Climb Every Mountain

3 knights decided to challenge the 2nd highest mountain on Shikoku one fine Saturday. 剣山, (Tsurugi-san), meaning sword is a 1,954.7 m high mountain 2 hours drive from the Kochi-nites' kampung.

On that fine Saturday morning, the knights set out with home-made sandwiches, potato salad and onigiris for lunch, each adorning attires seemingly for different seasons. Kochi-nite 1 was in T-shirt and bermudas, but prepared with a double layered jacket; Kochi-nite 2 was in long-sleeves, tights and 3/4 pants, prepared with a somewhat thick ski jacket; and Kobe-nite was probably in 2 thin layers and a thick thin overall, a scarf and double layer tights.

At the climbing base where temperatures hovered at around 6 degrees, the 3 knights decided that they'd go ahead and make the best out of the climb. Everyone around them were armoured in full winter gear to face the uphill task ahead. Except, of course, the knights. But they were confident, and ready to do some climbing, even foregoing the easier option of taking the 1000yen chairlift up to higher grounds to begin ascent.

The climb was steep and hearts were pounding, but the view was rewarding, and at some points, breathtaking, perhaps due to high altitudes. The perseverance of the knights were met with the ever occasional praises of 'genki ne!' by passing climbers impressed by their (lack of) fuku (clothes). An afterthought by the knights were that media helicopters would almost definitely swoop down on Kochi-nite 1's skimpy bermudas and hairy legs despite the totemo samukatta conditions.

At a rest point some midway up, the knights perceived that an ojisan tried to 'hung' them with the information that temperatures at the summit was -2 degrees Celsius (How could he have known the exact temperature, right?!). Besides, it really did not seem THAT cold with body temperatures rising along with the altitudes.

Winds were howling at the summit which housed only one 'hut'; a small eatery cum souvenir shop. The first iconic features strapped outside the hut were 2 thermometers measuring temperatures of -2 degree Celsius. The rest of the summit was a huge open space with defined wooden plank walkways. The knights spotted another treacherous alpine-top trail leading to a next mountain, definitely not for the fainthearted. Nor for the knights. It could perhaps be a challenge for another day.

The 3 made it down to the base unharmed, unruffled, and undefeated. They made good timing in about 3.5 hours of ascent and descent, including rest, lunch, and a scarcely ankle-inflicted Kobe-nite.

Their next challenge? Very possibly Fuji-san in July.