left side behind the trees)
I realized after reviewing my photos that this new sign post was erected this year = height of the mountain
Part of the crowd
Set up of my next time lapse
Another time lapse looking west towards a barely visible Mt. Fuji
Last view of Fuji while heading back down to camp
Decided to take my sweet time back at a now smaller camp. Finally had opportunity to set tarp in porch mode and had my breakfast. Took a little nap and was the last person in my area to pack up and leave at around 8am.
Side trail back down
Note to self that the alternative side trail between Nippara and Kumotori is still closed.
Sketchy bridge
The rails at the middle of the bridge is about knee high... walk slowly
The trail head after a small climb
Two more hours pounding rocks and uneven pavement.
On the way back, spotted at least twenty people walking up my direction with huge nets catching butterflies.
The early sign of summer
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Originally Posted by BigE94
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