Restless 20 - Nagoya: No Substitute for Kisomaedake
A hiker on Kisomaedake (木曽前岳), in the Chuo Alps (Kiso Mountains).
Hello,
I went into the mountains again the other day hiking the Agematsu A Course to the summit of Kisomaedake. A long, hard slog, with a break in Kanakakegoya. It was my third time hiking up there and it never seems to get any easier. There’s a link below to the related post, but you can also view it here.
The physical exertion, the scenery, the scents, the humidity, and most importantly, the forest sounds deeply resonated with me, if only temporarily. It's something I desperately need to do more often.
I don’t know how best to describe it other than to quote Jay Griffiths in her (controversial?) book, Wild: An Elemental Journey:
We are animal in our blood and in our skin. We were not born for pavements and escalators but for thunder and mud.
and
What is wild cannot be bought or sold, borrowed or copied. It is. Unmistakable, unforgettable, unshamable, elemental as earth and ice, water, fire and air, a quintessence, pure spirit, resolving into no constituents. Don’t waste your wildness: it is precious and necessary. In wildness, truth.
Although I'm currently engaged in the Walking Nagoya project and finding enjoyment in it, it cannot compare to the experience of being in the mountains. The project has, however, had a profound impact by providing structure and routine. As a result, I have significantly increased the frequency of my website posts and as Craig Mod has already pointed out, walking serves as a framework for fostering creativity.
It’s been a busy month. Thanks for reading.
Sean.
Posts this month (a lot!)
Walking Nagoya 3 – Heiwa Park and Kakuozan – SeanBreslin.jp
Hopped on the bicycle and rode to Heiwa Park. Locked it up, took a stroll around the cemetery, sat and had lunch while observing the fishermen along the reservoir’s banks and eventually retra…
Walking Nagoya 4 – Shinsakae – SeanBreslin.jp
I used to walk around Shinsakae, a few minutes walk to the east of Sakae, a lot 10 or more years ago. I thought it was one of the best places to do ‘street photography’ between Chikusa …
Walking Nagoya 5 – Back to Shinsakae and Chikusa Park – SeanBreslin.jp
I wandered, I got lost, I retraced steps, and I found an area that I’d completely forgotten about (never knew existed?).
Walking Nagoya 6 – Sakae and Ikeshita – SeanBreslin.jp
Torrential rain. Floods here and there, everyone soaked through. I dropped my daughter off at pre-school, changed into wet-weather gear, and got walking. It was like this only a few weeks ago and t…
Walking Nagoya 7 – Kawana – SeanBreslin.jp
For walk 7, I headed towards Kawana in Shōwa Ward. I strolled through the park, wandered the surrounding neighborhood, and had lunch at Kawahara Shrine.
Walking Nagoya 8 – Atsuta – SeanBreslin.jp
I cycled from central Chikusa to Atsuta Shrine, aiming to complete a round trip, including bike parking, exploration, lunch, all within a tight three-hour timeframe. However, for longer journeys, I…
Walking Nagoya 9 – Fushimi and Sakae – SeanBreslin.jp
I struggled to find inspiration again in Fushimi and Sakae. The familiar sights bored me and the heat weighed me down, dampening my enthusiasm. It was probably the hottest day of the year so far wh…
Walking Nagoya 10 – Sakae and Yabacho – SeanBreslin.jp
A rather uneventful excursion this one, hardly qualifying as a leisurely walk. My plan was to visit Koujitsusanso to pick up hiking supplies for the upcoming weekend, and then make a brisk return t…
The Leica SL2-S – SeanBreslin.jp
In the digital age, where technology evolves rapidly and cameras seem to improve with each passing month, the decision to purchase a new camera can be both exhilarating and overwhelming. The tempta…
