just back

just stepped in from a BIG 3 day descent down kai komagatake in the minami alps.

theres at least 30 big falls down the entire 2000m of descent, some done in several pitches. also several jumps into big aquamarine pools, lots of swimming and cool places to bivvy.

not for the timid, this is the real deal.

just like winter its early starts. except its not -18c.

the well dressed big canyoneer. note the trail running shoes, light colours and hydration system for the approach.

notice also the bear bell and the sign on the right bridge pylon showing a bear warning.



 

the bivvy at the top at just under 3000m. well protected from the winds even tho its just a ledge 3m wide.

a good picture of the jungle hammocks we use

 

looking down the barrel. the bottom of the first abseil and already committed.

notice we are above the cloud level.

 

hauling the rope. plenty of that with over 20 abseils, many a full ropes length.

that coil of orange 6mm cord hanging from my harness started at 20m long, used for anchors.

it was all gone half way thru the 3rd day.

john at the base of yet another big abseil (and behind what looks like a dope plant but actually isnt in case you were wondering).

now we are in the clouds, tho it isnt raining.

notice too water is starting to run in the canyon. compare that to the volume in later pictures.

 

another long abseil.

the water volumes increasing and weve dropped thru the cloud level.

second nights bivvy at the base of the steep section and where the lower gradient river starts.

a good shot of the hammocks.

its the same place we set up BC in winter. hard to imagine it under a few meters of snow and the river frozen.

 

now you can see the size of the pools we are swimming across. deep, blue-green and so clear they can be checked safely from above.

not many photos after here as the camera was stashed inside a dry bag so rarely came out, but we were jumping 10m waterfalls, sliding 30m chutes and still several +30m abseils to come.

looking closely you can see the very top of the canyon on the skyline: the distinct notch in the ridge down to the left from the summit.

at this point weve probably dropped about 1500m.