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Can I climb Yari-ga-take and Oku-hotaka-dake solo?

by M
(Singapore)

Hi Gary,I'd been hoping to do the Yarigatake-Okuhotakadake circuit but a friend of mine said that it's really dangerous and that I should at least get a guide. I'm not sure if she was exaggerating or not, but it did make me think twice.

I don't have technical climbing skills, but I have done quite a bit of trekking and mountain climbing. Do you think it's possible to do the circuit, or at least Okuhotakadake via Karasawa solo?

Thanks in advance,
M

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Aug 22, 2019
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Mt. Tsurugi-dake was a little scary...
by: Gary Wolff

As I recall, Tateyama was a piece of cake, but on the other hand, Tsurugi-dake was a rather difficult slog, including the 2 exhilarating, hair-raising "crab" sections in the last 200 m before reaching the summit.

Kani-no-yokobai (in Japanese, meaning "crawling sideways like a crab"):
https://www.garyjwolff.com/mt-tateyama-and-mt-tsurugi-dake.html#kani

Kani-no-tatebai (meaning "crawling upwards like a crab"): https://flic.kr/p/8FSDRK

Aug 22, 2019
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thank you for the warning!
by: M

Hi Gary,

thank you for the warning re: daikiretto! Reading Laura's account definitely deterred me somewhat... I'll save that portion for when I have an experienced hiking buddy. Or a certified guide.

That said, now I'm torn between Tateyama/Tsurugi and Okuhotakadake (please don't kill me for asking too many question!) Since I still can't find anyone to go with me, would you recommend going up Tsurugi solo (Tateyama seems safe enough)? Or could you recommend where to find a hiking group I can join?

Many thanks in advance,
M

Aug 21, 2019
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Not recommended
by: Gary Wolff

M, doing the Yari-ga-take to Oku-hotaka-dake circuit requires traversing the Daikiretto, the scariest section of mountain climbing I’ve ever done in Japan. If you haven’t already read Laura Dickey's humorous account of this very dangerous section, you really should: Kamikochi and the Daikiretto

Personally, I don’t recommend anyone to climb Japan’s highest peaks solo, but as far as whether you can climb Oku-hotaka-dake via Karasawa by yourself, I guess that all depends upon your own degree of climbing experience and physical conditioning, as each climber is different.

Happy trails and thanks for visiting my site…

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Can I climb Yari-ga-take and Oku-hotaka-dake solo?

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