text:
Mount Heng (Hunan)

Mount Heng (衡山: héngshān), also known as Nányuè (南岳, south peak) is a mountain sacred to Taoists in Hunan province.

Understand
Situated in Hengyang City, Hunan Province, Mount Hengshan is one of China’s Five Sacred Mountains. The mountain range runs 150 km from Hengyang to Changsha. Of the cluster of 72 peaks, the most known is Zhurong Peak. For a long time, Mount Hengshan is acknowledged as a holy place of religions, the Civilization Special Area, the Shou Mountain and the most scenic mount of the Five Sacred Mountains in China. Besides, this mountain is awarded the National Scenic Spots and the Historical Sites, a model of National Civilized Scenic spots and the AAAAA Tourist Destination.

Beautiful natural scenery
Mount Hengshan has always been a favorite destination, a summer resort and leisure place for tourists for its religious reputation and gorgeous landscapes. More than 1,200 kinds of plants, 9 primitive forests, and more than 150 kinds of precious trees were identified in the area. The Four Wonders of Mount Hengshan: Zhurong Peak, Water Curtain Cave, Fangguang Temple and Sutra Collection Hall are famous for their height, oddity, depth and elegance separately. Mount Hengshan is pleasant for tourists all round the year. They can appreciate exotic flowers in spring, amazing cloud sea in summer, grand sunrise in autumn and flying snow flakes in winter.

Famous holy place
Buddhism and Taoism coexist in Mount Hengshan, which forms the chief religious feature of the mount. Historically, Buddhism and Taoism practice in Mount Hengshan are of great importance. As early as in the late East Han Dynasty (25AD-225AD), Taoists had started their practice in the blessing spots in Mount Hengshan. The Tang Dynasty (618AD-917AD) witnessed the prosperities of ten large Taoist temples and eight hundred bamboo houses. Many Taoists at that time were those with high culture cultivation and profound metaphysics. They wrote books and developed theories of their own. Buddhism was introduced to Mount Hengshan about 200 years later. From 421AD, the second year after the establishment of the South Dynasty (420AD-589AD), large groups of famous monks appeared in Mount Hengshan. They followed rituals sacredly and gradually formed principles of their own, of which the Tiantai Sect (Principles of the Lotus Sutra) was most influential and had been spread to as far as Japan. Additionally, Buddhists in Mount Hengshan also developed the Weiyang Sect, Linji Sect, Caodong Sect, Yunmen Sect, and Fayan Sect, the five principles in the development process of Buddhism in Chinese history. Each had significant influence on religious practice in Southeast Asia and even the whole world.

Civilization special area
Mount Hengshan has a long and profound history. Most of the legendary emperors in ancient China had connection with Mount Hengshan. For example, Emperor Yan, Emperor Huang, Emperor Yao, Emperor Shun, and Emperor Yu were said to have visited the mountain, demonstrating the importance of Mount Hengshan in the history of China. Mount Hengshan gradually became a center of religious practice in south China when Taoism and Buddhism were introduced to Mount Hengshan successively. With the passage of the Song Dynasty, more than 20 academies were established in this area, forming a unique academy culture of schooling. The emerging Huxiang School can find its origin in this mountain. Even today, influence of these philosophical thinking can be identified in modern schools. It was the vice minister Guan Daxun of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1683) who had first approved the favorite place of Mount Hengshan for its combination of civilization and special area.

Shou Mountain of China
The Shou Culture (Longevity Culture) of Mount Hengshan can be dated back to records of Xingjing (the earliest great work of astronomy in the world): Mount Hengshan corresponds to the Zhen Star of the 28 Star Mansions, a star in charge of the life span of being in the world; therefore Mount Hengshan derived the name of Shou Mount. Emperor Huizong (the eighth emperor of Song Dynasty) inscribed the two characters of Shou Mountain for the massive stone carve. The two characters can still be seen in the Emperor Rock of Jinjian Peak. The poem On Restoring the Temple Stone of Mount Hengshan written by Emperor Kangxi (1661-1722) stated that Mount Hengshan is a giant town in south China, which corresponds to the North Star Yuheng, hence the name Shou Mountain.

Climate
Mount Heng is pleasant to visit all year round. It gets snowy in winter but a nice sight nonetheless but hiking is not so recommended in the winter.

Get in
Hengshan is served by two railway stations.

Hengshan has two major bus terminals, near the mountain, and  in Hengshan town, with similar levels of service. To visit the mountain, the Nanyue terminal is far more convenient. If you say both "Hengshan" and "Nanyue" when ordering tickets, you are very likely to end up at Nanyue. If you only say Hengshan, you may find yourself much farther from the mountain. Minibuses between Hengshan Station and Nanyue bus terminal stop at Hengshan bus terminal.

To reach Mount Heng/Nanyue from Hengyang City, you can take a bus from Zhongxin or Linghu Bus Station ¥7–13 depending on time and bus; or take a city bus/taxi to Gongxiao Dasha stop, where there are shared taxis or buses to Nanyue. Otherwise a taxi there might cost ¥100-150 and 45 minutes.

By air, the most direct way to reach Mount Heng (Nanyue) is via Hengyang, but in many cases it will be easier to fly into Changsha. Hengyang airport has a few flights daily, from major cities such as Beijing. There is a shuttle bus from the airport, and at 9:30am from the Hengyang bus terminal, for ¥15. Hengyang is also on both the high-speed and low-speed train lines that pass through Hengshan. From Changsha airport to Changsha South station, there are frequent maglev departures, and from Changsha South to Hengshan West there are at least 15 high-speed trains per day, taking 30 minutes and costing ¥64.5.

Fees and permits
Park entrance: ¥80 (1 November - 30 April), ¥120 (1 May - 31 October). Valid for entry on one day (but you can stay in the park)

Transportation throughout the park (bus, cable car): ¥78. Valid for two days.

One-way transportation: ¥44

Insurance (optional, included by default): ¥3

Get around
Transportation tickets allow you to get around the entire park with the shuttle buses and take the up and down once. There might be limits to the bus rides. Many bus stops do not allow you to board the bus, only to disembark, and those that allow you to board may require you to find an attendant who can check your ticket and call ahead for a bus to stop. While the transportation network may in principle start operating as early as 4am (for sunrise at the top) and end at 7pm or 8pm, some routes have much more limited hours and many of the stops won't let you board after early- to mid-afternoon. The overwhelming majority of tourists visit specific sites in one or two specific sequences, so getting dropped off at an intermediate stop can be difficult, because the drivers may not anticipate the possibility that someone might want to do that. The queues for the cable car and buses can get long at major transfer points.

There is an extensive trail network, much of it pleasant stone paths. However, parts of this still overlap with the road network, where you have to contend with speeding minibuses negotiating their slalom course between trees that predate the widened version of the road. It is absolutely possible to visit this mountain without a transportation ticket, or with a one-way ticket, but you will need to be alert when on the roads.

See

The mountainside is dotted with a large number of temples, gates, rocks with inscriptions, ponds, lakes, springs, and other such points of interest. Most are pleasant, few are exceptional, and few are crowded. Exploring these historic features is likely to be more enjoyable than walking the crowded road between the upper cable car station and the peak where all the tourists are.

Easy day-trip
Buy the transportation ticket unless you want to hike a lot and don't mind hiking on roads. The first section of the park has a nice 4– to 5-km path without many ascends that will take you to the cable car station. From there ascend with the car which is the Southern Heaven Gate and hike to the temple at the peak (Zhurong Feng). You can go to the bridge south of it but most tourists do not bother either. Return to the cable car but take the bus down south of it. It will go down to the entrance within 20–25 minutes.

Longer hikes
Can be tough and be prepared to jump out of the way for the cars. You would also need to prepare some kind of homestay with the local farmers because there aren't any hotels. From the top cable car station you can actually keep hiking west and go around the west side of the mountains. It will take a full day to go back down this way though (~20 km).

Buy
Everything on the mountain is overpriced like most tourist attractions in China. Tofu sticks are special in the area but should only be a few yuan. Bring some water and snacks unless you are prepared to overpay. Instant noodles cost ¥8 for example.

Incense is common for Buddhist areas. The town of Nanyue has plenty for sale especially around the large temple and you can buy it along all shops up the mountain. You can burn it at the temple at the peak like most people.

Peddlers are the top are trying to sell you cheap beads. They are definitely not worth buying and everyone will see you and know you got ripped off by the locals. The temple at the peak also sells blessed beads.

Eat
Tofu sticks, corn, fruit, and some other snacks can be bought at the peak and along major paths. There are a few small restaurants, and the guesthouses can usually arrange something.

Drink
Bottled waters at high prices are available at many stops.

Sleep
Guesthouses are common throughout the park, but while these places are comfortable, quiet and friendly, conditions can be more basic than in an average city. It's probably best to bring your own toothbrush, soap, and towel, for instance. There are small villages inside the park (e.g. this ) where nearly every house is now a guesthouse, and there are a few guesthouses along the roads. A handful of the temples also operate guesthouses (e.g., near the summit), but they are likely to prefer pilgrims over tourists. Plenty of the guesthouses can be found through online travel agencies, and at most times of year it's possible to walk up and ask for a room.

There are several accommodation options toward the summit that more closely resemble hotels (e.g. ), but expect high prices and a limited water supply.

Camping
Not permitted in the forest, but some of the guesthouses rent tents on the roof or in front of the building for half the price of a room.

Stay safe
Although it is strange to see beggars on a tourist mountain, most touts are more annoying than dangerous.

Go next
Grand Temple of Mount Heng

title: Mount Heng (Hunan)


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Mount Hiei

Mount Hiei (比叡山 Hiei-zan) is a mountain that lies to the northeast of Kyoto in the Sakamoto (坂本) district of Otsu city. It is famed for the extensive temple complex near the summit. Since many travellers come here from Kyoto, they often enter from the town of Yase (八瀬) at the base of the mountain on the Kyoto side.

Understand
The temple of Enryakuji, the first Japanese outpost of the esoteric Tendai sect of Buddhism, was founded atop Mt. Hiei by Saichō (Dengyō Daishi) in 788. The temple complex was razed by Oda Nobunaga in 1571 to quell the rising power of the Tendai's warrior monks, but it was rebuilt and remains the Tendai headquarters to this day.

Tourist information site
The local tourist associations has a multilingual guide site, also covering Lake Biwa area.

Get in
There are several ways to reach Sakamoto and Mount Hiei.

By train
From Kyoto, the JR Kosei line goes directly to the Hieizan-Sakamoto station which is a 1,200-m walk from the Sakamoto Cable Car or the trailhead to climb Mount Hiei on foot. Alternatively, take the Keihan Main Line to Demachiyanagi and transfer to an Eizan train to Yase-Hieizan-guchi (八瀬比叡山口). From here the Eizan Cable Car makes the trip to the top of Mount Hiei for ¥850/1080 one-way/return (incl. the ropeway: ¥820/1700 one-way/return), every 30 minutes daily from 08:30 to 17:30 (or longer, schedules vary a bit depending on the season). The last leg of the trip to the summit is a 3-minute ride on a ropeway, which departs at intervals of 10-20 minutes between 09:00 and 18:00.

