Day two of my hike up Sennokuro-san was greeted with clear skies and calm air. My first task upon rising was to descend 100 meters down the valley to access a natural spring and collect my drinking water for the day. A quick breakfast and I'm off. The day was spent following the ridge line as it gained and lost altitude and connected me with my goal. In the far distance I could see the summit I was after, but I could also see the clouds rolling in from the Gunma side of the range. Their slow lumbering progress mimicked my own, and it was a foot race to see who would conquer the summit first. Unfortunately, I reached the summit just as the clouds enveloped the peak. All I could see was blues skies above and a white abyss below. "Shoganai" ("that's life" in Japanese).
             - 1 min read        
        Sennokuro-san Summit
Day two of a two day hike
            By C. Rio
        Community writer                            
                    
    
                            
                            
                                Looking down into Niigata (Photo: Matthew Shewchuk)                            
                        
                            
                            
                                Up at first light to get some water (Photo: Matthew Shewchuk)                            
                        
                            
                            
                                The valley below still full of snow (Photo: Matthew Shewchuk)                            
                        
                            
                            
                                Morning dew (Photo: Matthew Shewchuk)                            
                        
                            
                            
                                Delux accomodation (Photo: Matthew Shewchuk)                            
                        
                            
                            
                                Mountain climbing snail (Photo: Matthew Shewchuk)                            
                        
                            
                            
                                Sennokuro with the clouds rolling in (Photo: Matthew Shewchuk)                            
                        
                            
                            
                                Blue above and white below (Photo: Matthew Shewchuk)                            
                        
                            
                            
                                Fellow hiker taking a rest at the top (Photo: Matthew Shewchuk)                            
                        
                            
                            
                                Over the ridge and on the way down (Photo: Matthew Shewchuk)                            
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