Anyone who wants to join should use the contact form on the website - check if there are places left then select membership option (1yr or 1 month)

http://outdoorclubjapan.com/

Details filling in now and the weather looks good

Start with base camp in Shimonita and do day and 1/2 day hikes to beautiful rocks/mountains, temples, picturesque villages, flowers everywhere... Lots of routes and levels and several hike leaders so lots to choose from.

Will be easy and difficult hikes/ half day and full day - something for everyone.

I call it 'The Lost World' as it has weird rock formations ...the villagers also look like something out of the Edo period - all in old work kimonos in the fields eating lunch from Furoshiki. One trip I was surrounded outside the station by a group of onlookers amazed at a gaijin in town to climb Midori Iwa & Oo Iwa.

After a couple of days we might move into the next valley of Uenomura - wild!!! Beautiful natural forests, wilderness, caves ...

Expectiong about 25-30 people on this trip

Part II

All details will be added to the website so people can check its correct.

Now just under 20 people but will have to stop people joining when we reach about 25-30 people.

Shimonita area has very easy routes and very difficult ones - several organizers are there so we can plan many route options for everyone!
Scenery here is SPECIAL.

There are some photos of Myougi San to the North, Shimonita area and Nakatsugawa/Uenomura to the south. Take a look but don't get worried by difficult hikes - there are easy routes with great views.
http://outdoorclubjapan.com/gallery/v/goldenweek2008/

Maybe Friday night we can meet in Akihabara again and exchange camp equipment people need and answer questions.

Cost ... hard to say. Campsite is 1,000en a day then you buy your food/drinks. Getting to Shimonita probably 2,500en one way (cheaper in car) and about 1,000en to 2,000en if we use taxis or hire car to move around. Some people might bring cars so would be cheaper.

So travel there about 5,000en then about 2,000en a day plus food/drinks= 10,000en for 2 days+food and probably much less than 20,000 for 4 days.

Saturday
Go early from Tokyo by car, train, highway bus. Leave bags at campsite or in cars.
Several hike options (1/2 day & full day, easy/hard) for those who come early but you can go directly to campsite later - 4pm ok. There are a few organizers that can lead different hikes in the area.

Saturday Evening
Set up tents around 4pm
Maybe sunset from mountain top by car - there is a super-rindou (long forest track) on the mountain behind us. Great views I think at sunset and for stars later.
Dinner/BBQ and drinks/campfire ... anyone for night hike?

Sunday
Up early for lots of hike options ( at least 2 or 3 different routes) around Shimonita area. Stay here one more night or move to other campsite nearby.

Monday
We will see ... probably Uenomura side to south at another campsite or in wild valley near onsen and caves ... relax or explore.

Outline Travel Details

1. Train from JR Ueno station early! Takasaki line to Takasaki (1.5 to 2 hrs) and change to Shimonita train (45 mins). Other option is use car from station on the way - fast. Can get train from Shinjuku and change at Akabane - details sent out to mailing list for members.

2. Drive from Tokyo in cars - those who have them ... easy and quick if traffic isnt bad (GW?.

3. Highway bus ... you reserve by yourself to Shimonita Interchange on the highway and go to Shimonita station or direct to campsite. Cheaper than train and direct but its .... golden week? Bus leaves from Outside Ikebukuro station.

Andy
Akiko Nagasaki
Akiko Yagi
Akimi Yamazaki
Alex Taylor
Andy Duggan
Carolyn Kim
Christophe Simon
Eriko Miyagawa
Haruko Furukawa
Jean-Baptiste
Jeff Herpin
Jessica Smith (new)
Makiko Shinohara
Mark Kelly
Martin
Nao Yanagi
Patrick Deblaise
Peter Jacobs
Sean Hugs
Troels Pedersen (new)
Ty Wong
Yukiko Wada
Yumi Ishikawa

Got OCJ/my tents: 1man, 1man, 1man, 2man. Then Wong's 2man tent. Then others members have spare - Jeff probably 2man etc...