Or, you could also take the Keihan Line to Sanjo Station and transfer to the Tozai Line bound for Hamaotsu Station in Otsu. From Otsu, you can take the JR Kosei line or Keihan Ishiyama-Sakamoto line to Sakamoto, although the Keihan station (the last station on the line) is more centrally located. The Hiyoshi Taisha shrine and the cable car to Mt. Hiei are about 15 min away on foot, both fairly well signposted.

Be careful: there are two different cable-cars up the hill, each ran by a different company. So, if you buy a two-way-ticket from one company, you cannot use this for the other railway and you'll need to buy a new ticket.

By bus
There are occasional direct buses from Kyoto station directly to the top, taking about 1.5 hours and all departing in the morning. Schedules are severely curtailed in the winter.

Get around
Sakamoto and Mt. Hiei are best covered on foot. For going between the two, you can use the Sakamoto Cable Car, which costs ¥840/1570 one-way/round-trip and runs daily from 08:00 to 17:00 once every 30 minutes. At over 2 km, this is the longest cable car in Japan and takes about 11 minutes for the journey. This cable car line was built in 1927 and refurbished in 1993. The European style cars have large windows with wonderful views of Lake Biwa.

A real pilgrim would of course scoff at mechanical contraptions and climb the mountain, which is fairly easy. The traditional route is a convenient path of mossy steps known as Honzaka (本坂), starting from Sakamoto, but it's still 500 m (vertical) to the top. There are also many other routes, with numerous small temples and waterfalls along the way, but watch out as signposting (even in Japanese) is lacking. You may see monkeys along the way.

See
Both the Sakamoto cable car from Lake Biwa side and the Hieizan Ropeway from the Kyoto side terminate near two broadcast towers and the Garden Museum Hiei, whose ticket booth has maps to Hiei's more traditional attractions, which can be reached by about twenty minutes' walk through atmospheric forest.

Eat and drink

 * Hiyoshi Sansō (日吉山荘) within the Hiyoshi Taisha shrine is a traditional teahouse in an extremely scenic little river gorge, particularly popular in fall. Food prices are quite steep (¥800 for soba!), but you can also bring your food for a ¥300 charge per head.
 * There is a small restaurant, Suehiro (末廣), by the Sakamoto Cable Car Mt. Hiei station, serving all the usual suspects.

Sleep
There is a wide range of accommodation in Sakamoto, but many visitors choose to day-trip from Kyoto instead.

 * Saikyōji Youth Hostel (西教寺ＹＨ, tel. +81 77-578-0013) in Sakamoto is a good but somewhat inconveniently located hostel on the northern outskirts of town, although you can take a bus from either station (5-7 minutes, get off at Saikyōji). While affiliated with and run by a temple, the building itself is modern.  HI members pay ¥3255 a night plus ¥630/1050 for breakfast/dinner.  As a bonus, Saikyoji is itself a Tendai temple complex worth visiting, especially because of its views of Lake Biwa and Japanese maple leaves (momiji) in autumn.  There are what looks like footprints and handprints on some of the wooden slats in the roof circling the temple; these are rumored to be the old floor slats with bloody handprints and footprints from ritual suicides.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Mount Hiei


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Mount Hood

Mount Hood (height 11,249 feet) is the highest mountain in the state of Oregon and a major outdoor recreation site in the Pacific Northwest. Located about 50 miles (80 km) east-southeast of Portland, the mountain is visible from the city on clear days and usually forms the backdrop for the Portland skyline in postcards and photographs of the city.

It is a volcano of the conical stratovolcano type. It last erupted in 1907 and the last major eruption was in 1781-82.

Get in
The main route into the Mount Hood area is U.S. 26. The quickest way to get to U.S. 26 from Portland is to follow Interstate 84 east, take any of the Gresham exits, then follow the road south to U.S. 26 (Powell Street). Follow U.S. 26 east to the Mount Hood area; this will take you through the city of Sandy and the Mount Hood National Forest. To get to Timberline Lodge, turn left onto Timberline Road at Government Camp.

Do
There are many things to do including downhill skiing and snowboarding, hiking, and cross country skiing.

 * Skiing and Snowboarding: Mount Hood is home to three skiing and snowboarding resorts: Mount Hood Meadows, Timberline Lodge, and Ski Bowl, as well as the two lesser known Summit Ski Area and Cooper Spur. Mount Hood has the only ski area in North America that is open 12 months of the year and Ski Bowl has the largest night skiing area in America. There are a number of ski and snowboard camps offered. It is best to contact each resort to find out the details.
 * Mount Hood Meadows (operates November through April or May) offers four high speed quad lifts (and 5 other lifts), including the Cascade Express, which climbs to an elevation of 7,300 feet. The lifts are open daily 9AM-4PM, with night skiing until 9PM on Fridays and Saturdays. For those with limited skiing and snowboarding abilities, Meadows also offers the "Groove Tube" tubing hill on certain days for $5 and includes tube rental. As a side note, Meadows also the hosts local High School Snowboard Club/Team competitions.
 * Timberline (year round, except maintenance closure 2 weeks following Labor Day) offers four express quad chairlifts (and two other lifts), including the Palmer Chairlift, which reaches an elevation of 8,540 feet. Timberline is able to offer skiing and snowboarding 12 months out of the year, boasting the longest season in North America. Lift hours are 9AM-10PM Winter weekends, 9AM-4PM weekdays and after Spring break; 8AM-3PM late Spring; 7AM-1:30PM Summer.  Timberline Lodge is a registered National Historic Landmark.  It offers four star dining (come as you are) as well as casual and fast food, and the south deck from the second floor provides a panoramic view for over 50 miles.
 * Skibowl (November through March) offers 4 chairlifts, with a peak elevation just over 5,000 feet. Boasting the largest night skiing area in America, Skibowl's lifts are open 3PM-10PM M-Tu, 1PM-10PM W-Th, 9AM-11PM F, 8AM-11PM Sa, 8AM-10PM Su. They also offer a Snow Tube and Adventure Park on Saturday and Sunday.
 * Summer Activities: During the summer months Ski Bowl offers its infamous Alpine Slide, a 1/2 mile, grooved, sledding course down the face of Mount Hood. Hiking, Biking, Horseback Riding, and Ice-Climbing are also popular summer activities on the mountain. Also check out Timberline Lodge's Magic Mile Sky Ride , a round-trip chairlift ride to an elevation of 7,000 feet.
 * The Pacific Crest Trail is a 2,650 mile footpath which follows the Cascades and Sierra Nevada mountains from Canada to Mexico and passes around the west side of Mount Hood. It traverses one-tenth mile above Timberline Lodge and descends between Timberline Lodge and Mount Hood Meadows to continue southward toward Timothy Lake.
 * Timberline Trail is a 40+ mile loop hiking and equestrian path around Mount Hood mostly in protected wilderness, with a variety of magnificent vistas, primitive river crossings, alpine meadows, wildflowers, and dense forest. 17 miles of the Timberline Trail coincides with the Pacific Crest Trail.
 * Trillium Lake is an easy two mile detour off the Mount Hood Scenic Loop and provides a great view of Mount Hood, as well as camping, fishing, and paddling.
 * Little Crater Lake is a narrow but deep spring-fed lake beside the Little Crater Lake Campground near Timothy Lake.

Stay safe
Always check the local weather before heading up to the mountain. It is not uncommon for chains or snow tires to be advised or required. While there are snow plows as well as other precautions, it never hurts to be on the safe side. If you are planning a hike or skiing adventure into areas less traveled it is advised to take a Personal Location Transponder. If you should become lost, injured, or trapped this device will help emergency crews to locate you quickly via a GPS signal. The technology can now locate you to within 10 feet of your actual placement, a great accessory for snow enthusiasts in avalanche zones.

title: Mount Hood


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Mount Hotham

Mount Hotham is a ski resort in the High Country of Victoria, catering to both beginners and advanced.

By plane
Mount Hotham has an airfield that used to be served by Qantas but as of 2008 there are no commercial flights at all. You will need to charter a plane, or with appropriate licensing pilot one yourself, to fly to Hotham. The closest airport with commercial flights is Albury.

By car
From Melbourne either:
 * take the Hume Highway to Wangaratta and then the Great Alpine Road through Harrietville, taking about 4.5 hours; or
 * take the Princes Highway to Bairnsdale and turn onto the Great Alpine Road via Omeo and Dinner Plain, taking about 5.5 hours.

From Sydney take the Hume Highway to Albury-Wodonga, and follow the signs to Yackandandah and turn off to Myrtleford. At Myrtleford turn off onto the Great Alpine Road through to Harrietville and Mount Hotham. This is about 8.5 hours' driving.

From Queensland take the Newell Highway to Cobram, then onto Wangaratta and the Great Alpine Road as per the route from Melbourne.

In all cases, cars must carry fitting snow chains when travelling on the Great Alpine Road between Harrietville and Omeo between June 1 and October 10 every year. You must be able to fit them when the signs indicate: there are numerous chain fitting bays located on the road. Chains are available for hire in Harrietville and Omeo.

Resort Entry Permit fees at Hotham are $51 per day (2019), paid online. It is based on vehicle registration number and dates. Parking is free until midnight if your first entry of the day is after 3PM. Parking inspections are frequent before 3PM and after midnight when the free evening parking passes run out. If you are just driving in to drop someone off you must still pay resort entry. If you're just driving through without stopping, no fee applies provided it is done within the time limit.

Drivers who don't wish to drive in the snow can park in the security car parking at Hoys Skis in Harrietville for $10 a day (cheaper for longer stays) and catch a bus to Mount Hotham.

By bus
The Snowball Express (tel 1300 65 65 46, fax, email reservations@snowballexpress.com.au) service runs services to Mt Hotham from Melbourne, Myrtleford, Bright and Harrietville.

Christian's Bus Company has buses to and from Albury airport on Fridays and Sundays during the snow season from June 27 - September 14 in 2008. They depart the airport at 10AM, 1:45PM and 5PM and return 8:30AM, 12:30PM and 4PM. Call Hotham Holidays on 1800 468 426 to book.

Hoys Mount Hotham (tel +61 3 5759 3017) operate a bus from Dinner Plain several times a day, no bookings necessary (timetable ). Return trips are $14 for adults and free for children under 15. The ticket includes the drop-off fee at Mount Hotham.

O'Connell's Ome Bus Services offer charter services from Omeo to Mount Hotham. They have many years of safe driving in alpine areas. Contact them at or 0428591377

By train
The nearest train station is in Wangaratta, on the main Sydney to Melbourne line. Travellers would then need to transfer to a bus to Bright and a second bus to Mount Hotham.

Get around
The Great Alpine Road runs through the middle of the resort (in fact, there's a point on the Sun Run where you can ski over a road bridge). Most runs or lifts to them leave at an easily accessed point on the road. However, parking near the center of the resort is difficult to get, and you may need to park at the edges and catch the free bus to the run of your choice. Be careful of pedestrians: people catching the bus up and down the resort frequently have to cross the road on foot with armfuls of gear, and there are no marked crossings. The usual practice is to give way to any pedestrians.

