On top of the World, err, the Japanese Alps, for my birthday with my 2 sons.
12歳のAndy君と9歳のKen君と北アルプスの白馬連峰を登ってきました。家族の夏休みで、子供達はTDLに行きたかった。しかし、お父さん（=私）の誕生日だったので、6月に八方池まで登った思い出があって、是非に子供達と一緒に北アルプスに行きたかった。
せっかくアルプスの近くに住んでいる（戸倉上山田⇔白馬は車で約75分）ので山登りに最適。
ご参考に、私達のコースは下記です:
Our 2 sons (Andy, 12 and Kenny, 9) came with me for a mountain climbing expedition to the Hakuba Range in the northern Japanese Alps. It was our family's summer vacation, and actually the kids wanted to go to Disneyland. But as it was my birthday, and my June trip to Happo Pond had me yearning for the mountains, we went climbing instead.
Actually, our onsen town Togura-Kamiyamada is only 75 minutes by car from Hakuba, so it is so convenient to enjoy Nagano's mountain grandeur.
Of the many trekking possibilities there are in the Hakuba Range, here is the course we took:
一に目Day 1
13:00, 800m 白馬の町からリフトに乗った。
Took the chair lift from down in Hakuba Village.
14:00, 1820m 八方池山荘から登り始まった。
Started climbing from Happo Pond Mountain Hut.
15:00, 2080m 八方池到着。再び登り始まった。
Reached Happo Pond. Started climbing again.
16:30, 2620m 唐松山荘到着。夕食と泊り。
Reached the Karamatsu Mtn. Hut. Dinner and Lodging.
二日目Day 2
04:00, 2620m 唐松山荘にて日の出、朝食。05:30出発。
Sunrise and breakfast at Karamatsu Hut. Dep. 05:30.
06:00, 2696m 唐松岳山頂 Karamatsu Mountain summit
07:00~, 2600m 不帰ノ嶮 'Ridge of No Return'
名前通り、一歩間違えたらおしまい険しい峰。
As the name says, 1 false step and you're a gonner. A very technical series of ridges.
10:00, 2812m 天狗ノ頭山頂 Tengu-no-Atama summit
10:30, 2730m 天狗山荘 水場（雪溶け。助かった！）
Tengu Mountain Hut. Watering hole (snow melt -- it was a lifesaver!)
12:00, 2100m 白馬鑓温泉 Hakuba Yari Onsen
着く直前の道が滑りやすくて危ない事！
The descent to the onsen is steep, with the last stretch requiring much caution due to the slippery conditions.
13:00, 2100m お風呂と昼食後、鑓温泉出発
After an onsen soak and lunch, we departed Yari Onsen.
15:30, 1250m 猿倉荘到着 Arrived Sarukura-sou mountain hut.
白馬連峰のリフトなど詳しい事はこちらClick here for more info on climbing the Hakuba Range.
