越後駒ヶ岳・八海山・中ノ岳(新潟)
2026.06.07 (日)日帰り
Tangoyama is listed as a tough mountain, not because it’s technical but it’s a continuous uphill slope and elevation gain of over 1500m.
When I asked my hiking friend from Toyoma to accompany me, she readily agreed. Initial plan was to do a loop going to Nakanodake first (an esteemed member of Echigo sanzan) fand dropping down to Usagi and continuing through Ominakami and Tango. But that would take around 14 hrs with elevation gain of 2300m. Not in best of form and considering the weather I chickened out and opted for a simple piston. Nakanodake would have to wait.
Staying at Jujikyo shelter we started at four. The forest road / Rindo is closed even for hikers as there is some snow and a couple of places landslides are blocking the path. But thanks to reports on yamap I know it is passable. After the initial 3 kms walk the sudden elevation change takes place pretty soon after starting at tokino bashi trailhead. Initial part is through nice forest of Japanese white beech but vegetation change as we go upper. Lots of mountain flowers are in full bloom along the trail. There is some respite in the gradient around Jakodaira but it hardens again till stage 8. There is a steep section with chains just before the Sisi iwa (lion rock) but the trail changes into a bamboo grass forest with gentle climb towards the tango shelter.
Recently opened after the winter closure, the hut was clean and a respite from the winds that have started blowing an hour ago. Depositing the extra 2 litre water there we continued through the bamboo grass carpeted path towards the next peak - Ominakami. There were a few remaining snowfields we have to cross but it did not require chain spikes or crampons. Maybe a week or two ago it was necessary but lot of snow have melted and the snowy zebra stripes on mountains are slowly disappearing.
Just before the peak there is a monument marking the source of Tone river. It is said a drop of water put here would flow into the tone river that forms later. Maybe that’s the reasons metal cup is placed there (to try it out ?) Weather wasn’t looking good so we quickly turned back and retuned to the car with meeting no one on the trail.
(by the way I saw a group of 3 leaving very early 1:30) towards Nakanodake - maybe they are traversing towards Echigo Komagatake ?
(tango Yama is also a Niigata 100)
Ikazawa Yumotokan Onsen
No lunch / dinner due to exhaustion.
ぐんま百名山 65,66