The village bus service is operated by a set of clunky old school buses with big SNOW BUS labels. This free bus service drives up and down the length of the Great Alpine Road inside the resort. Catch it at any of the "Village Bus" bus stop signs which are located near most carparks and major lifts and run end-points on the road. It arrives every 5-10 minutes. Skis must be stored in the holders on the outside of the bus, but snowboards are carried on board. Be careful when waiting for the bus, particularly if waiting on the side of the road that has a drop-off. There are no fences or safety rails protecting you from walking off the edge; although obviously the bus doesn't park right next to it, it also doesn't stop far away from it.

See
Visitors are treated to stunning views of the surrounding mountains but the village itself is all about snowsports.

Do

 * Ski or snowboard. 2011 season lift passes cost from $106 for 1 day ($53 for children) to $497 for 7 days ($248 for children). Season passes are available, as are combined lift and hire prices.
 * Learn to ski or snowboard.

Buy
No petrol or other vehicle fuel is available at Mt Hotham, or in the alpine area at all. You will need to travel down to Bright or Omeo for fuel.

There are plenty of stores selling skis, snowboards and other gear. By the base of Big D is a bottle shop and grocery store carrying the essentials.

Eat
The General Store offers delicious and affordable pizza with the best views and is open all year round.

Drink
The two main (and competing) drinking holes are Swindlers at Hotham Central and The General (The Jenny) close to Big D. Swindlers seems to attract the younger, fashion-conscious crowd while The Jenny is more down to earth. Both stay open late and often put on live music and DJs. Both get suitably messy as the night wears on with mountain staff trying to relieve the cabin fever.

Other places to go include The Snowbird Inn and Zirky's both of which are located within the village.

Stay healthy
Medical facilities are provided by:

In winter months Ski Patrol will assist injured people on the snow, providing first aid and transferring you to an ambulance or to the medical center as needed. Ski patrol wear red and black jackets with a large white cross on the back and smaller white crosses on the arms. Resort employees such as the lift operators can summon Ski Patrol to assist you. If there is an accident on the snow, someone should be sent down to the nearest lift to alert the operators and tell them where to send the patrol. Flying injured skiiers off the mountain by helicopter is fairly common, make sure your insurance cover this or sign up for an ambulance membership.

title: Mount Hotham


text:
Mount Ida (Arkansas)

Mount Ida  is a city in Arkansas.

Understand
Mount Ida is a little town located in Central Arkansas. It is well known for Quartz Crystal mining and is claimed t be the Quartz Crystal Capital of the World. This activity brings thousands of tourists to the small town every year.

title: Mount Ida (Arkansas)


text:
Mount Isa

Mount Isa is a mining city in the north-west of the Australian state of Queensland, situated some 900 km west of Townsville and some 1900 km north-west of the capital Brisbane. Population 22,000. Geology is the key drawcard to Mount Isa, best represented in the World Heritage Riversleigh Fossil Field located near the city (250 km! - "near" for Queensland....).

Understand
Mount Isa is the birthplace of two Australian sporting greats: Greg Norman (golf) and Pat Rafter (tennis).

Mount Isa City municipality covers an area of over 43,310 square kilometres, making it geographically the second largest city in the world to Kalgoorlie–Boulder, Western Australia.

By train
Mount Isa is served by The Inlander passenger train which travels overnight between Townsville (via Charters Towers) twice weekly (977 km). The air-conditioned train only offers coach carriages, and has a club car for movies and food.

By bus
Bus Queensland has a bus line BQ201/BQ202 from Brisbane to Mount Isa.

Get around
There is car hire with the Budget and Avis in the city centre, or they will meet bookings at the airport.

See
The Mount Isa Rotary Rodeo is the biggest and richest event Rodeo Event in the Southern Hemisphere. During Rodeo Week, Mount Isa's population swells almost three-fold with travelers coming from all over Australia and overseas to witness the thrills, the excitement, the raw power and courage that is rodeo. It's where city meets country, east meets west, man meets beast. With a packed program of rodeo events - saddle bronc riding, bareback bronc riding, bull riding, rope & tie, steer wrestling and team roping, wild horse racing, ladies barrel racing and ladies breakaway roping. Every year it all seems to get bigger better and more fun!

Do
Hard Times Mine tour Experience the history of Mount Isa's long and illustrious mining history in this purpose built mine. Guided by current and former miners from the Mount Isa mines, machinery demonstrations, old stories and hands on experience can all be experienced in a real underground environment. An amazing and unforgettable experience for locals and tourists alike.

Eat
Mount Isa, for a city of its size, is a considerable dining experience for the hearty traveller and local. Selections such as Indian, Italian, Chinese, German and French are all represented, either in the CBD or on the major roads. As well as this, all the major fast-food giants such as McDonalds, KFC, Eagle Boys, Red Rooster, Pizza Hut and Subway all have outlets in the Copper City.

Drink
Drinking aplenty in the Isa. The Irish Club, Buffs Club, The Overlander Hotel, The Isa and the Red Earth Hotel and many others are make up the great selection of watering holes in the city. Many outlets have meals, happy hours and special promotions going all the time.

Sleep
Mount Isa offers a range of accommodation options to suit everyone's budget.

Go next
The roads into and out of Mount Isa are generally of good quality and passable for all vehicles. Care should be taken if travelling during the wet season as many of these roads can become flooded and impassable. Never try to cross covered causeways even if no signage or barricades are erected at the site. Purpose built signs are placed along the Barkly Highway to Townsville to indicate which roads are passable during flood times. Alternatively, asking locals of possible road conditions can give surprising accuracy.

 * Flights can be booked with Airnorth, Qantas, Rex and Skytrans to various locations around the Queensland and Northern Territory (depending on carrier)
 * Train services are run twice per week to Townsville and other towns along the Barkly Highway with the Inlander
 * Bus services between Mount Isa and surrounding areas are run by Greyhound Australia

General distances
 * West to Tennant Creek (660 km)
 * North to the gulf towns of Normanton(500 km) and Karumba (570 km)
 * East to Cloncurry (120 km) and Townsville (900 km).

title: Mount Isa


text:
Mount Ishizuchi

Mount Ishizuchi (石鎚山 Ishizuchi-san, 1982 m) is the tallest mountain on Shikoku. The name means Stone Hammer, a suitably awe-inspiring moniker for one of Japan's 7 Holy Mountains.

Most pilgrims only make it to the shrine at the foot of Ishizuchi, but if pulling yourself up the side of a mountain on iron chains sounds like a good time, the climb to the summit is for you.

Understand
Ishizuchi is believed to have been an active volcano about 15 million years ago. Designated as a national park in 1955, it has become a reserve for soaring falcons and sneaky dormice alike. The official climbing season is from July 1st until October, but the first day of the season is reserved for men only! It is, however, entirely possible to climb the mountain as early as May or as late as November, although facilities en route will be limited.

In the autumn (around mid-October), the hike up the mountain is a great way to view fall colors. However, on weekends during this time, the trail towards the summit becomes crowded and a bit congested with hikers (some with dogs in tow). In the winter, a ski and snowboarding resort operates on the same grounds. The Joju shrine is open around the year and is a popular place to visit on New Year's Day.

Get in
The closest train station is Iyo-Saijō on the JR Yosan Line from Matsuyama to Takamatsu. From Okayama, the Shiokaze Limited Express train makes hourly runs to Iyo-Saijō station (1 hour 50 minutes; ¥4940). The ride from Takamatsu is 90 minutes using the Ishizuchi limited express (¥4520).

From Iyo-Saijō, there are connecting buses to the start of the ropeway (1 hour, ¥970), but there are only 4 buses daily. They're run by the Setouchi Bus (tel +081 0898-23-3450). The 10:23 bus is the last that will get you to Ishizuchi in time to make the climb and catch the last bus back (17:22). A detailed schedule can be found online (in Japanese).

The Ishizuchi #7, departing Takamatsu at 08:44, and the Shiokaze #3, departing Okayama at 08:30AM, will allow you to meet the 10:23 bus. From Matsuyama, the 09:12 Shiokaze #12 will also allow you to catch this bus. (Shiokaze and Ishizuchi trains generally split and combine at Utazu station.)

Mount Ishizuchi can also be reached from Matsuyama via Kuma Kogen town. This route requires taking the JR Bus from Matsuyama to Kuma Kogen and transferring to the Iyotetsu Bus to Omogo. In the summer, and only on weekends, the same Iyotetsu bus goes directly to Ishizuchi Tsuchigoya.

Get around
Nearly everybody takes the Tōzan Ropeway (石鎚登山ロープウェイ) halfway up, although it's fairly steeply priced at ¥1000/1900 one-way/return. Make sure to start climbing early enough as the last ropeway returns at 18:00.

If you choose to walk instead, the "path" is poorly marked at best and quite dangerous in parts. It will take over two hours. It's quite a hike up from 450 m to 1300 m.

See
For many visitors, the final destination is Jōju (成就), the site of the main shrine grounds — a classically elegant and austere complex notable mostly for the variety of stone hammers on display here and there. The shrine is a leisurely 20-minute walk up from the ropeway station at an altitude of 1450 m.

Do
The thing to do in these parts is, naturally, to climb up to the summit. Figure on 3 hours for the ascent and at least 2 hours for the descent. There are lockers at the ropeway station if you want to leave excess weight behind, although they are too small for most rucksacks; ask nicely and maybe the staff will stow your gear for you.

 * The actual trail starts at Jōju, through a torii gate marked with the characters 登山口 (tōzanguchi). The initial section of the trail in fact descends for the first kilometer, back down to 1300 m.
 * From the saddle point Hatchōzaka (八丁坂) starts an endless series of tiring wooden steps built into the mountainside to prevent erosion and landslides. Note that you will see a set of chains here, but the 74-m climb will only get you to a narrow peak of rocks with a beautiful view, and then you must climb back down.
 * After an hour of slogging through the forest, you'll reach reach the Yoakashi Pass (夜明かし峠 Yoakashi-tōge, c. 1600 m) and see the last bit of Ishizuchi-san in front of you. Remaining distance to the peak is one kilometer, and remaining elevation to climb is 300 m. There is a barebones camp site not far from here, with no facilities other than a patch of grass, and you probably don't want to lug a tent and sleeping bag up here.
 * This is where the fun starts. You can — and many do — take a circuitous (if still steep) ordinary path (迂回路) to the top. But the pilgrim thing is to climb up the near-vertical kusari (鎖), giant iron chains bolted to the cliffs. There are three sets of chains, measuring 33 m, 65 m and 68 m (in order). The chains have footholds, very useful for resting your feet, but a good pair of boots will still come in handy. The final 68 m ascent is the most hair-raising. Three points of contact at all times.
 * Your reward is the peak of Misen (弥山, 1974 m), with great views of Shikoku all around. There is also a small shrine and lodge here.
 * The actual summit, needle-sharp Tengudake (天狗岳, 1982 m), is right in front of you from here. Only a quick 15-minute hike away, the peak is sometimes off limits due to landslides that take the path with them.

