Mount Higashi

 Wow, I can't believe I haven't posted since we moved to Colorado. Since this platform is free I figured it's best to post here since I have so many memories on this site. 

Yesterday I did a solo hiking trip to a nearby mountain. Not a big mountain but it was very challenging. 

At the trailhead there is a shrine at Gekko Falls, I spent some time taking photos then couldn't figure out where the trail started. I was waiting for a group of Japanese people in hopes I could follow them but they were all doing a long stretch session in the parking lot so I took a chance on following a small, very steep trail I thought could be it. It was just to the right of the Komainu Statues. I thought maybe it was a path people had formed to overlook the waterfall because it was very steep but once I got further up I realized it was in fact the trail. 

I thought that would be the worst of it but I was very wrong. The climb was steep for most of the hike. Of course, I didn't bring my trekking poles as I thought it would be an easy hike, I was very wrong! There were several ropes to assist in the climb otherwise I don't think I could have done it. 

I'm not sure the story behind this, Adam says it just looks like an excavated hillside but I don't think they would call it Machu Picchu unless it was carved by hand a long time ago. Either way its cool and the view was beautiful.

I love mushrooms...

The summit was underwhelming. Not even a view...

After the hike, I wanted to check out another waterfall I saw on the map. It was just down the road but I didn't realize it was a long, narrow, gravel road, so it took me a lot longer than expected to reach it. There were photos of it online so I didn't realize it was prohibited until I got home and translated the sign at the entrance. Apparently, it is used by the local shrine as a sacred space...oops. Luckily no one was around to see me...I was wondering what the grass sandals were for...