Jizo-dake Snow Hike (04Feb2017) – part 2

The mountaintop of Jizo-dake — Mountaintop of Mt. Jizo (Jizo-dake, 地蔵岳): 1,674 meters, Gunma prefecture

Hiking

Continued from part 1 – The peak of Jizo-dake (Mt. Jizo) was almost there. An unclouded blue sky made us expect a good view of Akagi-san (Mt. Akagi). Could it really be so?

We were lucky!

“Dad! I am looking forward to …

“Year! We can expect a good view under …”

“No! I am not talking about the view. I am thinking of walking a dog. I like a toy poodle, but this time, I may choose Japanese midget Shiba…”

Just before reaching the peak, my daughter was troubled about a dog …

“Dad, look at the radio wave tower. It’s so close!”
“Dad! I can see Mt. Fuji between the towers. Look at it!”
I was a little relieved because she looked still enjoying snow hike.

radio wave tower of Jizo-dake is so close — Radio wave towers were so close; meaning soon we could step the peak.

“That’s really peachy!”
It looked like my daughter liked the view.

view of Mt. Akagi from Mt. Jizo in winter time — View of Kurobi-san (highest peak of Akagi-san) and Lake Ono in early February

mountains in the distance are Tanigawa Mountains — Mountains in the distance are Tanigawa Mountains

On the mountaintop, there were only 5 people including us.
It was so quite. It was fine weather, good scenery and my daughter’s cheerful smile.
It was a special time for us.

My daughter was … “Where is she?”
She lay down on the snow.

“It’s really nice. You better try it.

my daughter way lying on the snow, again — my daughter way lying on the snow

We walked down toward the lakeside. There were few markers and traces but I did not think we lost our way because we walked here last October. It was slippy occasionally due to a rather steeper slope. Like when, We slid down the slope as if it was a nice snow slide.

“ha ! ha ! ha !”
Both my daughter and wife looked enjoying the slide.

walking down among trees — My daughter walked down among trees.

On the way to Akagi-koen Visitor Center, I talked to my daughter.
“The lake is frozen now. If you wanna walk on it, it’s time.”
“No, I wanna go for a walk with a dog soon.”

at Sekai-no-Meiken-Bokujyo — My daughter went for a walk with a dog.

Route & Time

Hike date: February 4, 2017
Members: Family (farther, mother and 9-year-old daughter)
Course time:
9:15 entrance of Kakuman-buchi – 9:43 Torii-toge – 10:27 View point of Mt. Fuji – 10:39 Haccho-toge – 11:31 Jizo-dake 11:48 – 12:29 Jizo-dake trailhead near lakesode – 12:50 Akagi-koen Visitor Center [3 hours and 35 minutes]