Central Alps③ 24, 25 Sep. 2014
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24 Sep. Hiwada Kogen camp ground - Shiozawa Onsen
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25 Sep. Shiozawa onsen - Nomugi-toge Pass - Nomugi-toge camp ground
24 Sep. Hiwada Kogen Campground - Shiozawa Onsen
As a typhoon was approaching, it would be bad weather afternoon. So I decided to stay in Shiozawa Onsen, which is 15 km away from the campground.
Just before leaving the campground, a family who was staying at a cottage in the same campground came to me and invited me to their place. And they kindly offered me delicious meal such as Udon and Nabe. Hoe kind they were!
I'd been alone since I started this trip so this breakfast was really memorable for me.
They gave me some snacks, breads and vegetable after the meal. I have to be as kind as them. I don't give a lot in my daily life, I'm always given. I want to be like them and give what I have
This area is about 1000m above the sea level and many runners come to practice. So there are some signs along the road "Be careful of runners".
I got to Shiozawa Onsen around noon and the sky was getting darker. I checked in at a Ryokan(Japanese style hotel), which was very expensive considering that I would stay in my tent everyday.
I took bath in a Onsen(hot spring) of great quality. Though the Onsen and was super comfortable, it was not fun. The dinner was perfect but I was less happy than I had instant noodles in my tent.
I decided to stay at Ryokan because I didn't want to be bothered by the typhoon. Maybe this place was too safe. Maybe I like more adventurous or challenging things...
Very strong wind and rain was beating on the window.
25 Sep. Shiozawa Onsen - Nomugi-toge Pass - Nomugi-toge Campground
It was still raining when I left at 12 O'clock.
From here, I have to go through 60 km of sealed road to get to the trail head of Norikura-dake. There is a nearer trail head but it was not maintained and the locals advised me to take the one which is 60 km away.
In this section, I followed Nomugi-kaido, which used to be a very important road connecting Tokyo and Toyama city.
The road passes Nomugi-toge Pass(1672m). It used to be the most dangerous place on the Nomugi-kaido and many people lost their lives but it is just a pass now.
I arrived at a Campground at 6 pm, I had come 30 km of 60 km sealed road. It was a wekday and after the peak season, so no one was there. I put my tent under the roof of the reception building because it was still raining hard.
There was a sign in front of the campground, "watch out for the bears". It scared me. But fortunately I was still alive next morning.