Buy, eat & drink
There is a small group of souvenir shops and restaurants outside the Joju shrines. Most are open 07:00-19:00. Figure about ¥1000 for a small meal or ¥200 for a bowl of miso. There are also a few restaurants on the main road at the bottom of the ropeway.

Bring plenty of water if you intend to walk up to the ropeway station, and avoid drinking from the mountain streams. Bottled water is very expensive at the top, as is beer — about ¥600 for a can of Asahi.

Sleep

 * Shiraishi Ryokan (白石旅館) 0897-59-0032 is located close to the Joju Shrine above the Ishizuchi Ropeway
 * Shiraishi Ryokan (白石旅館) 0897-59-0032 is located close to the Joju Shrine above the Ishizuchi Ropeway
 * Shiraishi Ryokan (白石旅館) 0897-59-0032 is located close to the Joju Shrine above the Ishizuchi Ropeway

title: Mount Ishizuchi


text:
Mount Jiuhua

Mount Jiuhua (九華山 Jiuhua-shan) is a sacred Buddhist mountain in the southwestern part of Qingyang County, Chizhou City, Anhui Province, China.

Understand
Jiuhua Mountain is high, one of the four famous Buddhist mountains in China, and is associated with the Dizang Bodhisattva. During the Buddhist golden era in China, more than 200 temples graced the slopes of this mountain. However, only 50 temples remain. A national civilized scenic tourist area, one of the first national natural and cultural dual heritage sites, and a world geopark, with an area of, and consists of 11 scenic spots.

Jiuhua Mountain has a deep cultural heritage. Since the Jin and Tang dynasties, there have been many celebrities, leaving behind many poems, rhymes, songs and paintings. There are more than 2,000 cultural relics in Jiuhua Mountain, more than 500 poems and songs by celebrities and scholars, and more than 20 ruins of academies and schools.

Get in
You can arrive by train to Tongling or Chizhou. There are coach buses directly to Mount Jiuhua.

See

 * Baisuigong Monastery
 * Ganlu Monastery
 * Huacheng Monastery
 * Zhiyuan Monastery
 * Zhuhai - the sea of bamboo outside the village of Minyuan (on the path to Tiantai Peak)

Buy

 * Jiuhua Mao Feng — Also called Jiuhua Fu Tea, which belongs to the green tea category. It is recorded to have originated in China during the Song Dynasty. Its shape is flat and straight in the shape of Buddha's hand, its color is emerald green, and its inner quality is fragrant and mellow.

title: Mount Jiuhua


text:
Mount Kailash

Mount Kailash (Tibetan: Kang Rinpoche) is a sacred mountain in the far west of Tibet.

Understand

This mountain is considered holy by Hindus, Buddhists and Jains. In ancient texts, it is referred to as the center of the world. The reason can be understood from the geographical significance of its place: within a radius are the sources of mighty rivers Indus (to the north, called "Sindhu" in India), Sutlej (to the west), Brahmaputra (Yarlung Tsang-po, to the east), and Karnali (the largest tributary to the Ganges, to the south).

History
Hindus regard the peak as Shiva's symbolic 'Lingam' and worship Mt. Kailash, which is the Sanskrit name for the mountain. Bonpos believe the sacred mountain to be the place where the founder of the Bon religion landed when he descended from the sky. Tibetan Buddhists believe Kang Rinpoche, which means Precious Snow Mountain, is a natural mandala representing the Buddhist cosmology on the earth and the Jains believe this is the place where their religion's founder was spiritually awakened.

Myths and legends
There are many myths and legends that have encouraged the enigma surrounding Kailash Mountain. Standing out in an indescribably beautiful landscape, where no other relief rises above it, Mount Kailash is believed by Hindus to be the seat of Shiva in his eternal meditation.

Get in
There are only four land routes to reach Mt. Kailash.

 * From Xigatse (accessible from Lhasa or Kathmandu) - Saga - Manasarovar (4 days on a hired jeep, longer by a combination of public transportation and hitch-hiking) or Xigatse - Ali - Darchen (6 days on a jeep)
 * From Indian border near Uttarkashi (very limited number of Indian citizens every year by lottery system).
 * from Kashgar via Ali
 * from Simikot/Hilsa in Nepal via Purang (helicopter ride to Hilsa makes it fast but expensive)

The entry point for Mt. Kailash is Darchen. Located right in front of Mt Kailash, this is the starting point for pilgrims going on the Khora.

Fees and permits
¥50 per person no matter how many times they circumambulate the mountain on one visit. Porters or yaks will cost about ¥65 per day.

Get around
The main attraction of the mountain is the pilgrimage circuit around the mountain. It normally takes 3 days and should only be undertaken by the well-prepared and fit.

Itinerary

 * Mt Kailash Khora (Pilgrimage Circuit) - A pilgrimage to Mt Kailash involves nothing more or less than making circuits around the sacred mountain. The Outer Pilgrimage Circuit (Chikhor) is about 52 km, and Tibetans can complete a circuit in a day. The majority of pilgrims try for 13 circuits, if they can. Some pilgrims do a circuit performing Kyangcha (Prostration). While the average circuit takes about 14 hours to complete, those doing prostration can take a couple of weeks. Those seeking to secure their path to enlightenment try for 108 circuits. Buddhists and Hindus travel clockwise around the mountain while Bonpos travel counter-clockwise. Most travelers take three days to complete a circuit.

 * Day 1 - Darchen - Drirapuk Gompa

 * Darchen - Chogu (Chuku) Gompa (3-4 hr), Chogu (Chuku) Gompa - Drirapuk Gompa (3-4 hr)

 * Day 2 - Drirapuk Gompa - Dolma La - Zutrulpuk Gompa

 * Drirapuk Gompa - Zutrulpuk Gompa (7-8 hr)

 * Day 3 - Zutrulpuk Gompa - Darchen

 * Zutrulpuk Gompa - Darchen (3 hr)

 * Lake Manasarovar Khora (Pilgrimage Circuit) - Together with Mt Kailash, Lake Manasarovar is a pilgrimage site. There is a pilgrimage path around the lake and a circuit is a little over 100 km, taking 4-5 days to complete. Chiu Gompa, 30 km south of Darchen, is a good starting point for a circuit around the lake.

 * Day 1 - Chiu Gompa - Langbona Gompa
 * Day 2 - Langbona Gompa - Seralung Gompa
 * Day 3 - Seralung Gompa - Trugo Gompa
 * Day 4 - Trugo Gompa - Chiu Gompa

Do

 * Mt. Kailash Khora - the pilgrimage circuit
 * Lake Manasarovar Khora - another pilgrimage circuit

Drink
Water that flows from springs is very refreshing as it has mineral content.

Stay safe
Weather conditions can change rapidly here and you should be prepared for the worst.

It's unlikely you will have problems with the altitude other than shortness of breath and less energy than you are used to, as you will have been at altitude for quite some time just to get here. However, altitude sickness is unpredictable, and you should always keep your plans flexible enough to give yourself a rest day if needed.

Respect

 * Do not sit or climb on sacred sites.
 * Pass mani stones to the right.
 * Turn prayer wheels in a clockwise direction.

title: Mount Kailash


text:
Mount Kilimanjaro

Mount Kilimanjaro is an inactive stratovolcano in northeast Tanzania, near the border with Kenya. At 5,895 m (19,340 feet) above sea level, Kilimanjaro is Africa's highest peak and the world's highest free-standing mountain. Aided by its relatively easy ascent, Kilimanjaro has become a major destination for mountaineers and trekkers from around the world. It's also inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Understand
Although positioned 330 km south of the Equator, Mount Kilimanjaro is famous as Africa's snow-capped mountain looming over the plains of the savannah. The snows have been fast disappearing. Kilimanjaro National Park protects the area above 2,700 m (8,850 ft), on the mountain and includes the moorland and highland zones, Shira Plateau, Kibo and Mawenzi peaks. The Park also has six corridors or rights of way through the Kilimanjaro Forest Reserve. The Forest Reserve, which is also a Game Reserve, was established in 1921; the park was established in 1973 and opened in 1977.

History
It is commonly said that Queen Victoria of England gave her grandson, Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany, Mount Kilimanjaro as a birthday present. However, this is not the case. In fact, Karl Peters, a German traveller in Africa and one of the founders of today's Tanzania, sneaked into Tanganyika and persuaded various Chagga chieftains to sign treaties in which they agreed to cede their territories to his Society for German Colonization.

During the First World War there was a campaign in German East Africa and the Germans fortified parts of Kilimanjaro.

Landscape
The mountain has snowy peaks, which are well renowned, although they are quickly disappearing.

Flora and fauna
Wildlife is abundant on and around Mount Kilimanjaro, much of which is unique to the region. The mount Kilimanjaro has five main vegetation zones from the lowest to the Arctic ice region on top: Lower slopes, montane forest, heath and moorland, alpine desert, and summit. The whole mountain including the montane forest belt is very rich in both animal and plant species like giant lobelias, everlasting flowers and mammals, many of them endangered species. For this combination of features but mostly its height, its physical form and snow cap, and its isolation above the surrounding plains, Mount Kilimanjaro is considered an outstanding example of a superlative natural phenomenon. The climb feels like walking from the tropical equator to the North Pole in a matter of days. Although there are not many animals on the mountain itself, you will be able to see wild buffaloes, leopards, and even elephants while traversing through the Lemosho Route. Armed rangers accompany climbers on the first day of the trek who are going via the Lemosho Route.

Climate
Due to Mount Kilimajaro's proximity to the equator, this region does not experience the extremes of winter and summer weather, but rather dry and wet seasons. January and February are the warmest months, April and May are the wettest months, June and July are the coolest months, and August and September are the driest months. January, February, and September are considered to be the best months to climb Kilimanjaro in terms of weather.

The journey from the gate to the peak is like travelling from the equator to Antarctica in a matter of days. This is because the routes to the Uruhu peak cross different ecological zones. Throughout the climb, temperatures vary considerably with the altitude and time of day. Mount Kilimanjaro has five major ecological zones, each approximately 1,000 m (3,280 feet) in altitude. Each zone is subject to a corresponding decrease in rainfall, temperature and life as the altitude increases. At the beginning of the climb, at the base of the mountain, the average temperature is around 27-32°C (70°F to 80°F). From there, the temperatures will decrease as you move through Mount Kilimanjaro's ecological zones. At the summit, Uruhu Peak, the night time temperatures can range between -18°C to -26°C (0°F to -15°F). Due to Mount Kilimanjaro's great height, the mountain creates its own weather. It is extremely variable and impossible to predict. Therefore, regardless of when you climb, you should always be prepared for wet days and cold nights.

Get in
The closest International Airport is Kilimanjaro and, if coming from Europe, KLM (Delta Air Lines) has a daily non-stop flight from Amsterdam to JRO.

If you are coming from Nairobi, Kenya, you can fly with Kenya Airways, which works with Precision Air, and that would cost you about USD$400/person for a return ticket. Alternatively, you can schedule shuttle buses, which are daily at 08:00 and 14:00, for about USD$25/person, one way, and it's a 5-6 hour bus ride.

