Challenge to the Shiga Loop Trail "Oshigaichi" #2
I started my attempt to thru-hike the 430km/30,000mD+ Oshigaichi Shiga Loop Trail, but then I received a call that my grandmother had passed away, so I quickly descended. Although my dream of thru-hiking was not realized for the time being, I would like to switch to section hiking and aim to complete the entire trail.
This time, the record is from Zaisho-dake to Omi-Nagaoka Station from April 28th to 29th, 2025.
4/28 12:00 PM Departure from Gozaisho - 4/29 2:30 PM Arrival at Omi-Nagaoka Station
Distance: 63km (total 169km) | Total elevation: 4,600m (total 12,100m)
We took the ropeway to Mt. Gozaisho, the departure point from the previous time. We arrived at 11:30, ate curry udon (delicious), and departed at exactly 12:00. Rain was forecast for today. Since we were in the rain last time, we proceeded while thinking that the conditions would be the same this time.
After about an hour, it started to rain lightly, and soon it became a full-blown downpour. I couldn't bear it, so I changed into my rain gear. This time, I used the Teton Bros. Tsurugi Lite Jacket, which was different from the last time.
The waterproof and breathable performance figures for rainwear do not necessarily reflect the actual comfort of the garment. Ultra-light rainwear is comfortable when it is not raining, and light rain is no problem. However, if it is exposed to rain for an hour or more, the outer fabric tends to absorb water. The lighter the garment, the stronger this tendency is, and this is a phenomenon that does not appear in the specifications. Although the waterproofness is maintained, breathability is lost when the outer fabric gets wet.
When a new product is first used, its water repellency is at its highest, so it is easy to feel that it is a good product. However, since few people actually go out in the rain for long periods of time, reviews about first use stand out.
I am not denying the use of lightweight rainwear. I myself basically use lightweight models. If I am not going to be exposed to the rain for a long time, I would like to use light and compact rainwear. It is also effective when the end of the journey is in sight or when you want to reduce weight even if you have to endure the rain.
Light and thin rainwear dries quickly naturally, so getting wet is not necessarily a disadvantage. If it's cold, you can maintain a certain level of comfort by inserting active insulation between the rainwear and the jacket.
This time, I chose a lightweight model, knowing that the journey will end and that I would be willing to endure it to a certain extent. Still, I want to use finetrack rainwear for long-distance mountain climbing. Even if it is a little heavy, its strength against getting wet is its merit.
Now, this is my outfit. The top is Tsurugi Light, the bottom is Milestone. Milestone pants are wide in the thighs and easy to wear. The price is also reasonable. When it comes to pants, my style is thin. I think it's better to have thinner bottoms than tops (I won't go into the reasons here, as they would take too long to explain). In that respect, Milestone is very comfortable.
The reason I chose the Tsurugi Light was the size of the pockets. Even in the rain, I want to be able to take out my smartphone and snacks frequently. These pockets, which also serve as ventilation, are very easy to use and were extremely useful on this mountain trip, which required route finding using GPS.
After about an hour of being caught in the rain, the surface of the Milestone pants started to get wet. On the other hand, the Tsurugi Light pants were still water-repellent. I had used them many times in the past, so I didn't pay much attention to it, but I realized once again that there are differences in water-repellent power between products. In the end, I continued to be exposed to the rain until the evening.
The route we took this time was a traverse route that went north through the main mountains of Suzuka. It went from Gozaisho to Shakagatake, Ryugatake, and Fujiwara-dake. There were ups and downs, but the trail was clear, the scenery was beautiful, and the vegetation was lovely. On the way down Shakagatake, we happened to meet Atsushi from Yamarock, a YouTuber. We had been in contact on Instagram, but this unexpected encounter made us excited. He was trying to complete the "Suzuka Fivew," and we chatted for a while, and our steps became lighter.
We arrived at the refuge hut on Mt. Fujiwara at around 20:30. It had been about 8 and a half hours since we started. Our wet clothes were starting to dry, but they were still damp and uncomfortable. The rain had stopped, so we took off our rain gear and changed from shorts to long pants. On top, we put on a Milestone hoodie. From here on, we would need to do some route finding, so we couldn't go fast, and we assumed it would be cold, so we put on an Alpha Direct under our innerwear.
My shoes were completely soaked. To avoid foot problems, I carefully wiped my feet, applied Tengu Balm, and changed into dry layer socks. These are meant to be worn as inner layers, but when wet, they are comfortable to wear on their own without retaining water.
After resupplying, we left the shelter. Several eyes reflected in the light - a herd of deer were looking at us. The rain had stopped, but the fog was thick and we had a hard time finding the trailhead. We finally found the route and headed for Goso Pass.
