Mount Hotakadake

Mount Hotaka
穂高岳

Mount Hotaka from Tokugō-tōge
Highest point
Elevation 3,190 m (10,470 ft) [1]
Prominence 2,307 m (7,569 ft) [1]
Isolation 87 kilometres (54 mi)
Listing 100 Famous Japanese Mountains
Ultra
Coordinates 36°17′21″N 137°38′53″E / 36.28917°N 137.64806°E / 36.28917; 137.64806Coordinates: 36°17′21″N 137°38′53″E / 36.28917°N 137.64806°E / 36.28917; 137.64806 [1]
Naming
Pronunciation [hotakadake]
Geography
Japan
Location Takayama, Gifu Prefecture
Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture
Japan
Parent range Hida Mountains
Geology
Mountain type Pyramidal peak
Climbing
First ascent Gunji Abe (1906)
Easiest route Hike

Mount Hotaka (穂高岳, Hotaka-dake), also known as Mount Hotakadake, is one of the 100 Famous Japanese Mountains, reaching a height of 3,190 m (10,466 ft). It is situated in Japan's Hida Mountains and all its major peaks besides Mount Maehotaka, lie on the border between the cities of Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture, and Takayama, Gifu Prefecture. This mountain is located in Chūbu-Sangaku National Park.[2]

The peaks of Okuhotaka, Karasawa, Kitahotaka, Maehotaka and Nishihotaka are called the Hotaka Mountains. The highest peak in this range, and also the tallest mountain in both Nagano and Gifu prefectures, is Mount Okuhotaka. Mount Hotaka is also referred to as the "Leader of the Northern Alps" (北アルプスの盟主, Kita-Arupusu no Meishu).

Peaks

Peaks of Mount Hotaka and Mount Yari of southern Hida Mountains (called "Northern Alps" in Japan) seen from Mount Hachimori (from east).

History

Hiking routes

Hotaka Mountains from the panorama course Byōbu-no-mimi (October 2000)
Mt. Hotaka from Mount Chō
Mt. Hotaka and Azusa River from Kamikōchi
Mt. Nishi-hotaka, 2909 m
Mt. Kitahotaka from Karasawa glacier (May 2003)
Mt. OkuHotaka,3190m from kamikōchi (October 2007)

Even though the Hotaka Mountains are often climbed during times of lingering snow, like Golden Week, the following routes are strictly for snow-free periods. When snow has fallen, the area becomes extremely dangerous. Routes may become impassable, so special care is required.

The mountain climbing base at Karasawa lies in a U-shaped cirque dominated by Mount Okuhotaka, Mount Maehotaka and the Tsuri Ridge connecting the two. Because it lies on the northern side of the mountains, snow remains throughout the year.

To the north, beyond a steep descent and ascent at the Daikiretto, the ridge continues across Mount Minami (南岳, Minami-dake), Mount Ōbami (大喰岳, Ōbami-dake), ending at Mount Yari. In the south, a ridge stretches from Mount Okuhotaka via Mount Nishihotaka to Mount Yake. The Tsuri Ridge runs from Mount Okuhotaka to Mount Maehotaka, from where a path leads down through a cirque to the bridge Kappabashi in Kamikōchi. Climbing down on the Gifu side, either from the Hotaka Mountain Cottage (穂高岳山荘, Hotakadake Sansō) through Shiradezawa (白出沢, shiradezawa) or taking the Shinhotaka Ropeway from next to Nishihotaka-dake, the road and Shinhodaka Onsen (新穂高温泉, Shinhodaka-onsen) can be reached in the valley below.

Beginner

Kamikōchi ― Lake Myōjin (明神池, Myōjin-ike) ― Tokusawa (徳沢) ― Yokoo (横尾) ― Karasawa Cirque― Mount Okuhotaka
Kamikōchi ― Lake Myōjin ― Tokusawa ― Panorama course (Byōbunoatama) ― Karasawa Cirque― Mount Okuhotaka

(Note that in both cases the part from Karasawa to Mount Okuhotaka is actually more at the intermediate level)

Kamikōchi ― Lake Myōjin ― Tokusawa ― Yokoo ― Karasawa Cirque― Mount Kitahotaka
Shinhodaka Onsen ― Shinhotaka Ropeway ― Nishiho Mountain Cottage ― Maruyama (丸山) ― Nishihodoku
Kamikōchi ― Naka Ridge (中尾根, Nakaone) ― Nishiho Mountain Cottage ― Maruyama ― Nishihodoku

Intermediate

Kamikōchi ― Dakesawa Mountain Hut ― Kimikodaira (紀美子平) ― Mount Maehotaka ― Mount Okuhotaka

The ascent from the Dakesawa Hut to Kimikodaira, (Jūtarō New Road (重太郎新道, Jūtarō Shindō)) is the steepest in the Japanese Alps. There is no water on this ascent, and if climbing both mountains, the route to Mount Okuhotaka and Mount Maehotaka via Karasawa is more popular.

Advanced

Mount Yari― Mount Ōbami (大喰岳, Ōbami-dake) ― Mount Naka (中岳, Naka-dake) ― Mount Minami (南岳, Minami-dake) ― Daikiretto (大キレット) ― Mount Kitahotaka ― Mount Karasawa ― Mount Okuhotaka ― Gendarme (ジャンダルム, jandarumu) ― Mount Aino ― Mount Nishihotaka ― Nishihodoku

Mountain huts

There are various alpine huts in the Mount Hotaka area:

[6]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Japan Ultra-Prominences". Peaklist.org. Retrieved 2015-01-01.
  2. ↑ "Chūbu-Sangaku National Park". Ministry of the Environment (Japan). Retrieved November 21, 2011.
  3. ↑ Walter Weston (March 2010). Mountaineering and Exploration in the Japanese Alps. General Books. ISBN 978-1-150-87401-7.
  4. ↑ Yama-kei Publishers　 (2005-10-01). History of Japanese mountain climbing seen by the eye（『目で見る日本の登山史』） (in Japanese). Yama-kei Publishers. p. 12. ISBN 4-635-17814-5.
  5. ↑ "Chūbu-Sangaku National Park" (PDF) (in Japanese). Ministry of the Environment (Japan). Retrieved 2011-11-21.
  6. ↑ Northern Japanese Alps. (in Japanese) Northern Japanese Alps Koya Yūkō-kai. Accessed June 28, 2008.
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