If coming from Dar es Salaam, you can fly into JRO for USD$320/person return; or take a 7-8 hr bus ride for USD$20/person one way to Arusha or Moshi.

In addition, Ethiopian Airlines has nonstop flights from its hub in Addis Ababa Airport.

Cost
It is required to have a licensed guide to climb Kilimanjaro. The guide can either be hired upon or before arrival. Park entry and camping/hut fees are over USD$100 per day.

All inclusive trips range from about USD$800 to USD$5,500. Hiring just a guide upon arrival may cost as little as USD$200 with the expectation that each carry their own food and equipment (i.e. guides carry their food and equipment and you do the same).

Over and above the amount you pay to the tour operator, one also needs to pay tips to the guides, and cooks and porters if those are used. Though there are no set guidelines as to how much you should pay, it is sufficient if you can pay around 10% of the amount you pay to the tour operators with the guide getting the major share and equal distribution of the remaining amount to the porters and cooks. It is not advisable to give the whole amount to one person and expect him to distribute it among the others. Chances are high that he may pocket the whole amount. It would be wiser to give tips directly to individuals. Also, the gear used by the porters is mostly substandard and in fact not at all fit for the trek, and many would be grateful if you could spare gear.

Trekking routes
There are six routes sanctioned for climbing Kilimanjaro and two routes used for descent. These are:
 * Machame
 * Marangu
 * Rongai
 * Lemosho
 * Umbwe
 * Shira
 * Northern Circuit
 * Mweka (descent only)

Warning: These ~6 day schedules are common but too fast – there is a very high risk (75%!) of altitude sickness, and it is quite likely that you will not be able to summit the mountain on these schedules. In order to safely acclimatize, you should ascend more slowly than indicated.

Marangu Route Commonly called the Coca-Cola Route, because it is the easiest route and vendors sell Coca-Cola at some of the huts. Marangu is by far the most popular route to the summit of Kilimanjaro. Typical duration is either 5 or 6 days depending upon whether you elect to spend an extra day for acclimatisation to the altitude. This is the only route that offers huts versus tents.

 * Day 1: Marangu Gate (1980 m) - Mandara hut (2700 m).  Hiking time: 5 hours
 * Day 2: Mandara hut (2700 m) - Horombo hut (3720 m).  Hiking time: 6 hours
 * Day 3: Horombo hut (3720 m) - Acclimatisation day (if necessary)
 * Day 4: Horombo hut (3720 m) - Kibo hut (4700 m).  Hiking time:  6 hours
 * Day 5: Kibo hut (4700 m) - Uhuru Peak (5895 m) - Horombo hut (3720 m).  Hiking time: 8 hours to Uhuru - 6 hours to descend to Horombo
 * Day 6: Horombo hut (3720 m) - Marangu Gate (1980 m). Hiking time: 6 hours

Machame Route Some call this the most beautiful route up Kilimanjaro. Where accommodation on the Marangu route is in huts, the Machame route offers strictly tents only This makes Machame (also referred to as the "Whiskey route") better suited to the slightly more adventurous hiker, however rewarding him with a scenic splendour such as not seen on the Marangu route.

 * Day 1: Machame Gate (1490 m) - Machame camp (2980 m).  Hiking time: 7 hours
 * Day 2: Machame camp (2980 m) - Shira camp (3840 m).  Hiking time: 6 hours
 * Day 3: Shira (3840 m) - Lava Tower (4630 m) - Barranco camp (3950 m). Hiking time:  7 hours
 * Day 4: Barranco camp (3950 m) - Barafu camp (4550 m).  Hiking time: 7 hours
 * Day 5: Barafu camp (4550 m)- Uhuru Peak (5895 m) - Mweka (3100 m). Hiking time: 8 hours to reach Uhuru Peak; 7-8 hours to descend to Mweka

Lemosho Route Little used and more remote than other routes. The route is one of the few where groups may be accompanied on the first day by an armed ranger, as the forests around the Lemosho Glades are rich in buffalo, elephant and other big game animals.

 * Day 1: Londorossi Gate (2100 m) - Mti Mkubwa camp (2750 m).  Hiking time:  3 hours
 * Day 2: Mti Mkubwa camp (2750 m) - Shira 2 camp (3840 m).  Hiking time:  6/7 hours
 * Day 3: Shira (3840 m) - Lava Tower (4630 m) - Barranco camp (3950 m).  Hiking time:  7 hours
 * Day 4: Barranco camp (3950 m) - Barafu camp (4550 m).  Hiking time: 7 hours
 * Day 5: Barafu camp (4550 m) - Uhuru Peak (5895 m) - Mweka (3100 m).  Hiking time:  8 hours to reach Uhuru Peak 7-8 hours to descend to Mweka
 * Day 6: Mweka camp (3100 m) - Mweka Gate (1980 m).  Hiking time: 3 hours

A variation on the Lemosho Route inserts two to four extra days in the itinerary for acclimatization and also to avoid having to climb up to the summit in the dark
 * Day 4: Barranco (3950 m) to Karranga Valley (4000 m). Hiking time: 4 hours. This segment takes you up the infamous 'Barranco Wall'
 * Day 5: Karranga Valley (4000 m) to Barafu camp (4550 m). Hiking time: 3 hours
 * Day 6: Barafu camp (4550 m) - Uhuru Peak (5895 m) - Crater Camp (5640 m). Hiking time: about 8 hours
 * Day 7: Crater Camp (5640 m) - Mweka (3100 m). Hiking time: 7/8 hours to descend

You can also sleep in Shira 1 camp (3610m) and climb Shira Peak (3872m) with great view of Shira Plateau the next day.

 * Day 2: Mti Mkubwa camp (2750 m) - Shira 1 camp (3610m). Hiking time 4 hours
 * Day 3: Shira 1 camp (3610m) - Shira Peak (3872m) - Shira 2 camp (2840m). Hiking time 5 hours

Rongai Route The Rongai route ascends Kilimanjaro from the northeastern side of the mountain, along the border between Tanzania and Kenya.

 * Day 1: Rongai Gate (1950 m) - 1st Caves camp (2600 m).  Hiking time:  5 hours
 * Day 2: 1st Cave (2600 m) - Kikelewa Cave (3600 m).  Hiking time:  6/7 hours
 * Day 3: Kikelewa Cave (3600 m) - Mawenzi Tarn camp (4330 m).  Hiking time:  3/4 hours
 * Day 4: Mawenzi Tarn camp (4330 m) - Kibo hut (4700 m).  Hiking time:  4/5 hours
 * Day 5: Kibo hut (4700 m) - Uhuru Peak (5895 m) - Horombo hut (3720 m).  Hiking time:  8 hours to reach Uhuru - 6 hours to descend to Horombo
 * Day 6: Horombo hut (3720m) - Marangu Gate (1980 m) .  Hiking time:  6 hours

Eat
The various food requirements are met by the cooks and porters who come along with you on the mountain. However, the quality of the food depends on the reputation of the tour operator you use. The quality of the food tends to decline towards the end of the trek due to the food becoming stale and the rations carried by the porters being reduced. It is recommended to carry some high energy food like nuts and chocolate in order to survive and successfully complete the trek. It would be worthwhile to carry some ready-made noodle packets and similar easy-to-cook meals, which can be cooked and eaten at the conclusion of the trek.

Drink
A lot of water. Also, a lot of oral rehydration salts (ORS) are recommended for preventing dehydration while trekking on the mountain.

Lodging
Lodging options on the mountain are limited to designated camp sites. It is prohibited to sleep in the caves. There are huts available, but are generally not recommended. Pre-climb lodging is generally found in the cities of Arusha and Moshi.

Camping
It is permitted to camp on Mount Kilimanjaro for as many days as you want by paying the designated fees to the Kilimanjaro National Park authorities. You are allowed to camp in any of the nearby camps including the Machame Hut and Mweka Hut.

Stay safe
Kilimanjaro is a high risk destination for altitude sickness due to its height, technical ease and usual rapid ascent. There are seven main factors that affect the incidence and severity of Kilimanjaro altitude sickness:
 * 1) Rate of ascent
 * 2) Altitude attained
 * 3) Length of exposure
 * 4) Level of exertion
 * 5) Hydration and diet
 * 6) Inherent physiological susceptibility
 * 7) Use of oxygen systems or drugs

Always be prepared and use a tried and tested kit list. Make sure that you do your homework and that you have all the essentials. Keep up to date on the weather on Kilimanjaro. Conditions can be extreme and a well planned trip has to take the weather patterns into consideration.

Stay healthy
Several immunizations are recommended for yellow fever, tetanus, typhoid, polio, and hepatitis. An anti-malaria prophylactic is also needed.

Connect
GSM mobile phone coverage is available on the summit of the mountain. Various networks like Vodacom, Tigo and Airtel operate in the region and can be accessed from various high points on the mountain. Airtel seems to have the best signal. However, with no electric supply on the mountain, it is advised to carry portable mobile travel chargers along for accessing the mobile services atop the mountain.

title: Mount Kilimanjaro


text:
Mount Kinabalu

Mount Kinabalu is in the Malaysian state of Sabah, some 80 km east of Kota Kinabalu. It resides in the Kinabalu National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Understand
Mount Kinabalu is Borneo's tallest mountain. You can climb to the top of Low's Peak (4,095.2 m or 13,435.7 ft above sea level). The height of the mountain is often given as 4,101 m but satellite imaging has proven this to be incorrect.

The mountain is sacred to locals. They believe that spirits of their ancestors inhabit the top of the mountain. Previously, a chicken was sacrificed at the peak every time a climb was made but these days this ceremony only happens once a year when only seven chickens are needed to appease the spirits.

Mount Kinabalu is known to be one of the most accessible mountains in the world. No specialized mountain climbing skills are required to ascend it. The trail that most tourists use is described as a 'trek and scramble'. Locals begin climbing the mountain from the age of 3 and the oldest person to reach the peak was 80 years old. However, how much one enjoys the climb depends strongly on how fit you are and how well you acclimatise to the thin air at the higher levels.

Nevertheless, the mountain can be a dangerous place, especially during the rain or when there is mist. On average, every year one person gets into severe difficulty out of the estimated 20,000 people who attempt the climb. The higher slopes can be very slippery when it rains and dense fog reduces visibility to a few feet.

Although it is possible to climb to the top and back in less than four hours, most climbers take two days, with an overnight break at Laban Rata (3,272.7 m above sea level). The final attack on the peak takes place in the early hours of the second day (most begin at 02:30) in order to catch the sunrise at the top. By mid-morning the mist begins to roll in, obscuring the breath-taking views.

Climbing weather is best around the month of April while November and December brings rain. The temperature ranges from a comfortable 20-25°C at the main park to something approaching freezing near the top (depending on the weather). Bring clothing appropriate or else you will get cold and be miserable.

If possible, climb to the summit during the full moon as it helps illuminate the white rope that marks out the climbing path, and you can see without needing a head torch (once clear of the tree line), an atmospheric experience.

