ユニークな景観を成す群馬西部の山岳

　昨日の夕刻時、群馬県はよく晴れ上がり、西の方角に目を向けた途端、テーブルマウンテン「荒船山」と「妙義山」の稜線がシルエットの如くくっきり見えました。写真左の「荒船山」の頂上は標高１４００mほどの林の高原が続き、その中を南北に散歩できる道が走ってます。周囲は２００ｍほどの断崖絶壁で落ちたら大変です。

　この高原の端から端までレース鳩の入った籠を持ちながら１時間ほど歩いたことがあります。左端の小高い山から鳩を放したら、鳩もこんな高い所を飛んだことがないのでしょう。驚いたように更に高く上がり、５０Ｋほど離れた高崎市の我が家をめざしました。この距離でしたらレース鳩はお茶の子さいさいです。すべての鳩が帰還しました。１５年ほど前で、この時も今は亡き友人Ｔと登った思い出の山です。

　写真右の妙義山は、昭和時代に妙義少年自然の家で高崎商業高校吹奏楽部の冬の合宿をした所です。自然に囲まれた環境でいっしょに練習したり、食事したり、レクレーションした思い出の地です。彼らはすでに５０代後半から還暦に差し掛かってます。懐かしい青春の１ページはきっと脳裏に焼き付いてることでしょう。いつの日か旧交を温めたいものです。それには私もいつまでも健康でなくてはなりません。年末の今日も心身ともに中身ある一日にしよう。

Dear my overseas friends who are interested in nature and great music

　As soon as I looked westward yesterday evening, Gumma Prefecture in Japan was clear and sunny, and the ridges of table mountains "Arafunesan" and "Myogisan" were clearly visible like silhouettes. The summit of "Mt. Arafune" in the left photo is a forested plateau at the altitude of about 1,400m, and a path runs through it from north to south. This plateau is surrounded by perpendicular cliffs about 200m high, so if we fall, we will be in big trouble beyond description.

　I once walked from one end of this plateau to the other for about an hour, carrying a cage containing several racing pigeons. When I released the pigeons from the small hill on the left, they probably had never flown so high before. Surprised, they flew even higher, heading for my home in Takasaki City, about 50km away. Racing pigeons are a piece of cake at this distance. All the pigeons returned my loft. It was about 15 years ago, and this is a mountain I remember climbing with my friend T, who has passed away 5 years ago.

　Mt. Myogi at the right photo is where the Takasaki High School of Commerce wind orchestra held their winter training camp at Myogi Youth Nature House during the Showa era. It is a place of fond memories where they practiced, ate and enjoyed recreation together in the environment surrounded by nature. They are now in their late 50s and approaching 60 years old. A page of their nostalgic youth will be surely burned into their minds now. I hope to rekindle old friendships someday. To do that, I need to stay healthy. Let's make today, at the end of the year, a fulfilling day in both body and mind.

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