"18/100 🏔 日本百名山 🇯🇵 Nihon Hyaku-meizan with bonus Ribu (p3k) 🌋 Got a late start due to an unfamiliar type of morning headache, but was given some super strong (illegal?) pain killers from my mother-in-law that allowed me to give the peak a shot. We took the Nasu Ropeway a good ways up the peak then started up the steep trail. Leif walked a good portion of it. There were several school field trips hiking the mountain today. I don't remember doing anything nearly as cool when I was a kid. There is a nice crater sitting on the top of Nasudake. It reminded me of Izalco in El Salvador. We walked around the crater rim and had lunch together. Asaka and Leif descended back to the ropeway, while I continued north solo to Sanbonyaridake, the high point of the volcanic massif and a Ribu. It started to rain heavily for a good portion of my ascent, but I don't know what got me wetter, the rain or the sweat I produced from wearing the rain jacket. Mushi atsui. It took me an hour from the saddle to the high point. No views. I started back down quickly, and a few minutes later the clouds cleared. I am having really bad luck this trip. I tagged bonus peaks Kumamisone and Asahidake on the way back..." — seancasserly • Sep 1, 2022

"Ougatou, Utsukushigahara Highlands Translation: King’s Head, Beautiful Field 17/100 🏔 日本百名山 🇯🇵 Nihon Hyaku-meizan We had originally planned to climb Norikuradake, one of the tallest peaks in Japan, and also a P4k. As we approached the trailhead, we were stopped by a bicycle race. The road beyond Norikura Kanko Tourist Center both to cars and buses. This was a long way from Utsunomiya, and even longer from California. I was frustrated to say the least. I decided to change the plan on the fly. I picked a random peak on the Hyaku-meizan that was on the way home. We had a gentle loop through foggy ranch lands. We ate beef curry and soft creme at the cafe next to the summit. Then we looped back via a longer but better hiking route. The fog began to clear just as we arrived back at the cars, again. This wasn’t the most spectacular hike but it was good for a two year old. Just shy of a P2k." — seancasserly • Aug 28, 2022

"16/100 🏔 日本百名山 🇯🇵 Nihon Hyaku-meizan Ultra-prominent peak #58 🌋🗻⛰ Granite! With the aid of a bus ride and ropeway, this ultra is an easy one to bag, even with the baby strapped to my back. The real challenge would be the bonus peaks, Nakadake and Hokendake. World famous and highly accomplished Peakbagger Rob Woodall claimed it was not something he would risk soloing. I was able to "class 4" what I believe was a 5.6 summit block. I am not a climber so I am open to hear what other people think of my YDS rating. There is minimal exposure but the climb does require some basic rock climbing technique. I did it in my TX4 approach shoes. Other options included an off-width and a crack. I even found a couple old pitons drilled into a face. Hokendake was easy, but fun, class 3. The weather was overcast and we had no views the entire day. Leif got a little cold on the hike down, but he's a tough cookie." — seancasserly • Aug 27, 2022

"15/100 🏔 日本百名山 🇯🇵 Nihon Hyaku-meizan Ultra-prominent peak #57 🌋🗻⛰ Akadake (P6k) -> Yokodake -> Ioudake -> Neishdake -> Tengudake, Higashi mine -> Tengudake, Nishi mine (Nihyaku-meizan #17/200) Yatsugatake more appropriately refers to the mountain range while Akadake is the range high point. Did this as a point to point with my friend Jon Rogozen, who moved to Tokyo earlier this summer. We had the advantage of having cell phone service and my wife down in Hara with a car. This allowed us to easily arrange our pick up. We started a kilometer beyond Yatsugatake Sanso. My mother-in-laws car could not complete the drive to the Minoto Lodge. We exited at Kosen Karasawa Yatsugatake. Absolutely beautiful hike!" — seancasserly • Aug 25, 2022

"14/100 🏔 日本百名山 🇯🇵 Nihon Hyaku-meizan Our first hike in Japan was a P2k, the second was a P3k and this one was a P4k. Asaka told me that Zao-San was famous, to which I replied, of course it is, since it’s included in the 100 Famous Japanese Mountains book. We paid 550 Yen to park at the end of the Zao Highline. This hike was super easy, but it was foggy and breezy. There was a shelter on the summit, and two artificial summit rocks which I climbed. On the way down we visited Zao-San East Slope. I’m not sure why this is a red dot on Peakbagger but my guess is it is a possible prefecture high point (Miyagi). It’s a liner so wandered about somewhat aimlessly. On the way back down we got a good view of the Okama, which is a colorful lake in the Caldera and the main attraction of the area. Then we climbed the bonus peak Kattadake, which was a gimme. As we arrived back at our car the weather started to clear. We would have gotten much better views had we started off an hour later. Oh well, at least we avoided the crowds." — seancasserly • Aug 23, 2022