By bus
The Kinabalu Park entrance is very easy to reach from Kota Kinabalu. First option is to catch a minivan from the Long Distance Bus station near Night Market in city centre, which will drive directly to the Park HQ. Minivans leave when full, cost RM15 each way and the journey takes 1.5 hours. Second option is to catch a bus from the Kota Kinabalu North Bus Terminal in Inanam, 10km to the northeast of the city centre. The journey takes 1-2 hours and costs RM10-15. Buses going to Ranau, Sandakan or Tawau will pass by the park entrance. Also in case you want to spot a beautiful view of the mountain when approaching it, it's best to leave before 08:00 and seat at the left side of a bus.

Buses from Sandakan make this trip in less than 5 hours.

By taxi
An alternative is to take a long-distance shared taxi at taxi station near Jalan Padang. A ride between Kota Kinabalu and the park should cost RM15-18 each way. Taxis will only depart once they are full, which usually means they have seven passengers (Toyota Unser), so you may have to wait a while. OR you can pay for the missing passengers and leave immediately.

Regular (i.e. non-shared) taxis in Kota Kinabalu try to offer their services for RM150-200 or more for one-day drives to the park and back. Given the ease with which one can travel by public bus or shared taxi, however, this is an unnecessary option for budget visitors.

For convenience, bookings can also be made with the Official Mount Kinabalu Climb Booking & Information Centre for arrangement of private transport to and from Mount Kinabalu Park, climb permits, accommodation, and English-speaking mountain guides.

By car
Self-drive is another option with car hire readily available at Kota Kinabalu airport. Driving is an easy option for those accustomed to driving on the left hand side and gives the option to stop at things en route. Car hire rates are negotiable so compare rates on offer from the various companies. The distance to the park entrance is just under 100 km from Kota Kinablu centre, with the last 40 or so km being a sparesley populated mountain road. There is very little road signage directing you to Kinabalu Park, and there are a number of highway intersections en route (despite the fact that the route appears very simple on the map). The best option is to buy a fold-out road map at one of the bookshops in Kota Kinabalu, note down the towns en route to the park, and follow the road signs past those towns.

For the more adventurous traveller, the trip can be done on a hired motorbike. Be aware that there will be no petrol stations on the mountain road (the final 40 or so km of the trip), and you should ensure you have enough fuel for the journey to the park and back.

By tour
There are many tour companies that run day tours from Kota Kinabalu for RM150-200. Tours usually include admission fees and hotel pickup, sometimes stop at Poring Hot Spring and may include lunch.

Fees and permits
Necessary fees:
 * Park entry fee: RM3 (Malaysian), RM50 (Non-Malaysian), RM1 (Malaysian below 18), RM10 (Non-Malaysian below 18)
 * Climbing permit: RM50 (Malaysian), RM200 (Non-Malaysian), RM30 (Malaysian below 18), RM80 (Non-Malaysian below 18)
 * Climbing insurance: RM7
 * Guide fee: RM230/group (From Timpohon Gate)
 * Transport to and later from. Via Timpohon Gate:RM16.50/way (1-4 persons) RM4/person (5 persons and above).
 * It is also possible to hike up to the Timpohon Gate yourself. Note however, that this will add an additional hour or more to your hike, and to most people this is certainly not worth it.

Optional fees:
 * Souvenir certificate: RM10
 * Left-luggage: RM10
 * Wooden walking stick: RM5. No longer for sale due to environmental conservation reasons by authorities. These are merely carved tree branches, sold (not rented) to you by the Park HQ. Choose a long, sturdy one; most they offer are quite flimsy and short.
 * Metal hiking pole (for rent): RM15. A walking stick or hiking pole is highly recommended, particularly to protect your knees and ankles.

See
Kinabalu Park is home to a diverse array of flora and fauna that changes in nature as your altitude increases. Near the top of the mountain the trees thin out and give way to shrubs, stones and fabulous views. Around km 4.5 there are some large pitcher plants off the trail; a well-informed guide will know where they are.

Walking trails
The majority of visitors to the park do not climb all the way to the peak. For those with limited time or energy, there are gardens and many short walks through the jungle to enjoy in the vicinity of the entrance. A mud map is available at the park entrance and sign posts guide you. There are also guided tours.

The trails (even the ones paved with concrete or using wooden planks) are not wheelchair-friendly as they invariably include stairs, narrow sections or other obstacles.

Climbing the mountain

Climb preparation is needed in terms of physical and mental fitness as to ensure success in reaching the summit. Activities such as jogging and stairs climbing should be done at least 2 months before the climbing (if no prior preparation, you can still reach the summit but it will be strenuous). Also practise carrying 5kg of weight during stairs climbing.

Bring adequate medical equipment i.e. band aids, ankle or knee guard, plaster, paracetamol, anti-vomitting pills, muscle cream etc. Wear the band aid before climbing up and down to avoid muscle pain.

A briefing will be provided by guide at 6PM daily before the climb begin.

The actual climb is made along a well-marked path with signposts marking each half-kilometre. All who climb the mountain must buy a climbing permit (RM100/RM40 for non-Malaysian adults/children or RM30/RM12 for Malaysian adults/children) provided that accommodation for Laban Rata has been arranged.

Since the 2015 earthquake when sixteen people on Gunung Kinabalu were killed, four of them guides, the park authorities have made it mandatory all persons going to the summit have to be escorted there and back by a local guide. A guide can cost RM85-120 per trip - the actual cost depends on the number in the group and which route is used. Guides can accompany up to six people in a party, larger groups will need multiple guides. Porters are optional. Insurance will also be required for the climb. In addition to all this, there is also a bus that takes climbers from the park entrance to where the climbing path properly begins (RM5 each way per person). Those that choose to not take the bus face a 5-km hike along a tarred road.

There are periodic rest stops about a kilometre apart up the mountain. The entire journey is 8.72 km, with a stop about 6 km up at Laban Rata where most climbers will stay overnight. Usually, the climb started at 07:30-10:30. The first 4 km climbing to Laban Rata is in moderate steep where the trail is equipped with stairs and some rock path. The last 2 km is tough with solely rock path. Average person reached at Laban Rata (6 km journey) is 4-5 hours (some unfit person will reach in 7-8 hours).

The ascent from Laban Rata upwards is difficult in places, including climbs along steep ledges, and usually starts at around 02:00-03:00. It can also get very gusty in places as the vegetation barrens near the top. The fit will find it a challenge, the unfit will find it almost impossible.

You should bring waterproof and warm clothing including a hat and gloves, with spare, dry clothing packed in waterproof bags. If you get wet at altitude you will quickly get cold. You should also wear proper walking shoes. Bring a good headlamp with extra batteries (a headlamp is preferred over a torch since you will need your two hands for climbing some rocks near the summit), a whistle and plenty of high calorie food such as nuts and chocolate. A disposable rain coat is adequate. Avoid bringing a heavy bag. Unnecessary clothing and equipment can be left at counter before you start your ascent.

You can climb from Mesilau Nature Resort. The trail is 2 km longer than the one that begins from the park entrance but is less steep overall. Two thirds of the way through it joins with the main trail.

Climbing the mountain is strongly encouraged, but be forewarned that it can be strenuous.

As you struggle up the mountain, do look out for porters laden with 14-kg gas cylinder tanks. Some wear slippers and most have jury-rigged harnesses (some made of rice sacks) piled high with supplies. The porters scale the 6.5 km distance between Timpohon Gate and Laban Rata resthouse several times a day on supply runs and can easily outpace better-equipped climbers who are unfamiliar with the trail.

Once you complete the strenuous hike up to, you might have enough energy to do the only via ferrata ("iron road", a set of cables and ladders bolted to the mountain) to be found in Asia, which happens to be the world's highest. It is still relatively unknown so take the opportunity to do it without a crowd of people pushing you. There are 3 different paths to take on the via ferrata, with times ranging from 4-5 hours for the longest to 2-3 for the shortest. Keep your travel plans in mind when booking the via ferrata and after-mountain activities, as this time is added to the 4-5 hours it takes to descend the mountain on the second day of hiking.

Note that since the 2015 earthquake it is no longer possible to climb to the summit and down in one day. You must have a guide, and take one night / two days (though if you’re fit you should be able to return to the start by lunchtime on day two).

Eat and drink
There are cafeterias and restaurants at the park entrance gate and at Laban Rata. The drink prices at Laban Rata are relatively higher compared to prices at nearby towns. This is because everything needs to be carried up to Laban Rata by porters. For example, a can of beer is a whopping RM24; tea is RM6; 500ml bottled water is RM7. The quality of the food is surprisingly good, however.

To save money, you can stock up on bread, baked goods, chocolate and other lightweight energy-rich foods in KK before you depart, but you (or a porter) will need to carry up 2,300m. It is good to bring your own supply of instant noodles and tea sachets as well as snacks; note the cafeteria charges RM1 for hot water. Some huts have electric kettles where you can boil your own water for free.

A package deal will include four meals, takeaway lunch to eat on the way up the mountain (chicken and vegetables, hard boiled eggs, and energy bars / cookies), buffet dinner from 4pm (to allow you to get to bed early), supper from 2am before the summit climb, and breakfast after the summit climb from 7.30am.

For climbers from Timpohon or Mesilau Gate, they must reached at Laban Rata before 19:30 for buffet dinner or else they need to pay by themselves. While for buffet breakfast, the end time is 10:30 before you start your journey back to Timpohon or Mesilau Gate.

Sleep
It is best to book accommodation beforehand — indeed, the hike has become so popular that you may have to book months in advance. The park can be very full especially during clear weather periods. It is not possible to stay overnight on the mountain except in the accommodation provided at Laban Rata, and camping is not permitted - you must, therefore, have pre-booked accommodation. However, sometimes there are cancellations. If you are unable to book mountain hut accommodation in advance, get to the Park HQ as early as possible on the day of your intended climb and inquire there. You may luck out and get a bed. By regulation, booking must include guide services.

Inside the park borders
Formerly administered by Sabah Parks all accommodations in the park must now be arranged through Sutera Sanctuary Lodges, a private company, Tel: +60-88-303917 Fax: +60-88-317540; info@suterasanctuarylodges.com). Sutera (a.k.a. Sutera Harbour) is requiring hikers stay the first night at their lodge near the entrance. This is in addition to a required stay at Laban Rata at about 11,000 ft. The cost to stay is considerably higher than at lodging just outside the park, and includes a mandatory purchase of meals, etc.

Outside the park
There are plentiful of hotel options easily located along the main road outside of the park. Besides, the nearest towns to the park, Kundasang (6 km) and Ranau (30 km), also have their own hotels.

