More Mountain Photos and Aodaisho

Here’s a few more pictures of the trail we hiked this past Sunday. My legs are still complaining – with good cause, as you can see by the photos.

Getting started

After everyone gathered (a bus brought most of the hikers to the trail head), some people spoke and then we took the requisite group photo. Afterwards, we all stretched as a group. That's really common here and it cracks me up. You don't every really hold one position long enough to get a good stretch, but no one seems to mind.

A line of hikers

A view

I think this was the worst part. The trail here disappears very briefly into a rock wall. The ropes have been thoughtfully placed in a strategic position to help you navigate your way across. So, the trick was to grasp the rope and shuffle along as you find places to put your feet. By the way, I was nowhere near the oldest person on this hike. There were several people who were probably in their mid-60’s.

Ropes


Lastly, here is the snake Aaron and the boys caught while I was finishing the hike. It’s a Japanese Rat Snake, or “Aodaisho”. It’s funny to me just how uncomfortable Japanese people are around snakes. Today, Ridge rode home with Ryuuya and his mom. She asked about whether or not we would set the snake free (I suspect half the village knows about the snake, now). Ridge replied that he didn’t know, so she asked him to please not set it free in the park, if we do let it go. She said that she is afraid that it might bite her if we put it in the park. Rat Snakes are completely harmless. In fact, this one is rather friendly and doesn’t mind being handled at all. Ridge and Holt, while not interested in holding it, don’t seem to have any fear about being near it or touching it. Unlike Ryuuya – who would only look at it while hiding behind a door in our house and insisted that Aaron put it back in the cage.

Aodaisho