2012-10-06:08 室堂→立山→黒四→欅平　三日間

3-day hike in Tateyama/Toyama prefecture.

Day 1: Departs from Murodo, West side of Tateyama after a 5-hour car drive, a ride in a cable car with separate luggage space, and a seemingly interminable bus-ride. In spite of a cloudy sky the autumn leaves were wonderful. The trail itself is entirely covered in stones, that's particularly tough on the feet and knees as there were more than 1,500m downhill. I came to realize that normal hiking boots are not good enough for such trails and higher-end with harder soles (also costing probably 2 if not 3 times more) would be preferable.
Around the top of tateyama the trail was so crowded it become jammed and reminded of mount Fuji, hopefully the crowds stayed on the West side and the crest while we went down the East side which was much less crowded.

Day 2: Very long walk along the kurobe river along the trail literally dug in the rock by Kansai denryoku. Early rise and start walking in total darkness not soon after 4:30AM. At this hour some other parties can be encountered and everyone goes along this same trail, only opened a few months / weeks a year. The trail is almost flat the whole time but require special caution as it is on the edge of a cliff, a lapse of inattention and the mountain wouldn't give you a second chance. Factor in risks of falling rocks and you understand why only experienced hikers are welcome. Unfortunately the sun was the big absentee of the day and we were lucky not to get rained at any time of the day.

Day 3: Like the previous day rise at 3AM and start hiking in complete darkness. The gorge trail is less spectacular than day 2 but still requires caution, with however less risks of falling rocks. The very last stretch (steep downhill) is the only physically demanding part as the legs are still aching from the past 2 days.

Overall a great hike with nice views and great autumn colors for the first day, uncommon gorge trail the remaining days. Worth doing it but better plan than carefully and never bring beginners or people with the fear of heights.

NB: The GPS got funny and the distances are somehow exaggerated.