29 October 2016
No smog yes people
Hiking Mount Moiwa in Sapporo
It is cold, and incredibly windy. Things are blowing down the street, I hope the wind stops soon.
Because of the wind, a small mountain was the order of the day, the main tourist mountain in Sapporo is Moiwa, it is not high, but there are still 2 ropeways / cable cars, except due to high wind they arent running.
Not that I would have taken them anyway, not only did I plan to walk up the mountain, I also walked to the mountain from my hotel, and back again.
My plan was to go to the cable car station and surely there would be a path from there to the top. Wrong. I spent well over an hour going up and down and around on paths that did not go to the top. I had to regroup and use google. Turns out I am nowhere near the start of the path.
Around the base of the mountain I trekked, in the ferocious wind. Still there was another false start, I was sure the Tori gate tunnel would go up the mountain, wrong again.
But I was determined, and a little further around I saw a bunch of people in hiking gear, and then it was just over an hour to the top on a great path with excellent views to be had nearly the whole way.
The top was very cold, some of the selfies I took on my phone give me horrific red nostrils, eye sockets, lips and ears. My ears were frozen brittle. Other people had ear muffs.
There was no snow yet, it is forecast, and whilst I was walking to the mountain early this morning there was a very brief flurry. Flurry being the official term for small amount of snow.
I also went without my backpack, and without gloves. Foolish on both counts. Hands became blocks of ice, and I could have used a drink. However not to worry, where theres a ropeway to the top, theres a multi level restaurant, and no fewer than 30 vending machines serving hot and cold beverages.
Everyone, and I do mean everyone as there were lots of people going up and down this path, has bear bells, ringing non stop. Hours later I still have ringing in my frozen ears.
The walk through the city streets to the mountain was over an hour, assuming I went to the path. I turned that into over 2 hours by going to the wrong start point.
Not sure if thats the top or not! Seemed higher when I went around the back later and climbed up the proper path.
No cable car, too windy. Suck it lazy tourists.
The wrong path. It showed promise, but theres no way up from the cable car station, just a number of loops to signs that warn its an environmental protection area and you must stay to the paths.
It may have been the wrong path but it does have a good view.
Annnnnd peak color has been achieved.
One of my wrong paths took me to this. Note theres no view from here, there would be if you were allowed up the steps, but a security rope prevents this.
My theory is theres no one here to collect a fee to allow you to appreciate the view. Buddhists love to collect a fee for everything. Those orange beggars robes dont pay for themselves.
Nice tree.
Link to Hi Resolution 3000x2000 version
I came back down the wrong path via a graveyard. What a view these dead folks have!
My next mistake, I was sure this would be the way. Why else would it be here? Wrong again. Theres a river blocking me from getting to the proper path at the top of here. Back down again....
The torii gates actually take you to here, but like I said, dont keep trying to go up and around it, theres no way!
Finally I am on the right path, with hundreds of people and their ensemble of bear bells.
The path varied between steps, leaves, rocks and mud. There was a lot of mud in places. At the bottom there was a boot cleaning station to remove said mud.
The path up goes past 100 of these stations of stone temple things. I read that theres 100 of them, I didnt count.
And now I am at the summit. Heres the temple. Theres also a 3 storey restaurant, tv towers, bus parking and the ropeway station.
Great views are to be had in all directions from the roof of the restaurant building.
Sapporo below. Seems much bigger than 2.7 million people.
Very little smog.
More Sapporo, and the middle cable car station about 1/3 of the way down, with more car parking. I never saw this on the way up, the walking path goes up a different valley entirely.
Off in the distance is more mountains, further away from Sapporo. The mountain on the right is a ski resort, hence the snow, which I assume has been artificially made. More research required.
Do I look cold? The glare was ridiculous, I couldnt open my eyes for the selfie.
This one turned out better. Patented stance ACTIVATE.
Time to step into the restaurant area and have a can of hot chocolate from the vending machine before running back down.
On the way down a woman ran in front of me, I let her get some distance ahead, and she would slow right down and look back over her shoulder frightened.
I would try to pass her and she would speed up and take dangerous risks. I didnt get it, so I just follower her all the way down.
At the bottom I went to use the boot cleaning station along side her, as there was brushes and buckets for multiple people, and she ran off after cleaning only one of her boots.
For the walk back to my hotel I followed a different tram line. Nice light at this time of day.
And then I arrived at the 'Girls Cafe and Slot' faux rock mountain building.
Now to clean the mud off my pants that got there because I cleaned the mud off my boots with a brush that sprayed wet mud onto my pants.