Hasetsune Course: Odawa to Mt Otake

Distance3.3K
Elevation Gain325m
Elevation Drop65m
Rock Scrambles up to Mt Otake

This segment begins at a wide part of a mountain road which comes up from the 檜原村 – Hinohara side. The path down to 奥多摩町 – Okutama is blocked and the signs indicate that the road is closed even to pedestrian traffic.

There are stretches of bamboo grass in this section, some rock scrambles, as well as some man made features to help you navigate some previously slippery climbs.

Odawa

This is 大ダワOdawa. Apparently, the term タワTawa is Okutama dialect for a mountain pass that sits between two peaks. A pass at a significant dip between two mountains is called an Odawa, or large tawa (the T is softened to a D sound). There are three such Odawas in Okutama. One is near 雲取山Mt Kumotori, another at 川苔山Mt Kawanoke, and the third is this one. Could get confusing.

150m Climb in the First 2k

Start off across the street from the facilities. Take the side trail, though the two meet up in 10 meters. A short distance up the trail is a T junction on a maki michi around 鋸山 – Mt Nokogiri. To the left is a nice trail down to Okutama. Go to the right. A bit further up and the maki michi ends at another juncture. 大岳山 – Mt Otake is to the right.

The first 2k of this segment is an up-down reminiscent of the first 20k of the course. You’ll note that the route becomes considerably rockier. After you crest 1145m, you have a nice 40m drop and then a runnable 500 meters before the final ascent to Mt Otake.

More Man-Made Steps

It is here where the trail architecture comes back into play, with some stairs replete with handrails, as well as a spiral of floating steps.
Further up the slope you encounter some hands and feet rock climbs, and some fixed chains to help with slippery traverses.

Mt Otake

By the time you reach the peak of the mountain, the rocks have taken over the route. Though there is cover over much of the top, there is an exposed area facing west. The views of 富士山 – Mt Fuji and the mountains in between can be stunning on Mt Otake, as long as the weather is good.

Related Links

How to Get Out to the Tokyo Mountains
How to Read Hasetsune Trail Markers
ハセツネ – Hasetsune
https://www.hasetsune.jp/ (Official Site)

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