Exhausted for 3days after climbing Mt. Ibuki...

鹿児島への誕生日旅行から戻って一週間後、滋賀県にある伊吹山（１３７７ｍ）登山に出掛けた。日本の古代の歴史では、景行天皇の皇子、日本武尊（ヤマトタケル）が伊吹山に登る前に、彼を敵や困難から守ってきた聖なる剣の「草薙剣」を持参しなかったという。

そして父の勅命を受け東征に向かう際、伊吹山で山の神の化身の猪と遭遇し、戦うことになる。しかし、伊吹山の神の怒りを買い、その戦いの時に追った深手で命を後に落とした。

A week later after coming back from my birthday trip in Kagoshima, I went to Shiga Prefecture to climb Mt. Ibuki (1377m). According to Japan's ancient history, YAMATOTAKERU, a son of the Emperor KEIKOU, before climbing Mt. Ibuki, didn't bring a sacred sword, KUSANAGINOTSURUGI with him which had protected him from enemies and hardships he encountered. 

On the way to the Eastern Japan to conquer an enemy ordered by his father, he ran into a wild boar which was an avatar of the God of Mt. Ibuki, and fought against it. Then he drew a tremendous anger from the God of Mt. Ibuki, and later died from a damage in the fight. 

日本武尊の話はとても興味深い。それは伝承であり、今なお彼が実際に存在した人物なのかわかっていない。また、彼は東征に向かう際にはすでに父から譲位され天皇となっていたという話もある。とにかく、この話を知ってからこの山には興味があった。

A story of YAMATOTAKERU is very interesting because it is considered as a legend, and it has not been proved yet if he was a real person, or not. And there is also an idea that YAMATOTAKERU might have already been the EMEROR when I tripped to the Eastern Japan after the throne was abdicated by his father. Anyway, I've been interested in this mountain after learning about his legend. 

当日は車を借りることにした。伊吹山への公共の交通手段が不便だったからだ。もちろん経済的には公共の手段を使った方が安いが、時間とスケジュールに柔軟になりたかった。７時に出発をし、伊吹山付近の駐車場に到着したのは９時４５分ごろ。３時間近い道のりだった。道中、コンビニで休憩用にペットボトルの水とサンドイッチを購入する。

I decided to rent a car because public transportations to get to Mt. Ibuki seemed to be inconvenient. Of course, it was much cheaper to use public transportations that renting a car, but I wanted to be flexible in time. It was a very sunny day. I left my town at 7 am, and arrived in a parking lot near the Mt. Ibuki at around 9:45. Almost 3 hours drive. On the way, I stopped by at a convenience store to buy a bottle of water and a sandwiches to eat for a break. 

登山口付近の事務所で手続きをし、近くの神社で安全を祈願する。先にその日一日の登山を総括すると、とにかくタフで疲れたということだ。鹿児島での２つの登山からくる疲れというのではなく、伊吹山登山がとてもタフで難しかった。また、履き慣れていない新しい靴のため、右のくるぶし付近に痛みがあった。

Near the gate of the mountain, I finished a registration for the entry at the office, and prayed for safety at a shrine near by. To conclude my day and climbing first, it was very tough! Really tough. It is not a matter of fatigue from my previous 2 climbing in Kagoshima, but the mountain was just tough and difficult in climbing. I also got a pain around my right ankle because of my new shoes. 

しかし山のタフさは別にして、景色は最高だった。琵琶湖や周辺の山々のパノラマの景色。ほぼシーズン終了時に登ったので、来春にもう一度この山にチャレンジすることをすでに決めてしまう。

Besides the toughness of the mountain, the scenery was just amazing! A panoramic view of the Lake BIWA and surrounding mountains. Since I climbed it almost at the end of the season, I already determined to go back there in the next Spring for an another try. 

その日の登山のペースは次のような感じだ：

My time climbing schedule for the day was as follows:

登山口／Starting Point    10:00

１合目／Check Point 1    10:30

２合目／Check Point 2    10:45

３合目／Check Point 3    11:15

４合目／Check Point 4    11:25

５合目／Check Point 5    11:35 - 11:40（５分休憩／5min Break）

６合目／Check Point 6    11:55

７合目／Check Point 7    12:10

８合目／Check Point 8    12:25

９合目／Check Point 9 (ドライブウェイ駐車場／It was only at a drive way parking)

頂上／Top                     12:55-12:25

１合目／Check Point 1    15:25

登山口／Goal                 15:50

下山をし、すぐに靴を履き替え帰宅の途についた。１９時までに車を返却しなくてはいけない。残り３時間だった。帰路はほとんど渋滞に合わなかったが、阪神高速１１号池田線に差し掛かるとたらたらと進む流れにかなりイライラした。この地点では返却時間まで残り一時間。なんとか１５分前には車を返却することができた。

After I changed my shoes, I immediately left the parking to go back home because I had to return my car by 19:00. 3 hours left. On the way back, no traffic jam until I got to the Hanshin Express High Way #11. I was expecting a traffic jam because of the timing at evening. However, I was so frustrated with a long long slow move. I had 1 hour left at this point, but I managed to return my car 15 min before the due time. 

次の日からの３日間は疲れと、足の筋肉痛が取れなかった。根本的に経験に乏しく脚力がない。また、登山中は石や岩の道に緊張して、自分自身に負荷がかかっていたと思う。

or the next 3 days, I couldn't get rid of my fatigue and muscle pain on my legs. I realized that my legs' strength was week with the lack of experience in climbing mountains. I kept nervous climbing the path on the rocks and gave myself some tension all the way up and down. 

ちょうど１１月２４日は日本の神々とってとても重要な日だ。暦（旧暦）の上で出雲大社で神様会議が行われる。何とか伊吹山の神が、夜の１０時に出雲の稲佐の浜で行われる神迎祭に出かける前に来れたと思った。とにかく、来春を楽しみにしている。また登るつもりだ。夏も良いんじゃないかと思う。

On 24th of November I went there, it was a very important for all the Gods in Japan because the God's conference started taking place at IZUMUMO TAISHA/IZUMO OHYASHIRO Shrine for a week according to the calendar (Lunar calendar) in Shintoism. Maybe I was in time before the God of Ibuki was leaving to attend the Welcoming Ceremony taking place at the beach of INASA at 20:00. Anyway, I'm now looking forward to the next Spring to climb this mountain again. Or even in Summer would be good. 

正美／Masami