twin peaks 2

Like David Lynch's fictional town of good looking people, Kashiwazaki is dominated by two mountains. Mount Kurohime ( 891 m) and Mount Yoneyama (993 m). Today I took them both on.

First up Mt. Kurohime

20 km inland, Kurohime rises up from the onsen and thatched farm houses in Takayanagi. From じょんのび　onsen, the steep winding road takes you up to Isonobe. My Everest. Two climbs on the bike today.

I did intervals for the first climb. The usual formula is 1:3 work:rest (ex: 30s hard / 90s easy). Today I did harder 1:2 intervals, 40s hard / 80 s easy. The heart rate rose to 170 for the first interval, a good sign. For subsequent intervals I got the HR up to 180 each time. A rest yesterday means that I can respond well today. The shorter rest interval means that you can't recover fully before it's time to go again. 10 sets by the summit.

The second climb was a standard lactate threshold climb at 170. Interrupted by a flat tyre half way up the climb, it was a challenge to get going again.

Enjoyed racing the bus all the way home. They only come once an hour, so you're lucky to catch one!

Second up Mt. Yoneyama

Mt. Yoneyama dominates Kashiwazaki's skyline. When I first arrived in Kashiwazaki, the snow covered mountain looked just like K2. I'd never seen anything like it. A mountain that rises straight out of the sea to almost a 1000 metres. I was up there with Kurochan from Coffee No.1 within two weeks of arriving here.

There is actually a road up to about 800m. It changes between asphalt and dirt track. I've always fancied having a go on a MTB. Today however it was hiking. Luke's second climb. Mark's first.

There are many approaches to climb Yoneyama. Today we climbed from Mizuno near Yoshikawa. It takes about 2h to the top with the kids and it's quite a steep climb.

Luke did much of the less steep sections by himself, but I had to carry him up the steep parts. It's a few months now since I was snow shoeing with Luke on my back and he has become much heavier! He weighs in at 12kg.

Mark is also a bumper baby, weighing 8 kgs. Shinobu carried him all the way up and all the way down. Now that takes some power and stamina! We should get her on a bike soon!

Today's hiking: Mizuno ~ Yoneyama (2h) ~ Mizuno (45 mins)