#mt takao

May 30th - Mt. Takao

View from the summit of Mt. Takao

     This post is actually being written on the morning of the 31st (sorry professor Smith), but before our meeting time, because I caught a really bad cold yesterday. Hopefully, I don’t infect everyone on the bullet train today! Yesterday we started early to go to Mt. Takao, right outside of Tokyo. The trip there was a little precarious because Summer and I accidentally got on the wrong train. It went in the same direction as the one we wanted, so we rode it for a while and met up with everyone else at another stop, but it was a little nervewracking all the same.

     When we got to Mt. Takao, we were given the option to either ride up a third of the way (the steepest part) on a ski lift, or walk the whole way. We all decided to walk, but it was not the right choice at all. The mountain was so steep here that there were 4 switchbacks, and all of them were quite steep as well. We had to take multiple breaks, and Rebecca almost passed out from heat stroke. It was really scary - her eyes were unfocused and her entire face was pale and red at the same time. When we got to where the ski lift met with the trail, she and 2 other members of our group opted out of the rest of the climb. I think, though, that if they had started with the lift they would have made it all the way up because the rest of the hike was gently sloped for the most part and quite nice.

     On the way up, we passed a large shrine/temple, and I got a purple sorbet. I’m not sure what flavor it was - I assumed taro when ordering but that wasn’t it at all. Two people decided to jog the rest of the way up, but I was happy walking and taking pictures. We made it to the summit, which had gorgeous views of the surrounding mountains, and I got (more) ice cream. The way down was nice as well, although Kadeen dislocated her knee and we had to help support her. We took the ski lift down when we got to it and took turns supporting her weight on the way back home. Professor Smith got her a brace, so we should be ok. 

     When we got home, I got sushi and crepes with Ian, Valerie, and Austin. We came home and played a bit of smash, but I had to leave early because I felt so sick. 

     tldr; Floridians didn’t do so hot climbing a mountain

Academic Reflection

     The reading today was on forest management throughout Japanese history. In many media representations of Japan, such as Ghibli movies, the country is shown with rich untouched forests and beautiful hundred-year-old trees. While this is partially true, there is actually no virgin forest left in Japan. Though forest management has been around for centuries, the rules were ill followed and many areas had to be replanted in conservation efforts after WW2. 

     This surprised me, as when we were at Musashi and going over Japanese and American self-identification statistics, a great majority of Japanese people list the nature of their country as the thing that brings them the most pride. I always assumed that, because there is so much of it, it has been around forever. But, like any country, they have also dealt with overuse and mismanagement. It is only through strong efforts in the past hundred years or so that this densely populated area with very few resources has stayed so lush.

Lanterns leading to the shrine 

These were scattered across the trail, you can spin the wheel for good luck climbing. They have mantras written on them, so spinning them once is like repeating the mantra

Stairs on the trail up Mt. Takao

Summit marker at Mt. Takao