TSH, day 3
9:00 am — TSH, day 3
Yamakita Station (山北駅)
Yesterday before going to sleep I checked the map and found out that the only one shop on my way is a quite nearby “bus stop”. Thus the early bird plan was temporarily suspended and I set an alarm to 9am. Yet I woke up around 5am and while I was thinking if I want to wake up or not, the first visitor came to the hut. Both the girl and her backpack were in rain-covers and a quick look to the window showed a very cloudy sky. Thus I decided to sleep some more and soon the girl unpacked her sleeping bag and also went to sleep. A few hours later, when the girl was ready to go and a group of students started to laugh near the hut, I also decided to slowly pack. Soon the students moved inside the hut and while I was packing and having a quick snack they discussed something among themselves. They moved out about 10 minutes before me, as it later turned out, in the same direction. We passed each other about 5 times during the day.
11:30 am — Breakfast
Yamakita Station (山北駅)
Sometime after the start I found just a perfect spot for a breakfast. It was near a small stream with the water so clean I could drink it without boiling (I didn’t). Lessons learnt: first, I like the idea of having a real breakfast at a nice spot an hour or two after waking up; I don’t like instant soba (jgi), I like instant ramen (jgi), the broth was good in both cases.
Most of my today’s trail went along crystal clear streams and rivers with gorgeous waterfalls on them and was quite uneventful.
1:00 pm — Trail magic
Yamakita Station (山北駅)
At the bus stop I’d encountered a real trail magic for the first time. The “bus stop” turned out to be just a bus stop with a single vending machine there. Yet there was a public toilet and a tourist info center and before going to a nearest camping to ask for food I decided to ask at info center if there are any shops nearby. After some discussion of my country of origin, my short- and longterm hiking plans and so on I decided that I don’t want to take a bus to a nearest city and rather would buy some space jellies at info center (they sell it there) with some water for cooking and several sweet drinks at vending machine. With some food still left in a backpack it could be just enough to get to the next town.
And then the person at info center came up with the idea. He said: “We have dried rice packs you need to fill with hot water to cook. They are emergency rations but we actually never use them so I can give some to you”. He gave me two rations I asked for and then added one more “just in case”. Then he gave me water from a cooler instead of selling a bottle and grieved a bit that he had to sell jellies to me instead of giving them for free. We talked a bit more and then I continued a trail.
Thanks man, you are a real trail angel! (just google it together with the trail magic)
7:30 pm — T-storm and wrapping the day
Yamakita Station (山北駅)
The day was cloudy and at an intermediate hut I decided to check the forecast. Fortunately the connection was possible there. Unfortunately the forecast said that I had about an hour till the beginning of a thunderstorm that would last till the morning. And about 7km of trail to the planned hut (altitude changes not included). After preparing my rain gear I rushed forward. Especially since I didn’t know for which point the forecast was made and thus if I’d have it earlier or later. It was hard, it was wet, one more “recreational” day failed and my backpack raincover got partially removed by the branches at some point and the top of my backpack got all wet. I was prepared and nothing really got damaged.
And here I am, at a planned spot, one day ahead. I got a quick snack and after I finish describing the day I’ll go and cook one of those emergency rations. Then going to go to sleep.
According to the forecast the rain should stop around 3-4am and thus the early start at 6-7am sounds quite an option. I hope nobody will come here today and I’ll be able to use the space as I want.
Tomorrow I’m going to Yamanakako lake which is a small yet popular tourist attraction with a nice view of mt.Fuji. I wonder if I should stay at a camping as planned or break bad and book a room at hostel/hotel. I’ll think about it tomorrow.
おやすみなさい
