I’d like to share my memories of the Sugoroku Hut, which I stayed at during the three-day weekend in October 2013 when I climbed Mt. Washibadake.
The Sugoroku Hut is a mountain hut located at the saddle-shaped depression between Mt. Sugoroku and Mt. Momisawa in Gifu Prefecture, Japan. Situated along the main ridge of the Hida Mountains within the Chubu Sangaku National Park. This hut is a popular stopover point for hikers. It serves as a junction point where the Koike Shindo (New Trail) from the Shin-Hotaka Onsen area intersects with the ridge route from Mt. Kasagatake, attracting a significant number of visitors.
This hut is truly a cozy place, and I had the pleasure of visiting it in both 2013 and 2015. The Koike New Trail, maintained beautifully by the folks at Shuraku Hut, makes it a beginner-friendly hiking path, in my opinion.
The tempura served for dinner was incredibly generous in portion size, and there were even hikers who came specifically for this meal. Personally, I found it to be quite a substantial serving. During my second visit, we decided to cook our own meals, but I noticed on their current website that they no longer allow self-cooking. It’s a bit disappointing that many mountain huts have restricted self-cooking after the COVID-19 pandemic.
When going with friends, preparing a hotpot and enjoying some snacks while freely chatting can be a fun and social experience. With the pandemic gradually settling down, I hope that self-cooking facilities will reopen soon, as it would be much appreciated by hikers.
In 2013, it was my first solo adventure in the Northern Alps, where I drove alone to and from the destination and hiked alone. The three-day weekend in October is typically the time of the first snowfall, but I underestimated it, thinking it would be okay. However, it snowed at night, and there was still snow in the morning.
I was worried about whether it would be safe with the snow, but I had a great time chatting and bonding with the people I met at the hut in the communal room after dinner. It was a wonderful experience before the days of COVID-19.
The next morning, before heading to Mt. Washibadake, I climbed Mt. Momisawa and witnessed the majestic sunrise over Mt. Yarigatake. I remember gazing at the path from Nishikama Ridge to Mt. Yarigatake, thinking I’d like to try it someday. Unfortunately, in 2015, I was rained out and couldn’t make the journey, and I still haven’t walked the Nishikama Ridge. Maybe this year, I’ll finally give it a shot.
The wind was incredibly strong and cold, and I felt like giving up as I hiked alone, but the view from Mt. Washibadake was absolutely breathtaking. I still remember the sense of accomplishment I felt as I gazed into the distance, despite the challenging conditions.
While I was stumbling along alone at the top of the Mt. Washiba, I encountered a solo female hiker with camping gear who was energetically braving the strong winds. When you go into the mountains, you meet all sorts of tough individuals.
You can find this record here. Even though it was a bit wobbly when I read it now, it seems like I’ve somehow managed to navigate through life in this way.
Well then, until next time, thank you for reading!
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