Tenpaizan to Ushikubiyama in the snow 天拝山・牛頸山 / jaykyushuhikingさんの天拝山・基山の活動日記

The cold snap we are in continues with this past weekend set to have been the coldest this year and it has given us the most snow we have seen in a few years. It's the year of cow in the Chinese zodiac so Ushikubiyama I go! I started the hike from Futsukaichi station and along with my wife we hiked up Tenpaizan. The route was easy and very enjoyable. After enjoying the top I set off alone for Ushikubiyama and to return to Onojo via the mountains. The snow on the mountain ridge was deep and I changed to crampons and a hiking stick which made the journey much easier. Yamap have made a lot of changes to the routes on this map, adding mountains and altering the routes so it is much easier than before. As I approached the summit of Ushikubiyama I saw about five wild boar which all ran up the trail ahead, I shouted to scare them off and carried on with my wits on high alert. They were very clear and cute against the white snow. I hiked down and around Ushikubi resevoir and eventually made it to Hirano Heights Iriguchi bus stop with only 5 mins to wait, what luck! I hope everyone else got to enjoy some snow this year and I look forward to reading your hiking reports and seeing all the photos!