Hike up Mt. Hiwadayama

We started our day greeted by blue sky and sunshine and we were excited to head out to the mountains and hike.

After a long drive with many laughs and everyone catching up we arrived at the base of the mountain. When looking for a parking lot we stopped and asked for directions from an elderly couple. They were happy to talk to us and told us they were going to go on the hike themselves and that we could use their parking in front of their homestead. After we got everything together, we made our way down to the river for our snack and to start our walking stick craft. Some of these sticks have been collected while walking with the children others while I was out on my own. Some were from the top of dead standing trees and so had some punky wood on the outside which needed to be removed in order to find the hard heart of the tree.

Using a mix of sandpaper and sharp rocks we took off as much of the rotten wood as we could before using the sandpaper to sand everything smooth. Clem’s walking stick was already smooth so he worked on carving a space to wrap the paracord around to create a handle. Using a knife, Clem worked with Dylan to notch in the markings and carve out the area for the paracord.

After our walking sticks were prepared enough to start the hike we made our way towards the hiking trail before happening upon a honor system fruit and vegetable stand. The stand had, among other things, freshly picked persimmons which looked delicious. Clem insisted he buy them for the group as they were only ¥200 for three. We decided after some conversation that we would eat them either while we were climbing up or when we get to the top. When we got to the map we talked about which direction to take as there were multiple trails. Everyone decided they wanted to try the most difficult trail on the way up, and Mark suggested taking the easier trail on the way down. Our first challenge of the day presented itself as a stream running down the path. This made everything very slippery and difficult as we hopped from one protruding rock to the other before reaching the rocky climb. We took our positions with Haruto at the front with Mark behind him. Clem and Mufaro following behind and Dylan taking up the rear. With the terrain being steep we decided we needed all of our hands and left the walking sticks so we could retrieve them after coming down the mountain.

Before setting off up the steep hill we went over safety issues regarding loose rocks and how to avoid knocking them down onto hikers below. As we climbed we pointed out the large loose rocks to each other and stayed safe during our ascent. After a while we stopped for a water break and observed others climbing up behind us.

Arriving at the top we were greeted by a magnificent view with clear skies all the way to Mount Fuji. With the surrounding countryside in and towns stretching into Tokyo we talked about Tokyo in the distance and the small towns below surrounded by mountains and trees. After a while we decided to find a place to eat and had our lunch with everyone enjoying the persimmons.

With the peak of Hiwadayama still above us we packed up our gear and set off to reach the summit. After 15 or more minutes of climbing we reached the top and found a cute little box with a stamp so we could stamp our drawings to show how high we made it. With the elevation of over 600m I was very surprised and proud of all the scouts. Especially since everyone had said when we were down at the river looking at the top of the mountain that they did not want to climb to the top, but in spite of that had a exciting and fun hike. After a short break at the top we made our way back down the mountain and to the car.

We had a little bit of time so we went to a small river to explore the area and eat some snacks. Some of the boys wanted to get their feet wet and see how cold the water was so we tested it and found that it was very cold. After exploring the river to find some new swimming spots we got back in the car and got on the road heading back to Tokyo. On our way back we stopped by the service area to get some souvenirs and everyone picked out something for their family as well as a treat for themselves and after a toilet break we made our way back to the drop off point just in time. It was a exciting day with spectacular views. Thank you so much for coming, and we look forward to seeing everyone again soon.