About: The Hakkōda Mountains (八甲田山系, Hakkōda-sankei) are an active volcanic complex in south-central Aomori Prefecture, Japan, in Towada-Hachimantai National Park. Often called Mount Hakkōda (八甲田山, Hakkōda-san) or simply Hakkōda (八甲田), the mountains are collectively listed as one of the 100 Famous Japanese Mountains. Its highest peak, Mount Ōdake, lies 21.3 kilometers (13.2 mi) southeast of central Aomori and 28 kilometers (17 mi) west of central Towada and has an elevation of 1,585 meters (5,200 ft). The Hakkōda Mountains are a part Ōu Mountains which make up part of the Northeastern Japan Arc, a segment of the Pacific Ring of Fire. The volcanic complex consists of fourteen stratovolcanoes and lava domes arranged into two volcanic groups. The Northern Hakkōda Volcanic Group emerges from the rim of an 8-kilometer-wide (5.0 mi) caldera that dates back to the Pleistocene. The Southern Hakkōda Volcanic Group predates the caldera.
The Hakkōda Mountains attract many climbers, skiers, and sightseers. The mountains offer extensive backcountry skiing in the winter and early spring. There is a lift, the Hakkōda Ropeway in the northern Hakkōda Mountains used by visitors year-round and several hiking trails cross the mountains. While the trails do not pose any technical climbing challenges, Hakkōda presents dangers such as volcanic gases, harsh winter weather, and avalanches. The most notable incident in mountains’ history was the Hakkōda Mountains incident, the worst mountaineering accident in modern history. (Source: Wikipedia)
Geological Summary: The basaltic-to-rhyolitic Hakkodasan volcano includes at least 17 stratovolcanoes and lava domes south of Mutsu Bay at the northern end of Honshu. The NE rim of an 8-km-wide Pleistocene caldera forms an arcuate ridge across a flat caldera-floor moat NE of the Hakkoda group volcanoes, which bury the SE caldera wall. A northern group of volcanoes, constructed within the caldera, appears to be younger than the southern group. Hakkoda-Odake, Ido-dake, and Tsurugi-dake have well-preserved craters. Akakuradake has a 1-km-wide explosion crater breached to the north. No historical eruptions are known, although an active solfatara occurs at Idodake, and hot springs are found at several locations within the caldera. Three minor phreatic eruptions were documented from Jigokunuma on the SW flank of Odake volcano from the 13th-17th centuries. Three soldiers on a training mission in July 1997 were killed by inhalation of volcanic gas. (Source: Global Volcanism Program)
My Experience: Driving to the ryokan I was staying at the evening of 10/17 was quite the experience on its own. I was able to obtain a short notice booking at Sukayu Onsen Ryokan 酸ヶ湯温泉旅館 (Google Maps Link) however the drive from Mutsu (and Osorezan) took me down National Route 242 (a 35 KM mostly 1 lane gravel road which runs along side the Otsubo River for a while. I was warted to make the trip by day as night travel could be treacherous (WARNING: this is not a paved road, there are potholes, and there is a steep drop to river bed in several areas).
I started my hike the next morning leveraging this initial pre-defined trail map via AllTrails Route which shows a 7.1 mile (11.43 KM) hike route and elevation gain of 2,683 feet (826 M). Like most hike days this year, they started out sunny however turned into cloudy, misty, windy days at the higher elevations and peak. The Hakkoda range I was hiking this day was not too different and only started changing for the better toward the latter part of the mid day (however I was already off peak and heading downward at that time).
The route I actually took logged 7.81 miles (~12.56 KM) and is located here on #alltrails https://www.alltrails.com/explore/recording/afternoon-hike-at-hakkoda-mountains-loop-154f596
Background Music: I Am a Man Who Will Fight for Your Honor by Chris Zabriskie is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
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