I'm Nomaru, the developer.
The other day, I went to the Omine Okugake Trail to help with trail maintenance.
I'll just talk about what happened at that time.
On the day, we started from the Maeoni trailhead and headed about an hour north of Shakagatake (a little north of Kujakudake), mainly to check areas where it is easy to get lost and to prepare the trail for water sources.
It was chilly in the early morning, but sunny and warm during the day, so the mountain climb was more like a speed hike than a trail run.
It's mostly uphill until we reach our destination, Shakagatake...
According to the sign attached to the wooden steps, there seem to be 853 steps, but since it's a mix of hiking trails and stairs, the number of steps doesn't increase very quickly...
Located halfway between Maeoni Konakabo and Taiko no Tsuji
Two Rocks: Former barrier for women
As we climbed in silence, we reached the junction with the Omine Okugake Trail.
Ancient Crossroads
When I saw the sign saying "From here, start the Omine Minami-Okugake trail," I realized I was deep in the mountains.
The view from Shinsen-no-Yado
It's a clear autumn day, perfect for a day in the mountains. I suppress my desire to relax and continue on.
From here, it's about 1km to Shakagatake, a 300m climb. I climb without any worries...
At the top of the climb
Shakagatake
Actually, this was my first time at Shakagatake. I prayed for a safe journey and took a short break.
After the break, we proceeded to the place where we got lost, but this section was rough...
I'm a bit hesitant... (laughs)
When you arrive at the site, it doesn't seem like it would be easy to get lost, but in fact the correct route here is to go left in the center.
The trees in front made it difficult to see the correct route, and there was a route with many footprints to the right of the center, so I thought the psychological urge to just follow the path was what caused people to get lost.
First, we collected fallen trees and other debris to block the path and lay down colored tape so that anyone could see clearly.
Now you can't go straight, so you won't get lost here!
Other things include:
Maintenance of areas where the route is unclear due to overgrown Japanese bamboo grass (the left side is a steep cliff, so it is quite dangerous if you cannot see your feet)
Checking the water area
This was my first time accompanying trail maintenance, and it gave me a renewed sense of awareness that the trails I walk on without even thinking about them are kept safe by the people who maintain them.
After the trail maintenance is completed
We were blessed with fine weather and, once we reached the ridge, the occasional breeze was pleasant, allowing us to enjoy the autumnal Omine Okugake Trail.
Please click here to see the activities of Yamaashigarasu, who accompanied us on this trip.
I have compiled a review of the equipment used on the day, so I hope it will be helpful when choosing gear to use when enjoying the mountains in autumn!
Equipment for the day
Wool arm sleeves
If you are doing intense exercise, the UL series of arm sleeves will do the trick, but if you are doing leisurely activities while enjoying the scenery, we recommend the WOOL arm sleeves, which are less likely to feel cold! Another feature is that you can adjust the temperature by putting them around your wrist if you get hot while you are active. This is a must-have item for the upcoming autumn foliage hikes.
Click here for UL WOOL arm sleeves
Ultimate TNG
There were many areas with low-growing Japanese bamboo grass, so my feet were always wet with morning dew, but because the tent was made of an original material that dries quickly, water didn't accumulate and before I knew it, it was dry.
It has quick-drying properties and excellent heat retention, so it is especially recommended for the upcoming season!
Prototype Wool Tee
As with arm sleeves, if you're doing high-intensity exercise, the smooth running T-shirt is the winner, but if you're walking at a constant speed, a wool T-shirt won't make you cold from sweat and is resistant to changes in outside temperature, making it an effective base layer in cold weather!
