Kiso-Komagadake

Sunday, October 9, 2011Central Alps百名山木曽駒ヶ岳

木曽駒ヶ岳

Cover photo: Kiso-Komagadake — Russet grass and pale rock
View 10 photos

Distance: 5.0km
Ascent: 435m; 441 m of descent
Walking time: 2 h 04; 4 h 12 with breaks
High point: 2,956m; low point 2,657 m
Season: Autumn; October 2011

The russet grass of Senjōjiki

In the Senjōjiki cirque, the October grass has turned russet below pale rock spires. The route climbs into the upper reaches of Kiso-Komagadake. Beyond the slopes, the mountains of the Southern Alps rise above the clouds.

In the bushes, a kamoshika appears among the leaves that are still green. A red ropeway cabin passes in front of the slopes in autumn colors, while the dawn views show the sun above the clouds.

Before you return

Today’s trail conditions and recent trip reports:

木曽駒ヶ岳YAMAP YamaReco

Map and profile

Download the GPX track How to read this map Hover over the profile to follow the track on the map. The thumbnails show where each photo was taken; click one to enlarge it.

Topographic map of the day — GSI (国土地理院) topographic map with the day's track · original file

Photos 10

Sunrise over the sea of clouds, from Senjōjiki.

The Komagatake ropeway in the early morning, seen from Senjōjiki.

The Senjōjiki cirque in autumn colors — The climb in the Senjōjiki cirque (千畳敷カール), at about 2,730 m, in autumn colors.

Ontake above the sea of clouds, seen from the summit of the Kiso-Komagatake — From the summit of the Kiso-Komagatake (木曽駒ヶ岳, 2,956 m), Ontake above the sea of clouds, a hut below.

Panorama: Hōken-dake, a pointed rock peak — Panorama of Hōken-dake (宝剣岳, 2,931 m), seen from the south, at about 2,890 m.

Cirque walls reddened by the rising sun — At sunrise, the walls of the Senjōjiki cirque (千畳敷カール) glow red.

Russet grassy hollow with a hut, sea of clouds on the horizon — From the top of the Senjōjiki cirque, at about 2,810 m, the russet hollow and a hut, the sea of clouds in the distance.

Layers of bluish mountains and a distant cone in the haze — From the summit of the Kiso-Komagatake (木曽駒ヶ岳, 2,956 m), the ranges rise in layers in the haze; Fuji on the horizon.

Huts on a rocky plateau at the foot of the rounded summit — The huts on the pass, Hōken-sansō and Tengu-sō, at the foot of Naka-dake, seen from the slopes of Hōken-dake, at about 2,910 m.