Mt. Takao to Mt. Jinba Ridge Challenge - A Test of Endurance and Preparation

高尾山から陣馬山への稜線チャレンジ - 準備と体力の試練

Today’s Journey Overview

本日の登山概要

• Original Plan: Mt. Takao (Course 6) only - a simple morning hike
• Actual Route: Mt. Takao → Mt. Shiroyama → Mt. Kagenobu → Mt. Jinba → 陣馬高原下 Bus Stop
• Start Time: 6:00 AM
• Duration: 6:00 AM - 1:30 PM (approx. 7.5 hours total)
• Distance: ~15km ridge traverse (unplanned extension!)
• Conditions: Clear weather, well-maintained trails initially, more challenging terrain later
• Experience Level: What started as beginner became intermediate to advanced

Key Achievements

主な達成項目

1. Ridge Traverse Completion:
   • Successfully completed the full Takao-Jinba ridge
   • Four mountain summits in one day
   • First time completing the full route
2. Endurance Test:
   • Maintained pace despite minimal preparation
   • Overcame water shortage challenges
   • Pushed through fatigue on final stretch
3. Navigation Skills:
   • Handled increasingly difficult trail markers
   • Successfully found descent route to bus stop

Route Details

登山ルート詳細

1. Mt. Takao (Course 6):
   • Start time: 6:00 AM (planned for simple morning hike)
   • Duration: Under 1 hour (personal record)
   • Notes: 10+ previous climbs, very familiar route
   • Rest: 5 minutes at summit
   • Decision point: Still energetic → spontaneous extension to Shiroyama
2. Mt. Takao → Mt. Shiroyama (Unplanned Extension #1):
   • Duration: 50 minutes
   • Condition: Still energetic, easy pace
   • Water status: Used all ocha (250ml) and half juice
   • Mindset: “Since I feel good, let’s continue…”
3. Mt. Shiroyama → Mt. Kagenobu (Unplanned Extension #2):
   • Distance: 2.5km
   • Duration: 50 minutes
   • Purchase: 550ml lemon water at Shiroyama summit
   • Time check: 9:45 AM - still early!
   • Another decision: “Only 5.4km to Jinba… why not?”
4. Mt. Kagenobu → Mt. Jinba (The Ultimate Challenge):
   • Distance: 5.4km
   • Duration: 2.5-3 hours (reality check!)
   • Trail condition: Path markers became unclear
   • Water crisis: Only 250ml remaining
   • Mindset shift: From casual hike to survival mode
5. Descent to 陣馬高原下:
   • Duration: 1h35
   • Trail condition: Well-built, beautiful descent
   • Arrival: Just missed bus by 5 minutes

Preparation Analysis

装備と準備の反省

What I Brought (Minimal Setup):

• 250ml green tea bottle
• 125ml juice (half bottle)
• Small bread roll
• Proper trekking shoes ✓

What I Should Have Brought:

• At least 1.5L water for full ridge traverse
• More substantial food/energy bars
• Trail map or GPS device
• First aid kit
• Weather protection

Challenges Faced

直面した課題

1. Water Management Crisis:
   • Completely ran out by Mt. Shiroyama
   • Only 100ml juice remaining after Mt. Takao
   • Critical shortage during longest section to Mt. Jinba
   • Learned the hard lesson about proper hydration
2. Trail Navigation:
   • Path markers became less clear after Mt. Kagenobu
   • Increased difficulty reading terrain
   • Required more focus and attention
3. Physical Endurance:
   • Fatigue set in during final 5.4km stretch
   • Had to manage energy carefully with limited food
   • Mental challenge of pushing through tiredness

Technical Tips Learned

登山で学んだコツ

1. Water Strategy:
   • Always bring 3x more water than you think you need
   • Plan water resupply points in advance
   • Monitor consumption rate throughout hike
2. Ridge Hiking:
   • Takao-Jinba ridge gets progressively more challenging
   • Early sections give false confidence
   • Save energy for the final push to Mt. Jinba
3. Trail Reading:
   • Path markers become sparse on longer routes
   • Meeting other hikers every 3-5 minutes provides reassurance
   • Stay alert even on familiar mountain ranges

Mountain Highlights

山頂での体験

Reflections

振り返り

What started as a simple 6 AM Mt. Takao hike turned into an epic 7.5-hour ridge traverse adventure. This spontaneous journey taught me valuable lessons about preparation, decision-making, and respect for mountain challenges.

The dangerous combination of overconfidence (“I’ve done Takao 10+ times!”) and spontaneous decision-making (“Only 5.4km more… easy!”) led me deep into challenging territory with minimal supplies. While my confidence from multiple Mt. Takao climbs carried me through the early sections, the Kagenobu-to-Jinba stretch humbled me completely.

The moment I bought those two 550ml water bottles at Mt. Jinba summit, I realized I had never tasted water so delicious in my life. It was a profound reminder of how we take basic necessities for granted - and how quickly a casual morning hike can become a test of endurance.

今回の縦走で学んだのは、 準備の大切さと山への敬意です。 朝6時の気軽な高尾山登山のつもりが、 気づけば7時間半の本格的な縦走に。 高尾山での経験が初めは助けになりましたが、 陣馬山への最後の区間で 自分の甘さを思い知らされました。 水の美味しさを心から感じた瞬間でした。

Post-Hike Experience

下山後の体験

Missing the bus by 5 minutes led to an unexpected cultural experience - trying the local Jinba soba for 2400 yen. While expensive, eating at the proper time rather than waiting hungry for 1.5 hours was absolutely the right choice. Sometimes the unplanned moments become the most memorable.

Next Goals

次回の目標

1. Better Preparation:
   • Proper hydration planning (2L minimum)
   • Energy-rich trail foods
   • Weather contingency planning
2. Route Expansion:
   • Explore different descent routes
   • Try the reverse direction (Jinba to Takao)
   • Attempt in different seasons
3. Skill Development:
   • Improve navigation skills
   • Better pace management
   • Photography planning for mountain views

Looking Forward

これからに向けて

This challenging but rewarding ridge traverse proved that sometimes our biggest obstacles become our greatest learning experiences. The combination of overconfidence and under-preparation created the perfect storm for personal growth.

Next time, I’ll approach this beautiful ridge with the respect and preparation it deserves, while still maintaining the adventurous spirit that makes mountain hiking so rewarding.

今回の経験で、山は常に 私たちに謙虚さを教えてくれることを 改めて実感しました。 次回はもっと準備を整えて、 この美しい稜線を楽しみたいと思います。

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A humbling reminder that even familiar mountains can surprise you. Proper preparation meets adventure spirit on the Takao-Jinba ridge.