Stay safe

 * Be aware of how dangerous the mountain can be during bad weather. Stay close to the guide ropes and to your guide. If you lose sight of the guide ropes, blow a whistle or shout. Because of the thin air and the acoustics of the mountain, your shouts will not carry as far as you might expect and may seem to come from many directions. It's best to have a climbing partner, especially in large groups which can string out as stragglers get left behind.
 * The thin air causes problems for some. It's best to climb slowly and surely instead of rushing up and finding yourself exhausted. The mountain is high enough to cause altitude sickness, so familiarize yourself with the symptoms and keep an eye out for them.
 * For the final climb, dress appropriately. Temperature can be freezing at times. It's better to have several thin layers that you can peel off as it gets warmer. A hat is vital to keep warm. Gloves are needed to pull yourself up the guide ropes in some places.
 * Bring a head torch so that your hands can be free.
 * Coming down can be more painful than climbing up because of sore muscles and tired legs. Some of the steps are steep. Take it slowly and don't jam the toes into the front of the shoes. Zig-zag for gradual gradients instead of blindly walking down the steepest route. The experienced guides will literally skip and sprint down the mountain, but don't attempt the same.
 * Bringing along muscular ache relief cream and knee and ankle supports may be helpful.
 * Your legs may ache for a few days after the hike. Don't plan any rigorous activities afterwards for the following few days, unless you know you can handle it.
 * During the hike to the top it's important to stay well hydrated. At each pondok (rest pavilion) on the trail, there's large tank of free drinking water constantly being fed by pipes leading down from clean water sources high up on the mountain. The tanks are marked "Untreated Water", but the water is safe to drink. Thus, it's unnecessary to bring lots of heavy bottles of water along; one bottle will suffice.

Respect
Mount Kinabalu is considered sacred by the local Kadazan Dusun people, and for that reason utmost respect is demanded and climbers must refrain from shouting, screaming or cursing at it. Public nudity (including topless sunbathing) is not only regarded as highly provocative on the mountain, but it is also an offence in Malaysia and will result in arrest. Under Section 294a of the Malaysian Penal Code, a person guilty of committing an obscene act in any public place can be jailed three months, fined or both. In case of foreigners, deportion from Malaysia and an entry ban to Malaysia can also be the result. As a result of the 2015 naked display and picture taking and filming of their nudity on the summit a large part of the Malaysian communities believe this caused the earthquake resulting in one of the summits "Donkey ears" breaking off and landslides up and down the tracks on the lower slopes.

Very clear signage has been placed at the beginning of all routes explaining being naked on the mountain will result in arrest as mentioned above. The UK citizens involved spent four days in jail and were deported with a lifetime ban from entering Malaysia again.

Go next

 * Kundasang — the closest town to the mountain
 * Poring Hot Spring — is 39km from Mt. Kinabalu. There are several open-air pool-like bath tubs, there are also indoor jacuzzi. Another main attraction here is the Canopy Walk over the 157.8-m-long suspension bridge connecting the Mengaris trees. Its highest point is 41 m from the ground. You can observe the ecological system at the treetops. If you are nature music lover, here you can hear the orchestral performance by the birds, insects and perhaps jungle animals. After the hike, this is a great place to relax sore muscles; however, it may be best to stay the night here as in the evening it may be difficult to get transport back to KK.
 * Ranau — town 30 km SE of the Mountain

title: Mount Kinabalu


text:
Mount Kisco

Mount Kisco is a town and village in Westchester County, New York.

title: Mount Kisco


text:
Mount Kitanglad Range Natural Park

Mt. Kitanglad Range Natural Park (MKRNP) is in Northern Mindanao of Philippines.

Understand
The Kitanglad mountain range which dominates the north-central portion of the Bukidnon Plateau plays a vital role in the socio-economic development of North and Central Mindanao. Aside from being the homeland of indigenous cultural communities of Bukidnon, it is also a major watershed providing water for power generation, irrigation, and domestic use for the provinces of Bukidnon and Misamis Oriental.

The place is occupied by 8 municipalities of Bukidnon namely Talakag (4,945 ha), Baungon (3,157 ha), Libona (6,196 ha), Manolo Fortich (595 ha), Sumilao (3,532 ha), Malaybalay (2,317 ha), Lantapan (7,912 ha), and Impasug-ong (1,985 ha).

Mount Kitanglad Range covers an estimated area of about 30,642.0 hectares, of which 82% is secondary forest, 5% brushland, 12% grassland areas while the remaining 1% constitutes agricultural/open and bare soil areas. Its buffer zone covers an area of 14,480.0 hectares.

Mt. Kitanglad Range forms the headwater catchments area of several major river systems draining North and Central Mindanao. Among these are the Cagayan, Tagoloan, and Pulangi Rivers.

History
Recognizing its biological, historical and socioeconomic importance, one of the local government units with political jurisdiction over the range (Municipality of Sumilao, Bukidnon) initiated its proclamation as a national park. Thus, on December 14, 1990, Mt. Kitanglad was declared a national park. In 1994, it was chosen as one of the 10 priority sites under the World Bank through the Conservation of Priority Protected Areas Project (CPPAP).

Mt. Kitanglad was proclaimed a protected area under the natural park category on October 24, 1996. On November 9, 2000, Mt. Kitanglad finally became a full-pledge protected area.

Landscape
Mount Kitanglad Range belongs to the volcanic Lanao-Bukidnon Highland and covers most of the northern half of Central Mindanao. It has an elevation up to 2,938 meters above sea level, dominating the Bukidnon plateau. The Kitanglad mountain range is composed of numerous peaks; the more prominent ones are Mt. Kitanglad, Mt. Kaatuan, Mt. Maagnaw and Mt. Dulang-Dulang. This is one of the confusing mountains in the country in terms of stature. It was once measures as 2,385 meters above sea level but recent claims contest that the mountain’s highest peak, Mt. Dulang Dulang measures 2,938 meters above sea level, thereby making it the country’s second highest peak after Mount Apo relegating Mount Pulag to the third place. Though no official proclamations proves this and Pulag is still called the country’s second highest.

Flora and fauna
Kitanglad mountain range is a part of the Kitanglad National Park and is situated in North Central Bukidnon. It has an area of 31,297 hectares composed of more than a dozen mountain peaks. Mt. Kitanglad towers more than 2,500 meters which offers a challenge to mountain climbers. To reach its summit, one has to scale its ranges for five hours passing through flora and fauna of a genuine virgin forest. At the base is Lawan, Dalawangan, which is the home of the Philippine Eagle.

The types of forest present in Mt. Kitanglad are evergreen rainforest, mid- mountain forest and upper-mountain forest. 45% of the total area of the park is covered with old growth forest. A number of endemic plant species which are now considered rare and difficult to find are found in the area. The gymnosperms and particularly members of the family Ericaceaeare are abundant near the summit.

There are 55 species of mammals in the park. These include 15 species endemic in Mindanao and 3 species locally endemic in the area. Among these are Alionycteris paucidentata, a pygmy fruit bat that was first described in 1965 as a genus and specie endemic to Mt. Kitanglad only; giant flying box, the largest bat in the world; Mindanao gymnure; Mindanao tree shrew; Shrew mice; kaguang; monkeys; Philippine pygmy squirrels; Mindanao flying squirrels; Bearded pig; Philippine deer.

It is home to a host of rare bird species like the serpent eagle, the red harrier, the Brahmin kite and the Philippine sparrow hawk to name a few. There are 133 species of birds in the park of which 15 are endemic in Mindanao. These include Coracina mogregori, Otus mirus, Trichoglossus johnstoniae, Basilornis miranda and Leonardia woodi.

Climate
The climate of Mt. Kitanglad falls under Type III of the Modified Corona's Classification. This is characterized by a short dry season lasting from one to three months and with no pronounced maximum rain period. Temperature ranges from 22.7°C during January to 24.6°C during June. The area receives the highest amount of rainfall during the month of June, while the direst period is in the month of March. Relative humidity varies from 71% in May to 86% in September. The area is virtually cloud-covered throughout the year.

Get in
It’s safe to scale the mountain all year round. Access to the Province of Bukidnon is through Cagayan de Oro City. Daily plane flights from Manila and Cebu are available. From Cagayan de Oro, the park can be reached by regular public transport (jeepneys and buses) plying the Cagayan-Bukidnon routes. Three existing trails lead to the mountain summit. The first trail is located at Intavas, La Fortuna, Impasug-ong town; the second trail is at Barangay Lupiagan, Municipality of Sumilao, and the third starts at Bol-ogan, Songco and Kaatuan, Lantapan, Bukidnon. If you seek for local guides to scale Mt. Dulang dulang and Mount Kitanglad, e-mail ulricching@yahoo.com.

Fees and permits
1. All visitors are required to secure permit from the Office of Protected Area & Management Bureau (PAMB), PENRO Compound, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon. Only listed names of party members in the permitshall be allowed entry to the park premises.

2. Request for Visitor's permit must be filed 10 days prior to the actual date of visit/entry at the office of the PAMB.

3. All luggages and items brought by visitors shall be subjected to inspection upon entry by the Protected Area Superintendent or authorized staff, and LGU or their authorized representative.

4. Prohibited drugs, hard liquors and gambling are not allowed within the park.

5. No permanent or temporary structures shall be constructed that will destruct or destroy its feature during the scheduled visit.

6. Hunting, killing or wounding wildlife, cutting of trees and gathering or collecting of wild plants and other forest products are strictly prohibited.

7. Vandalism which include picking, mutating of plants, fruits and flowers, writing and engraving on trees and walls, altering / defacing facilities, boundary markers and park signs are likewise strictly prohibited.

8. Building of fire for cooking or camping purposes shall be allowed only in designated areas and should be put off properly after use.

9. The permittee shall keep the area clean and sanitary at all times. Garbage and other refuse shall be disposed of properly.

10. The DENR/PAMB and the local government unit concerned are not liable for any loss or damage on the personal properties or belongings or injury or death due to accident that may happen to any member of the group during the duration of visit to the park.

11. Proper acknowledgment for the use of the park in the tri-media is requested.

12. Violations of any of the above-stipulated terms and conditions will be sufficient ground for cancellation of the permit and the permittees shall be heldliable to the prescribed penalties provided for under DENR existing rules and regulations, RAs 7586 and 8978, PAMB policies and the local government units acted ordinances.

13. Bring all non-biodegradable garbage during the visit outside the Protected area. This includes bottles, plastic and cans. Biodegradable waste may be disposed off to the designated area.

Camping
One good campsite is located at the foot of Mt. Lunayon, Mount Kitanglad range. A 1-hour jeepney ride to Barangay Capt. Angel and a 3-hour hike to the campsite. Vegetation is mossy forest and lots of endemic flora and fauna. A Tribal ritual is required before the hike. You will get to see the bukidnon tribe dwelling in the area. THe Datu or tribal leader himself will be the one to orient visitors on cultural sensitivity and the existing customs and traditions. For bookings, guides and assistance, e mail ulricching@yahoo.com.

title: Mount Kitanglad Range Natural Park


text:
Mount Koya

Mount Kōya (高野山, Kōya-san) is a mountain in Wakayama prefecture to the south of Osaka, Japan, primarily known as the headquarters of the Shingon sect of Japanese Buddhism.

Understand
First settled in 816 CE by the monk Kūkai as a retreat far away from the courtly intrigues of Kyoto, Mt. Koya is located in a 800-m-high valley amid the 8 peaks of the mountain. The original monastery has grown into the town of Koya, featuring a university dedicated to religious studies and over 100 temples, many of which offer lodging to pilgrims.

