When we finally reached the submit, it came as a surprise. We had just clambered over a particularly steep stretch littered with bigger boulders when we suddenly found ourselves in the open. At last the summit!
I looked around. Unlike its slopes which were dense with foliage, the peak of Mt Kurodake was a bare patch measuring roughly 50m by 80m littered with rocks and boulders. Small groups of climbers were scattered around – some taking photos, others having picnics.
We dropped our packs and started taking “me-at-the-summit” photos. In my excitement, i hadn’t pay much attention to the surrounding mountains. After the photos were taken, i walked to the edge of the summit.
To my great disappointment, the surroundings were completely shrouded in fog! Everywhere i looked, a thin, white, impenetrable mist hung in the air not more than 50m away from the edge of the peak. This was turning out to be an anti-climax. My wife didn’t say much but i could tell that she was just as disappointed as me.
We were reluctant to brave the trek down so soon. So she found herself a comfortable spot and rested while i wandered around taking pictures.
After fumbling around the peak with my camera and tripod for about an hour, i decided that it was time to go down the mountain. The foot of Mt Kurodake was still a good 2.5 hrs away (yes i said 1.5hrs earlier. I’ll explain in my next post) and this was supposed to be our morning stroll. I would take one last photo before we go down. I clambered over some boulders to a part of the summit where i hadn’t been to. And that’s when our luck turned.
The fog lifted without warning and all of a sudden, i found myself looking at rocky mountains and ice-covered valleys. It was as if a curtain had been lifted and the view, framed by the swirling, fast-retreating fog, was eeriely beautiful.
Our fellow climbers were just as excited. Some of them packed up immediately and hiked down a steep trail connecting the ridges of the surrounding mountains. This trail had led into the misty unknowns minutes earlier. I snapped away furiously with my camera and recorded some videos. Now i can tell the folks back home what Mt Kurodake’s all about.
Finally it was time to go.
The trek down was much easier and faster but more punishing on our knees and ankles. In the days to come, we would both suffer from the aftereffects of this climb. But it was worth it.
In my next post, i’ll share some information and lessons learnt on climbing up Mt Kurodake. Stay tuned.
Tags: Hokkaido, Mt Kurodake, Sounkyo Spa