今夏の予定は、群馬の名山を散策と秘湯めぐり

　若き日の私は山に来ると感銘し、一週間に一度は山岳の自然に触れようと思ったものです。１７才の時、標高２５６８mの浅間山山頂に立って、長く連なる日本アルプスや、高い富士山、広い関東平野を眺めたときの印象は誠に強烈でした。しかし、近年の私は群馬の山岳に触れることが少ない傾向です。それは、あちこち連れて行ってくれた山岳のプロであった友人Ｔの夭逝の結果であり、また、近年、多発している山岳での熊の出没も危惧されるからです。

　それでも、山岳の威容に精神を充実させ、気圧が低く、涼しい１０００m以上の標高で、足腰を鍛え、血流をスムースにしたい希望はあります。先日、ブログで記した通り、今夏は榛名湖一周や赤城大沼一周ウォーキングを秘かに計画してます。もちろん、そこまでは水色の愛車でドライブです。もう一つの目的は帰路に近くの温泉に浸かります。

　一方、どうしたことでしょう。今夏に行きたい山岳の一つは、群馬が誇る「谷川岳」です。群馬に生まれて良かったことの一つに「谷川岳」があります。高天原である「天神平」へロープウェイで登り、この高原一帯は自然の美を留めており、散策する予定です。

　写真は以前に天神平で撮ったものです。実は、ここへ中国の方を案内したことがあります。私が内モンゴルへ行ったとき現地で通訳をしてくれた方です。また、小学生だった長女と谷川岳山頂【標高１９７７m】に尾根伝いで登ったことがあります。彼女は覚えているでしょうか。日曜日なので今日来るので聞いてみます。

Dear my friends who are crazy about nature, health and great music.

　The simultaneous interpretation into English for our mutual understanding will be done after my breakfast in Japan time.

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　In my younger days, I was impressed by the mountains and wanted to go to the mountains at least once a week. When I was 17 years old, I stood on the summit of Mt. Asama which is the active volcano at the altitude of 2,568m and looked out over the long stretches of the Japan Alps, the extremely high Mt. Fuji, and the wide Kanto Plain. It left a deep impression on my mind. However, in recent years, I have tended to visit the mountains of Gumma less. This is the result of the early death of my friend Mr. Todokoro, a professional mountaineer who used to take me to many mountains, and also because of bears appearing in the mountains, which have become more frequent in recent years.

　Still, I hope to be spiritually enriched by the majesty of the mountains, and to strengthen my legs and to flow my blood smoothly at an altitude of over 1,000m, where the air pressure is low and the temperature is cool. As I wrote on Facebook the other day, I am secretly planning to walk around Lake Haruna and Lake Onuma at Mt. Akagi this summer. Of course, I will drive there in my light blue Audi TT Quattro. Another purpose is to soak in a nearby hot spring on the way back.

　On the other hand, what's going on? One of the mountains I want to go to this summer is Mt. Tanigawa, the pride of Gunma. One of the good things about being born in Gunma is Mt. Tanigawa. I'll take the ropeway up to Tenjindaira, Takamagahara. This entire plateau retains its natural beauty, and I plan to explore it.

　The photo was taken at Tenjindaira near the Tanigawadake before. In fact, I once guided a Chinese lady here. She was the interpreter when I went to Inner Mongolia to reunite my pigeon. I also climbed to the summit of Mt. Tanigawa [1,977m above sea level] along the ridge with my eldest daughter, who was the elementary school student at that time. I wonder if she remembers. She's coming to my home today as it's Sunday, so I'll ask her.