In 2004, UNESCO designated Mt. Koya as part of a wider World Heritage Site.

If you stay in Osaka, you can consider visit Mount Kōya on a day trip (leave early in the morning and allow the time to reach Osaka Namba station and buy your ticket). If you can, though, it's worth it to spend the night in one of the numerous temples (see section "Sleep"), which will give you the opportunity to immerse yourself a little deeper in temple life and also experience a classical Japanese inn at a reasonable price.

Doctrine and symbolism

Unusually in Japan, Shingon descends from the tantric Vajrayana lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. Most Japanese schools of Buddhism like Zen contend that scriptures and practices are merely guideposts on a long and arduous path to enlightenment, but Shingon contends that anyone can reach enlightenment in their lifetime by focusing on esoteric practices that aim to communicate Dharmakaya, the "truth-body" where the universe and Buddha-nature are one, directly. These key Shingon practices, known as the Three Mysteries (三密 Sanmitsu), are mantra (sacred sounds), mudra (sacred gestures) and mandala (sacred maps).

The uniquely Shingon goma (護摩) fire ritual, performed daily at most Shingon temples with the accompaniment of taiko drumming and hypnotic chanting, is particularly well-known. Believed by adherents to have a powerful spiritually cleansing effect, it can certainly be trance-inducing, particularly if you're still groggy after being woken up at 5 AM to attend it! Colorful mandalas decorate Shingon altars, and Mt. Koya itself forms the focal point of a giant mandala spanning all of Japan.

When to go
Mount Koya is sufficiently high up to be noticeably cooler (3-5°C) than Osaka. Cherry blossom season comes here a few weeks later than the lowlands, typically around mid-April, while fall colors (紅葉 kōyō) around October are also a major tourist draw. Summers are still hot and muggy, while winters are cold enough to support considerable snow: fun for sledding kids, less so when shivering in a temple built from wood and paper.

Tourist information
The Kōyasan Shukubō association has two information centers. Here you can rent excellent audioguides (¥500/person/day), including in English and French. They describes various sites including temples and tombs, and make the visit much more interesting.

 * Koyasan Shukubo Association maintains a multilingual tourist guide site.

By train
Most visitors arrive on the Nankai Electric Railway from Namba Station in Osaka, which connects to Gokurakubashi at the base of the mountain. Koya (こうや) limited expresses with reserved seats take 80 minutes and cost ¥1650, while ordinary expresses are lower priced at ¥870 and take 10-20 minutes longer with a change of trains possible. There's not much to look at during the first half of the trip (although keep your eyes peeled for the surreal PL Peace Tower, in the middle of the fields to your left before Kongō stn), but the second half of the trip after Hashimoto is a slow climb up into the mountains and extremely scenic in good weather.

A cable car from Gokurakubashi then whisks visitors to the top in 5 minutes for ¥390. From the cable car station you'll have to take a bus to town (5-15 minutes depending on your destination). Train, cable car and bus schedules are synchronized.

A good value way to reach Koya-san is to purchase the 2-day Koyasan World Heritage Ticket available from the Nankai ticket counter. At a cost of ¥2860, the ticket includes one round trip on the Nankai train and cable car, a two-day Koyasan bus pass, and discounts at certain attractions, shops and restaurants. A version of the ticket that includes the trip to Mount Koya by limited express costs ¥3400.

From March 1 to November 30 the Koyasan One Day Ticket (高野山 1-day チケット) may be purchased. This is similar to the ticket above but also includes connection to a single private railway via the Osaka Subway. Sample fares include: Hankyu (¥3090), Hanshin (¥2980), Keihan (¥2100), and Kintetsu (¥3070).

The regional Kansai Thru Pass can be used on regular Nankai Railway trains and the Cable Car all the way up to Mount Koya, and can be used on the Koya-san buses as well.

The closest JR train station is at Hashimoto, which is a transfer station to the Nankai Railway. From here it takes 40 minutes and costs ¥440 to reach the cable car station at Gokurakubashi by local Nankai service. Japan Rail Pass holders can easily access Nankai trains at the Shin-Imamiya (新今宮) station of the JR Osaka Loop Line, from which the fares for trains and the World Heritage Ticket are the same as from Namba. From Kyoto, rail pass holders can take the Kyoto Line Special Rapid train to Osaka station, then change to the Osaka Loop Line to Shin-Imamiya.

By bus
If coming from Kyoto, a faster and easier option is Keihan Bus, which runs one service daily from Kyoto Station, stopping at Okunoin-mae and Koyakeisatsu-mae. The trip takes just under 3 hours and costs ¥2600/4700 one-way/return.

By car
If you have your own set of wheels, you can also head east towards Ise or south to Ryujin Onsen and southern Wakayama. Both roads are small and there is no public transportation, but daring souls might try hitching.

On foot

Before the train and cable car connection, which was built in the early 20th century, the only way to reach Mt. Koya was via the ancient pilgrim trail called the Chōishi-michi (町石道) which is still maintained and marked with stone pillars every chō (about 108 meters) - these have given the trail its name. The trail is about 22 km long, ascends about 700m, and is just about doable in a single long day. See its starting point, the town of Kudoyama, for details.

If you're in the mood for more pain, the pilgrim trail continues south from Koya as the Kohechi (小辺路) trail of the Kumano Kodo. Some 70 km long, this route is for serious hikers only: it crosses four remote mountain passes with over 1,000 meters of elevation gain, has minimal facilities, and is usually tackled over 4 days. Tanabe City Tourism has detailed maps (Japanese only) of the route, broken into four stages.

Get around
You can get from one end to the other of the village on foot in 30 minutes, but regular buses allow you to save time.

Nankai Rinkan Bus operates the buses around Mount Koya. Passes such as the Koyasan World Heritage Ticket and Kansai Thru Pass (see By train) provide unlimited use. Otherwise board buses using the rear door, take a ticket when you board, and pay the fare based on the display at the front of the bus when you exit. A one day bus pass, sold at the Koyasan cable car station, costs ¥830.

See

Mount Koya's sights are mostly clustered at the west end of town near Danjō-garan, and at the east end near Okunoin. You can cover most of them pretty comfortably in a single day, which is convenient since everything closes around 17:00.

Danjō-garan and surroundings

Okunoin and surroundings

Mossy, ancient and serene, Okunoin is perhaps the top draw on Mount Koya, particularly if you visit early or late in the day when it's quieter or take even a few steps off the beaten path. This is where Kobo Daishi, the founder of Shingon Buddhism is buried, and what is now Japan's largest graveyard has grown up around it; the reason for this is that Kobo Daishi is, according to Shingon, not dead in his mausoleum, but entered a state of continuous meditation in anticipation of the coming of Miroku Nyorai, the Future Buddha, and at that time will awaken to interpret Buddha's teachings (being the only person in the world capable of doing that) — so the spirits of those who are buried here are guaranteed to receive the wisdom of dharma in the most direct way. Nowadays followers usually manage to entomb only token parts of themselves at Okunoin, such as a lock of hair or a bit of ashes, but it still counts.

Okunoin is only accessible by foot and there are two main routes to visit Okunoin from Mount Koya's main town. The first route is considered more traditional but requires more walking while the second route is done by most modern visitors and requires less walking. The first route begins at visitors will first cross the Ichinohashi Bridge where one should bow. This route continues through sacred forested cemetery before arriving at the main complex. This route takes 2 km. The second route begins at and takes less than 1 km to reach the main complex. It passes through the cemetery's modern areas and is also busier. Both routes converge at Gokusho Worship Hall where one can continue to the Mausoleum. Many visitors choose to take the first route on the way there and the second route when returning to the main town. The following sites are listed in the order they will be visited if following either route.

Do

Hiking around Mount Koya is a good option. Among many courses, there is one that starts at Daimon (大門, big gate), hiking up to a tiny shrine at the top of Bentengaku (弁天岳), and then down to Nyonindou (女人堂). Not a difficult hike, and should take only a couple of hours, depending on how often you stop on the way to take photos. You can encounter a few species of lizards and snakes along the way, such as jimuguri (ジムグリ, Japanese Forest Ratsnake), the Japanese five-lined skink, and the Japanese grass lizard. From the top you can see all the way south to Wakayama City and the ocean.

Eat

All temple lodgings on Mt. Koya offer Shōjin ryōri (精進料理), purely vegetarian food intended for monks. People who equate vegetarian food with blandness will be surprised: in their hundreds of years of experience with vegetarian cooking, the monks have invented amazingly tasty dishes. A local specialty, Kōya-dōfu is freeze-dried tofu - it is served by reconstituting into spongy blocks and boiling in dashi (the basic broth).

For those unwilling to eat vegetarian, a number of restaurants offer regular Japanese and Chinese cuisine. There are also many reasonably priced izakaya around the center of town that offer a range of many traditional Japanese pub foods. Check opening hours: many places are open for lunch or dinner, but not both.

Temple lodging

About half of the over 120 temples in town offer lodging for pilgrims, known as shukubō in Japanese. Prices vary between ¥9,000 and ¥15,000 per night per person and include two fully vegan meals. You will be offered the opportunity, or in some temples required, to join in the morning prayer session (お勤め o-tsutome), a hypnotic experience involving sutra chanting, incense and gongs.

While the monks don't drink, alcohol may be available to guests at dinner, and perhaps even from a vending machine. Temples have set hours at which the front gate is opened and closed, and the time the bath is available. This curfew can be as early as 21:00, so don't expect to head out after dinner — although you'll want to go to bed early anyway if you want to attend the morning prayers, which can be as early as 05:00! Breakfast and check-out times are also geared for early risers.

You can book directly with the major temples, or via the official Koya-san shukubo association reservation service. Outside the main season, you can just show up at the Koya cable car station and book from there, but generally reservations are preferred.

Stay safe
If choosing to take the hike up from Kudoyama, in addition to the regular hiking precautions, consider that roughly 1 km of the course runs directly beside a golf course. In addition to stray balls (wear a hat), it seems the owner may be fighting an insane one-sided border dispute because, as of June 2010, around where the trail doubles as an access road, somebody has installed a couple of electrified tripwires over the trail, which appear to be hooked up to the golf links. Be aware.

An otherwise complete set of localised advisories can be found on the English or Japanese hiking maps available at the temple at the very start of the course.

Go next
Many of the pilgrims visiting Mount Koya are on their way to start the 88 Temple Pilgrimage on the island of Shikoku or continue the pilgrimage to the Kumano Sanzan and Ise Shrine.

Not far outside Koya, approx. 15 min by car, is Otaki, a small town aptly named for the large waterfalls at its entrance. Once past Okunoin, take the Ryujin Skyline towards Shirahama and look for a small sign about 15 min down the road. The entrance should be on the right. Take the small road downward for about 2 minutes and the 2 large waterfalls should be visible from the road. It is an especially nice place to stop and have a picnic before leaving Koya.
 * Kudoyama
 * Hashimoto
 * Katsuragi
 * Kinokawa
 * Gojo
 * Nosegawa
 * Hongu
 * Kawachinagano
 * Tondabayashi
 * Nachikatsuura

title: Mount Koya