The section from Mt. Fujiwara to Goso Pass was very tough. The path was unclear, there were no signs of frequent human traffic, and only a small pink tape was reliable. I corrected the route while checking the GPS and contour lines, and pushed through the shrubs. I'm glad I wore the RIDGE Basic Hiking Pants. Rain pants would have been torn. The fog and light rain made it difficult to see, and although the Milestone MS-i1 is a good, well-balanced headlamp, I wanted a warmer light this time. I probably should have brought yellow film.
When I feel more and more feet slipping on the soft ground, it's proof that hardly anyone is passing by. I check my GPS and sure enough, I'm off the route. Repeatedly checking like this is mentally and physically exhausting.
There was nowhere in this section where I could bivouac. I decided to go down to the pass and take a nap. I managed to reach the pass without getting lost. I later found out that it was an easy route to get lost on even during the day.
There were two tents at the pass. No one would stay in a place like this except for those who are trying to tackle the great Shigaichi mountain pass. I felt a sense of security.
As I was getting water from the river and boiling it when I returned, one of the people in the tent approached me. It was a woman. "You're the big squirrel, right?" I said, exchanging greetings. It seemed that she was with another woman in the tent, but she hadn't woken up yet. Later, she joined us and we chatted for a while.
I thought about taking a nap, but decided to continue on together, so after eating, we set off. The climb to Mount Reizan is about 600m in elevation, but it's not particularly steep and is relatively easy to walk. The scenery and trees are beautiful, and the conversation with my companions was refreshing.
Since I planned to return home that same day, I limited my movement after descending the mountain and made Omi-Nagaoka Station my destination.
The karst topography spreads around the summit of Mt. Reizan, creating a mysterious landscape. At the same time, the wind got stronger, and Mr. O, who was accompanying me, was blown over by the wind and fell over. The wind speed must have been close to 20m/s. My arms, covered in short sleeves, got cold and red. I felt my visibility gradually worsening, and I remembered a similar experience I had on Mt. Akagi. It seems that when my body loses body heat in a strong wind, something strange happens to my left eye.
I changed clothes and warmed myself up at the shelter. There was a pair of hikers there making bacon and hot sandwiches. I decided to enjoy a hot meal and beer after I got down the mountain, so I snacked on some persimmon pie to get myself in the right frame of mind.
The blast still continued, but I descended the mountain, enjoying the magnificent scenery of Mt. Reizan. However, the path continued on and I wasn't sure if it was a hiking trail or not. There were footprints, but was it a trail? I proceeded while checking the terrain and route, but halfway through I realized. This was not a hiking trail. I was just being led down a steep slope. I continued descending the slope, checking the terrain and contour lines. I was glad it was daytime, if it had been night I might have gotten lost.
I walked down a road that was not even a road until the very end and arrived in the town. My shoes were muddy. Of course, I didn't bring any spare shoes or sandals. I dipped my feet in the river to wash off the mud. Luckily, the weather was good that day and my feet dried out quite a bit as I walked along the road.
Then we went to the convenience store. We savored the happiness of having instant noodles and beer. After that, we headed for Omi-Nagaoka Station, but the three of us got lost and arrived at the station. We said goodbye and headed home.
About 270km left. Next time I'll go straight to the finish line.
This time's featured items
On mountain trips like this, it's standard to have at least two sets of gloves and socks, even in summer. This is to prevent injuries, foot problems, and to protect against the cold. Hand injuries are particularly likely to occur, so you need gloves that are durable, rain-resistant, and breathable. It's also important to have spare gloves that keep you warm. There is no one set of gloves that meets all your needs, so I use a combination of two types of gloves.
[Main gloves]
Although it is not completely waterproof, it is highly water-repellent, highly breathable, and lightweight. It dries very quickly even when wet. You can use your smartphone or do detailed work with it, so it's a reliable piece of clothing.
[For insulation and backup]
The fleece material is warm and comes with over mittens. They are windproof and will keep your hands warm. I would use them as a spare for a hard hike like this one, but they could also be my main gear for a more gentle hike.
About the Great Shigaichi
"Oshigaichi" is a self-challenge event in which participants complete the entire "Shiga Loop Trail", which circles around Shiga Prefecture, home to Lake Biwa, on their own. The Shiga Loop Trail (commonly known as Shigaichi) is one of the longest trails in Japan, with a total length of 438 km and a cumulative elevation of 28,300 m, and more than 90% of it is made up of mountain paths and dirt forest roads. Although the elevation itself is relatively low at around 1,000 m, it also includes unclear paths, so a certain level of route-finding ability and mountaineering experience is required. In addition, the trail passes through areas with a lot of history, such as old roads and mountain castle ruins, so it is also a great attraction to be able to feel traces of Japanese culture and people's lives along with beautiful scenery.
This equipment plan
PROFILE
